Summary
Sega has announced that the originalSonic Generationswill still be available for Xbox and PC owners to purchase and download, even after the launch ofSonic X Shadow Generations. The upcomingSonic X Shadow Generationsis an enhanced remaster of the 2011 title, which was previously released on PC via Steam, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. The remaster not only brings the original game to new systems, but also touts a brand-new story campaign starring Shadow the Hedgehog, one of Sonic’s iconic rivals.
While many fans were excited aboutSonic Generationsgetting a remaster, the announcement was also met with some concerns. Many worried about the fate of the original version ofSonic Generations, and wondered ifSonic X Shadow Generationswould replace it. These concerns were raised further when Sega suddenlydelisted the originalSonic Generationsfrom the Xbox 360 storeahead of the marketplace’s closure on July 29. Fans were wary that the originalSonic Generationswould also be delisted from Steam, just like the classic games were afterSonic Originswas released. Sega recently addressed these fears, simply stating that the original version will still be available after the launch ofSonic X Shadow Generations.
A recent thread on the officialSonic the HedgehogTwitter account confirmed that the originalSonic Generationswill be removed from storefronts as a standalone title on July 25, 2025,ahead ofSonic X Shadow Generations' October 25 launch. However, after listening to fan feedback, the post notes that it’s important to preserve the original game as well. As such, whileSonic Generationswill be delisted as a standalone title, it will still be available for purchase through bundles of otherSonictitles on both Steam and Xbox storefronts. Existing owners ofSonic Generationswill still be able to download and play the original version as well.
Another big concern for the fandom were the preservation ofmods forSonic Generations, as the delisting of the original game could render many of them obsolete.Sonic Generationsstill has an incredibly prolific modding community over a decade after its launch, with several mods adding in new playable characters, stages, and tweaks to gameplay. The tweet confirms that mods on the Steam version will not be affected, meaning the modding community won’t need to worry about them being incompatible with the remaster.
Fans were ecstatic to hear thatthe originalSonic Generationswould still be available for purchase, though many were understanding of the compromise needed to keep the old version around by including it in a bundle. Usually, older versions of games are delisted so that the new release is the only option available to maximize profit, so this is a big victory in terms of game preservation.
Sonic X Shadow Generations
WHERE TO PLAY
THE RETURN OF SHADOWIn this new standalone campaign, Shadow’s nemesis, Black Doom, has reemerged and threatens to take over the world once again. Shadow must journey into his past, confront his painful memories, and unlock new dark powers to save the world.
SHADOW EVOLVEDHarness Shadow’s new Doom Powers to battle hordes of enemies and tackle platforming challenges like never before. Surf on water, fly over obstacles, and stop time with the return of Chaos Control!A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME AND DIMENSIONSExperience the ultimate showdown between Shadow and Black Doom in a new boss battle that will test your skills and reflexes. Use all of Shadow’s abilities to defeat Black Doom and save the world!EXPLORE THE NEW WHITE SPACEStretch your legs in an all-new hub world inspired by the open-zone gameplay of Sonic Frontiers. As Shadow gains new powers, he can explore further and uncover the secrets hidden throughout!
