Freedom Fighters Unite – Sonic X Shadow Generations DLC Concept

When Sonic X Shadow Generations released in 2024, it released with a DLC level based off Sonic 3 (2024) film. Featuring the Tokyo location from the film, with Keanu reprising his role as Shadow, it gave Sonic gaming fans a window into the extended universe of Sonic.

It didn’t take long for the Sonic Community to take that concept and, pun intended, run with it. Today, I would like to highlight this amazing concept.

What is Sonic SATAM?

Before I go into the concept, let’s discuss an iconic Sonic show. Released in the early 90’s alongside Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, SEGA and DiC Entertainment released Sonic the Hedgehog. Having no proper ‘name’, fans dubbed it Sonic SATAM, since the show aired on Saturdays.

The premise involves a darker world, being called Mobius. Sonic and his friends are part of a resistance group, daily fighting the forces of Dr. Robotnik. Unlike the games, where he looks cartoonish and silly, this iteration of the good doctor is quite different.

Instead of putting cute little animals inside robots to power them, he turns animals like Sonic and company, into robot minions. The process is called ‘Roboticization’ and it cannot be undone. Robotnik does this to create loyal, mindless robotic minions to turn Sonic’s world into a metallic wasteland.

Thankfully, Sonic isn’t alone during this fight. His little brother Tails joins him, alongside characters like Princess Sally Acorn, Rotor the Walrus, Antoine D’Coolette, and Bunnie Rabbot, work together to save their planet. In many ways, it takes the ‘Nature vs Machine’ theming from the Classic games and amps it up to eleven.

The show ran for two seasons and was adapted into what we know today as the Archie Sonic comic series. However, the show itself never received a proper conclusion and SEGA has never officially brought the Freedom Fighters into any of the mainline games.

Blue Streak, Speeds By – Sonic X Shadow Generations DLC Fan-Comic

On January 11th, 2025, one Twitter/X artist by the name of Quaver_Orange released a comic, exploring an idea not unlike the Tokyo Zone that was added to Shadow Generations. It showed Sonic running past Sky Sanctuary from Sonic 3 & Knuckles, racing to restore another zone. But he spots a strange figure in the distance and walks over to them.

Touching their hand, a flash of light overtakes him and the Blue Blur is sudden surrounded by unfamiliar faces. To him at least, but us the reader know they are the Freedom Fighters. They tell Sonic that it’s time to shut down Robotropolis once and for all, the core Dr. Robotnik stronghold in Sonic SATAM.

The comic ends with Sonic having an emotional goodbye with Sally Acorn, arriving back in the White Space and forgetting everything that just happened. But not before a stray tear flies past him. Making matters more emotional, the characters are implied to know they ‘don’t belong’ in Game Sonic’s timeline.

This whole adventure, was a goodbye to their friend, or someone who looked like their friend.

Robotropolis Zone – Stage Concept

Going over how the level would play like, I imagine it would be compose of two parts. The first, is a more lively jaunt, with Sonic and his ‘new’ friends rushing into massive fortress. Since Game Sonic is unfamiliar with the world of SATAM, the music would be a confused mishmash of emotions.

This theme fits that perfectly, since it’s a collection of the 90’s Sonic show theme songs. In addition, the level design would be likely be similar to the opening of Modern Chemical Plant Act 2, with Sonic being able to pick one of three paths.

To make things interesting, each path would be tied with a unique Freedom Fighter. This would bring the ‘Buddy’ system that Sonic Forces utilized, with path being tied to a unique ability. Bunnie would give Sonic the grapple hook, letting him swing across long gaps. While Antione would have an attack not unlike the Lighting Wispon and Rotor would be able to use his tech to get Sonic past laser gates.

But each pathway would lead into the bases core, where Sally Acorn is paired with Sonic for the rest of the level. The duo would sneak through the area, with Sonic himself learning about his ‘new’ friends world.

Game Sonic is taken aback at how truly evil this version of Eggman his, and is confused at various comments Sally makes to him as they explore the level. The mid-level cut-scene moments from Shadow Generations would be in full effect to reflect this.

Closing out the action-packed zone, would be Sonic and Sally Double-Boosting to escape an exploding base.

Fastest… – Could SEGA Officially Make This?

One thing myself, and many fans, have wondered for years is the ownership of the Freedom Fighters. SEGA is infamous for mismanaging rights to the Sonic series, with it’s iconic music being the infamous example.

This appeared to be the case, with the legal headache Ken Penders caused in 2008. During that legal battle between SEGA, himself, and Archie Comics, ownership of some of the cast came into question. While the case got settled, SEGA hasn’t acknowledged the Freedom Fighters at all.

They haven’t appeared in any mainline or mobile games, while the IDW cast has. This implies, to me, that SEGA wants to ignore those character for whatever reason.

However, they do own the rights to the characters DiC Entertainment created in the 90’s. Legal documents have been unearthed, reported on by Sonic Stadium, stating that SEGA has full ownership of everything DiC created.

The reason Sonic SATAM was canceled, was from a contract breach, not from low viewership as was once thought. While the ownership of the Sonic Archie extended cast still a muddled mess, the core Freedom Fighters are 100% owned by SEGA.

Will SEGA Explore this Sonic X Shadow Generations DLC Concept?

Personally, I think it is more likely another Sonic Movie DLC pack would release or a DLC pack featuring levels from Sonic Frontiers could be added instead. However, the Sonic 3 Movie Pack showed how ‘easy’ it could be pulling an idea like this off.

Sonic is series spanning multiple mediums and worlds. And because of this, many people love specific iterations of the Blue Blur. Giving a loving sendoff to one of the first proper Western Sonic properties, would be one hell of a way to make those fans happy.

And Sonic Generations is a perfect medium to explore this with. It features Sonic exploring through time and space. Who is to say, other ‘Sonic Worlds’ can’t join in on the fun?

It could also open the doors to other Sonic ‘Worlds’ getting DLC throughout the year. A level exploring an Arc from the IDW Sonic series, with Tangle being your buddy tagging along? A Sonic X level having Sonic race around a bustling city with Sam Speed on his trail? Or even a DLC with Classic Sonic running through the Loony Tunes inspired antics of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog‘s world?

The possibilities, are indeed, endless.