Your Daily Drive Just Broke the Sound Barrier
Let’s be honest, sitting in traffic is the opposite of going fast. But what if you had the fastest thing alive in your passenger seat, cheering you on? In a brilliant move that blends nostalgia with modern technology, SEGA has partnered with the GPS navigation app Waze to bring Sonic the Hedgehog to your daily commute. As part of the lead-up to the character’s 35th anniversary, you can now have the iconic blue blur as your personal hype man on the road.
This isn’t just a simple voice pack. It’s a full-blown themed experience that turns every drive into a trip through the Green Hill Zone. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like you’re collecting rings on the way to the grocery store, your time has come.
More Than Just a Voice
The collaboration goes beyond just having Sonic tell you when to turn left. When you activate the new Sonic sidekick, you get a complete thematic overhaul for your Waze app. The experience includes:
- Sonic Voice Navigation: Get your driving directions from the iconic voice of Sonic himself, Roger Craig Smith (available in both English and French). Expect high-energy lines like, “Alright, let’s roll, keep your eyes on the road, never know when a loop-de-loop or spike trap will be in the way.”
- Custom Car Icon: You can swap out your standard car icon for the “Speedster Lightning,” the slick vehicle featured in the new game *Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds*.
- A New Mood: Change your on-map avatar to an “Energetic” mood, which displays a classic, confident Sonic face to other Waze users on the road.
It’s a comprehensive package that lets you fully embrace your inner hedgehog while navigating the real world.
A Celebration of Speed
This fun collaboration is part of a larger initiative called the “Racing Around the World” campaign, which Sega has launched to celebrate Sonic’s upcoming 35th anniversary. The campaign is all about celebrating the culture of speed and racing that is so integral to Sonic’s identity. This isn’t the first partnership of its kind, either. Earlier this year, Sega announced a multi-year deal with the McLaren Racing team, bridging the gap between virtual racing and real-world motorsport. The Waze partnership is the latest step in bringing Sonic’s trademark speed and attitude to fans in new and unexpected ways.
How to Activate Your New Co-Pilot
Getting Sonic in your car is easy. All you need to do is open the Waze app and navigate to the “Sidekicks” section in the menu. From there, you’ll be able to select and activate the Sonic the Hedgehog option. It’s a simple process that will immediately inject a dose of 90s cool into your next drive.
FAQs
1. What is the Sonic the Hedgehog Waze collaboration?
It’s a new feature in the Waze GPS app that allows you to use Sonic the Hedgehog as your navigation voice, along with other themed customizations like a new car icon and a new user avatar.
2. How do I get the Sonic voice on Waze?
Open the Waze app, go to the menu, and find the “Sidekicks” setting. From there, you can activate the Sonic the Hedgehog option.
3. Is the Sonic Waze feature free?
Yes, the Sonic sidekick is a free feature available to all Waze users.
4. Is the voice available in languages other than English?
Yes, the Sonic voice navigation is available in both English and French.
5. Why did Sega and Waze team up for this?
This collaboration is part of Sega’s “Racing Around the World” campaign, which is celebrating the upcoming 35th anniversary of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise.
6. Who voices Sonic in the app?
The English voice is provided by Roger Craig Smith, who has been the voice of Sonic in many of the modern games.
Conclusion
The Sonic and Waze partnership is a perfect example of how a beloved character can transcend the screen and become a fun part of our everyday lives. It’s a nostalgic nod to a gaming icon and a clever way to make a daily chore like driving a little more exciting. While having Sonic as your co-pilot probably won’t help you get through traffic any faster, it will definitely make the journey a lot more entertaining. So, go ahead and give it a try. Your commute is about to get way past cool.