Last year SEGA held the first “Gotta Go Fast: The Official Sonic the Hedgehog Panel” at SXSW, a Austin, Texas based convention. This year? They will be back and will be calling the panel the same exact name! The Official Sonic the Hedgehog panel will take place on March 16, 2018 from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM featuring Takashi Iizuka, Austin Keys, Aaron “Meme Lord” Webber, and Tyson Hesse.

According to the SXSW event description:

“Sonic is back, and ready to take 2018 by storm. Join the official team from SEGA who are building Sonic’s future as they give you an update on last year’s strong performance of Sonic Mania and Sonic Forces, as well as the world-exclusive first look at what comes next for the fastest blue hedgehog. Speakers include Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka, Sonic PD Director Austin Keys, Sonic Mania Animation Director Tyson Hesse, and Sonic Social Media Manager Aaron Webber. You won’t want to miss this!”

So the idea is that the team will discuss the future of Sonic, which is kind of weird because 2017 was suppose to be the big change for the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. I think a lot of fans would say that they did a great job outside of Sonic Team… but is it weird that Takashi Iizuka will be there? I get that he was only a producer for Sonic Forces, but wouldn’t they want to put a nicer face on the franchise? Maybe get the full Sonic Mania team? Also find it funny that they are considering Sonic Forces a ‘strong performer’. Oh boy.

Eh, what do you guys think? Will you guys be going to SXSW 2018? Are you interested in being there to hear SEGA talk about “the future of Sonic”?