SEGA® of America, Inc. and SEGA Europe Ltd. today announced the development of Sonic Riders™ for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and the Nintendo GameCube™. Developed by SONIC TEAM, Tokyo, Sonic Riders integrates Extreme sports, high-speed racing and head-to-head battles, offering a new racing experience with Sonic unlike any before in other racing games. Sonic Riders is slated to ship in Winter 2006.

In Sonic Riders, Dr. Eggman challenges Sonic and his friends to a Worldwide Grand Prix, and the prize for coming out on top is an ultra-rare Chaos Emerald! Gliding on air boards – which are performance-oriented for each playable character – gamers will experience a heightened sense of sports-style racing tension as Sonic and his pals perform tricks and stunts over treacherous wide-open terrain.

"Sonic Riders epitomizes what fans love about the series: fast action, attitude, and multiplayer challenges," said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President Marketing for SEGA of America. "The Sonic franchise has sold more than 38-million units worldwide, and we are thrilled to offer longtime fans and newcomers alike a brand new racing experience with Sonic Riders."

Sonic is dubbed the speediest on the ground, but will he be able to outrun all the others on his air board? Could Dr. Eggman and his legendary air rider group, The Band of Thieves: Babylon, have a shot at winning the Chaos Emerald this time around?

Now, gamers will have the chance to play as one of their favorite Sonic characters or compete against three other friends to determine the champion of the Worldwide Grand Prix!