The History of SONIC RUNNERS - The LOST Sonic Mobile Game

What's that? A PatMac video that's NOT about merchandise? Could the rumors be true? Indeed. Back in 2015, Sonic Team released an incredibly fun endless running Sonic game called SONIC RUNNERS, and it was honestly the most fun I've had with a Sonic game in years. Unfortunately though, on July 27th, 2016, Sonic Team CLOSED the servers to the game, making it 100% unplayable. For years now, I've wanted a video that documents the history of the game, but none was ever made. So, I decided, hey, I really enjoyed the game and remember a lot about it, I should share my stories with it and make that video! And so it happened. In this video, I tell the entire story of this short-lived mobile game, and believe me, there is a lot more to it than just being a simple endless runner.

As you can probably tell, this is the most work I've ever put into a video, so I hope you all enjoy it! If you did, feel free to share this video around with other people that would enjoy it. Also of course, you can always like the video, subscribe, and all that good stuff if you want to see me continue making videos like this one! We'll most likely be going back to merchandise next time, but I hope you all enjoy this passion project about a literally dead Sonic mobile game.

Hey this Cory’s World and I’m Cory!

I’m a man and I don’t care about Gothic Amy (at least more than any other skin for Amy).

I'm Sad now

Sonic runners revival exist

Thank god Sonic Runners Revival exists

I deleted Runners after awhile cuz it was a time suck. I wanted to get back into it after a time and clicked through the menus too fast and deleted all of my progress. I was so sad I deleted the game again as I had just lost all of my progress, and I had done every event up to Runners 2.0. Then the game got discontinued and I was even more sad.

Glad I was able to play as long as I did tho.

Edit: why did I watch this to just make me more sad lol great video tho, RIP sonic runners. Should’ve never been cancelled.

Pingas

WHY IS HAS BEAN IN SONIC RUNNERS

This is my comfort video I already watched it like 5 times and still come back to it when I need something to watch while I eat or when I'm trying to sleep if I can't find any other video that interests me. For some reason this video has a special charm to it. Oh and just one suggestion I know you most likely didn't play that one but a simular video about sonic dash would be amazing. I actually played that one and still actively do so it's pretty special for me.

I’m glad that marine eventually made it into revival and wouldn’t end up just being a fake leak

Man thank god revival got made

I’m really sad that it’s gone, but kinda happy that it happened…

I don't understand why companies even shut down games like these to begin with. I mean, if it's making any money at all, why not keep servers up? It's not like they need to simulate a whole world the size of World of Warcraft. It's a game where everything is singleplayer barring whenever the client needs to retrieve and/or push data to/from the server's account database. You could hire ONE GUY to maintain the game and that would surely be enough. Even EA, as greedy and horrible as they are, still run servers for the Xbox 360 version of TF2. And there's even LESS reason for them to do that!

Patmac Everytime he sees a Chao in a failed game: H O W D I D T H I S G A M E F A I L?

have you heard of Sonic Runners Revival?

you're uncanon.

I wish Tikal was playable in more Sonic games.

I remember playing I miss it

Dude make a video about the new fan recreation of sonic runners called “sonic runners revival”

Did you know that the Halloween versions of shadow and rouge are in forces running batte

Wasn't there puyo puyo for nintendo ds in english?

Sonic Runners Revival exist, please get it

why does it feel like Speed Sim is going to try to be like this game

:( Now I want to play it. I need literally anyone to make a fan server. Cause this game sounds fun. + You know what also doesn't make sense to required to be online, Sonic mobile ports.

Sonic dash also crossed over with the danimals mascot (danimals is a yogurt drink for kids)

Oh god I still have this game.

I never knew about it till I watched this lol

This game is still available

BTW I remember there was an upgraded version with better lore and stuff

I’m tearing up I played this so much man

Sonic Runners' history is so strange. On one end it's sad the game was shut down, but on the other end it made sense.

SEGA wanted the game to make more money and so the infamous 2.0.0. update was launched bringing unnecessary and unwanted changes. On top of that, they never gave the option to purchase Buddies directly, something that would've made those who played the game early much happier by a small margin.

Over time, with the closure of Sonic Runners fans have found numerous cut content. Aside from the unused dialogue portraits the planned content included. A Sonic 06 event, Zomom Raid event and Silent Forest as a stage. The former two are heavily unfinished, with the Sonic 06 event using data from the Fantasy Star Online event and the Zomom Raid event using data from Zazz's Raid event. Silent Forest is mostly complete but is missing some data related to the lightmaps (aka, the lighting system) and shares three pieces of data related event layouts.

A possible theory on what the Sonic 06 event could've had for companions can vary. Obviously Mephiles would be the unlockable playable character as part of the event considering the theme so that needs no attention, but companions are a whole other story.

Obviously Elise would be one of them, but the other ones could be anything. Maybe an Iblis monster, Iblis itself in one of its many forms or even one of the Gems used by Sonic. Maybe even all three ideas could work. I mean, if Merlina can get two forms and the Dark Bats and Dark Frights can get multiple forms then making Iblis and/or one of the Iblis monsters be similar can easily work too.

D-fekt (yes, that D-fekt) was found in the code by name only but would've grabbed everything on-screen and also briefly double your combo after a specific combo was met.

Interestingly enough, there were plans to use other alternatives instead of collecting specific special items and/or animals depending on the event. Internally there are values related to distance and Rings labeled as GET_RINGS and RUN_DISTANCE respectively and do work if data is sent from a server but lack any assets.

An oddity related to the Magic Lamp. The reflection map used, fittingly enough, is a screenshot from Sonic and the Secret Rings, what that screenshot is of specifically however is unknown to me as I don't have the files on my person and I can't find an upload of the screenshot or the reflection map at the time of writing this.

Notice: the following is for those unaware of its existence.

As many know, Sonic Runners unfortunately shutdown. But all was not lost as a few years later fans revived the game under the fittingly named "Sonic Runners Revival". Like the name says, it's a revival of Sonic Runners and at first that's all it was. But over time the devs not only started to slowly restore features, but also add new content fitting with the theme and general aesthetic of Sonic Runners. Bringing new events, returning events, new buddies and new characters on top of fixing old characters.

First, the easy/beginner characters were changed to match the other teams available and were given stats that match those teams making them much more viable in runs and makin team Rose 100% complete. Second, Blaze was changed from Team Rose to Team Sol (a completely new team and eventually Marine was added making that one fake leak showcasing the annoying racoon finally true.

Eventually both Tangle and Whisper were added with the latter getting a rerun alongside standard the Desert Ruins event.

Sonic Runners Revival also removed the microtransactions (which is kind of a given considering it would be immoral to profit off of something you don't legally own) meaning you can play safe knowing your wallet won't be drained by corporate greed. It's still possible to earn Red Star Rings via Eggman encounters, main story chapter completion and the timed battles which are still being tested, as such it is possible to encounter folks who may be a bit challenging (or even no one at all!) but there is the option to use 40 Red Star Rings to find a beatable opponent instead of getting absolutely destroyed by someone with an absurdly high score. (Or use 5 Red Star Rings and hope for the best.)

But we're not sorry, and we're mad at that. You've made the game fail.

Have you heard about sonic runners revial

Cool

somewhat unrelated but the microtransaction portion made me realize that ive spent like. $50 on sonic dash 💀

somewhat unrelated but the microtransaction portion made me realize that ive spent like. $50 on sonic dash 💀

I can play Sonic runners still

i always loved this game and was so sad when they shut it down. Luckily Revival is a thing, but I still never stopped loving it❤

I’ve watched this 5 times lol still love it

Literally never even played or heard of the game till now but just watched an hour documentary

hey, theirs a remake of runners, type sonic runners revival!!!

Bro Sonic runners as backup not on the Google Play store but yay