Sonic Mania is shaping up to be one of the finest outings for the Blue Blur in years, but there's a sticking point for really dedicated fans: the lack of a confirmed physical release for the 2D platformer.
Sega has so far remained silent on the possibility of the game getting a boxed retail release, but if GameStop Italy is to be trusted, we may well be getting one despite the lack of official confirmation.
The retailer has not only listed the game for physical release, but has uploaded what appears to be official cover artwork - and it looks gorgeous.
Do you think this is the real deal? Let us know by posting your thoughts below.
[source gamestop.it, via gonintendo.com]
Comments 85
... 70€s? 70!? head explodes
If true that is one big Switch tax
I'll definitely grab the physical release if there is one, but that price is a bit hard to swallow.
Well I'm still skeptic on sonic games so I'll have to wait for reviews. On the other I rather have physical than digital, but on sale of course😅
Huh ?!
So lets run down why this is fake.
€70
The Switch logo is floating
3+ on the box, 7+ on the page (cmon now...)
It's beautiful and I'd love to have it on my Switch shelf. If I were designing it I'd have probably had Sonic have his finger out though, like old times.
I'll be annoyed now if it's not in my collectors edition, considering the price.
I bet its a box with a piece of paper inside with a download code that someone has made. That's why it's an inflated price and i bet not even an official release
No PC collector edition for Europe, as far as I can see
Preordered it on Steam anyway, can't wait!
They said they were looking into physical releases.
I have the collector edition locked in. I'll be needing this physical copy to complete the package
C'mon guys, the price is a bloody place holder!
Would so buy it, but the price would have to drop. Of course await to see if its even legit.
€70? Mamma Mia!
@MaxlRoseGNR The price maybe. That doesnt explain the multiple age ratings
@audiobrainiac i was just gonna say the same thing. 80 quid for the collectors edition with a code only for them to then release a physical copy would be a pretty crappy thing to do.
Not used to seeing another unit of money thrown on there cause reasons. 70.98? 69.99 just wasn't enough profit on a 19.99 game? Glad I'm getting digital if this is anywhere close to real.
The plan is to have Digital copy for Xbox One and Physical for Switch (if it happens).
I WANT PHYSICAL!!!!! DAY 1 for me for all 3 systems if so!!
@damo I'm on vacation in italy right now and just a few days ago I was in gamestop lucca, I can confirm that they had sonic mania switch in their pre order section.
This can't be real. Physical game > Collector's Edition which is plain ludicrous! No one collects codes!
My guess is no physical release for any system.
@RadioShadow I asked another user about double dipping on another thread. I like the fact you are so enthusiastic about this game, but why get the Xbox version? This game will likely be identical on the Switch. Genuine question.
Why not? If indie developers can publish physical versions of games then SEGA can easily promote their mascot both physically and digitally on Switch.
If games like Sine Mora EX can get physical releases, then there's no reason games like Sonic Mania or Yooka Laylee should go without. I wonder if it's because Sega doesn't want to jeopardize sales on the digital version if they announce too soon that a physical one is coming later.
Would make sense if the game turns out as good as it looks.
Price is a placeholder.
doesn't really mean much. gamestop also has listings for Dragon Quest X and Dragon Quest Heroes I and II (as separate releases)
Would love physical over digital...
Was planning on buying it when it came out digitally, but now I may have to do the wait and see thing. Would love this on a cart.
Amazon UK bizarrely has Sonic Forces at a lower price, but the product description is clearly for Sonic Mania
http://amzn.to/2uqz2F4
That box art is very old school. Takes me back. I'd buy a physical copy just to have it.
I'm always torn between the ease of not having to switch game carts vs the fondness of having a physical copy... Either way, I'm excited for this game, physical copy or not, as it will be the first Sonic game I've played since Sonic Adventure 2 on the Dreamcast.
On a side note, playing Sonic 1 currently, and still loving that game. I almost wish Mania would incorporate the bonus stages from that game on top of the ones they've already shown.
FAKE NEWS
I'd day 1 this so much😶
Physical has to be more expensive than eshop. You wanted the useless piece of plastic ? Well now, pay for it !
I want a physical copy. I hope this is both real and coming out the same day as the digital release.
I don't know the conversion factor to the US dollar but I think that it is expensive.
Is it possible this is just a bad listing for the collector's edition that doesn't include a physical copy of the game, but the price is pretty much in line with it?
I'm still salty about that. Got my collector's on order, but I really expected a physical game.
@Shiryu I'm thinking this may be the special edition version that come with a statue and stuff.
I want this to be true, but I don't think it is
@Shellcore
Achievements and the Xbox One Controller being slightly better than the Joy-Cons. I'm aware there is a Switch Pro Controller, but I haven't got it let. The Switch does have the portable mode, but I'm happy using my Nintendo 3DS when I go out. Hopefully the Switch version does have in-game achievements like Shovel Knight and Puyo Puyo Tetris.
Hopefully Sonic Mania will play as well as the Xbox One / PS4 releases. It's just when companies port their games to the Wii U / Switch, there seems to be issues. Overcook for example seems to have the frame rates drop on occasions on the Switch version (basing on the recent Nintendolife review).
Another factor is Xbox One / PS4 physical games, you have to download the contents to your Hard Drive which I really dislike. It basically feels like you just brought a download game. At least the Wii U and Switch, it reads the content from the disc/cartridge. Something I'm glad Nintendo have stuck with.
@Tibob
I paid £20 for a physical copy of Micro Machines: World Series, while it costs £25 to download. Figure that one out.
So you mean to say the Collector's Edition doesn't come with a physical cart? If that truly is the case, I'll cancel. Makes spending all that money not worth it.
The obsession with 'physical release' continues...
Meanwhile on the planet, plastics being dumped anywhere and everywhere, seabeds filled with the stuff.
@RadioShadow Thanks for that. Understood. Its a shame the Vita flopped as that would have solved all those problems with trophies and potential cross-buy for PS4.
@Pazuzu666 Usually I would agree. However, the only place my games cases are polluting is my attic. They will be worth something one day.....one day
The local GameStop has a physical release listed for ages now. Believe it's only a placeholder of sorts. You could even preorder Pokemon and Metroid Prime on Switch there. Had it preordered because I thought a frickin Sonic game of all things would receive a physical release. So when I found out it was digital only and went to cancel my preorder, the shop assistant understood I wanted to preorder a second copy (I got a long list of preorders that day so the two of us were already a bit confused). Anyway, a managed to cancel both preorders and am now awaiting August 15th!
The price is in line with the collector's edition of the game which is by the way listed for the three consoles, but the artwork here is different.
@BLP_Software u r right.
I'll be downloading it, it's perfectly suited as a download only title. That boxart is all kinds of Mega Drive vibes though...
@RadioShadow Same here, I am getting the Xbox One digital version. Actually, it is already downloaded just waiting for the release date to let me play.
I cancelled the collectors edition order after realizing it only came with a code, but I'll gladly buy it again if it comes with the physical cartridge.
Yeah, I'll pass. Download is the future guys!
Wow, I have not been paying attention. I had no idea this was digital only. It's odd to have a collector's edition.
@NEStalgia I actually cancelled my PS4 CE a few hours ago. €90 for a €20 game with a few overpriced goodies. No thanks
@Menchi187 If I were a sane, rational human being I would do the same.
Unfortunately I'm a slightly OCD gamer and I need my Genesis model despite having the real deal and have not canceled it.
But if they release a physical edition aside it I'm going to flip my lid.
Nice and all, but if they were going through with a physical edition, they really should have had the option at launch, not weeks/months later. I'd like it physically, but I'm looking so forward to this game that I don't want to wait months and months for a physical cart may or may not get released.
@Pazuzu666
You're cheering me up, mate ! I thought I was the only one here to see that picture !
@RadioShadow
Why the hell would anoyne buy the new Micro Machines ? But anyway, the fact that you got it cheaper doesn't mean physical isn't a waste of energy/time/space/... for the enhoyment of the materialist.
As someone when grew up with Sonic and the Genesis this game looks to bring back alot of great childhood memories and a decent Sonic game at that. I Pre-ordered the collector's edition and the lack of physical copy of the game with it has me debating if i should cancel the order or not :/
Even at that price I would buy physical over digital
@Shellcore I trust you'll be making a £20 profit (at best) in 20-30 years time. Kudos.
Hope this is real.
I'd prefer physical over digital for this also. Not at any price like that when digital is £15.99.
Though a few retailers over here have Rocket League sitting at a hefty £50, so who knows.
Hate to be negative, but I doubt it's real. Its probably been played around with, but I just found this...
http://sonicchips.deviantart.com/art/What-if-Sonic-Mania-got-a-physical-copy-release-664461009
I never even knew this game was only going to be digital in the first place
Hope so.
The nostalgic child within me deeply hopes for a physical release of this game! Still have a Sonic The Hedgehog 3 poster at my parent's house from back in the day. Super fond memories.
@Pazuzu666
Plastic drinks bottles = thrown away in their billions = serious issue
Switch cartridges = not so much
I'd love a physical version for Switch. Sonic Mania looks excellent, and a true return to form for Sonic.
If it's only digital.... guess I'll have to wait for a discount or something. I hate digital...
@Pahvi 20 on the psn store and 70 at retailers and retailers says it comes with a download code
It's 70 at all retailers and 20 on PSN store
I despise the digital trend. Will always buy physical over digital until I'm no longer able to.
This looks like it's just a mock up case so my guess would be that there is no official art as of yet. As someone said, it has a rating of 7+, but the cover says 3+.
I wouldn't get your nickers in a twist over it, but I'm pretty sure there will be a physical release.
@electrolite77 both = problem.
A pledge on digital only releases can be the way forward.
@Pazuzu666
"both = problem". Equating the two, when one is generated in significantly bigger quantities and grown away in significantly bigger quantities, is not going to get any support for your cause. Foolish in the extreme.
"A pledge on digital only releases can be the way forward" for any platform holder who wants to lose lots of customers.
I thought this was confirmed as physical about four months ago?
@audiobrainiac colelctors edition is just a download code, it states that.
@electrolite77 I'm talking a blanket pledge, legislation. That way all companies are on equal footing and (more importantly) less waste to boot.
@YANDMAN yeah I know. It wouldn't make sense in my opinion to announce a physical edition after the fact. I'm sure it's fake, see my last post.
Can confirm this is digital only at least on switch unfortunately.
@Joffe27 try fortunately.
@Pazuzu666 No i mean unfortunately since i want a physical realease for this game.
Go to Nintendo's website and scroll through Switch games. Go to the Sonic Mania page and scroll down, there's a spot on the page that says "Buy physical". I checked other download only games and they don't have that link.
@bmt170142 Well thats interesting so hopefully my sources are wrong but i doubt it since i work at my local gamestop and our buyteam gets its info straight from the horses mouth so to speak.
Just found some more news at:
http://pixelsizzle.com/retro-games/sonic-mania-physical-disc-release/
It's hard to tell if we'll ever get a physical release!
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