In a new in-depth interview, Sega of America's Vice President of Marketing Sean Ratcliffe commented, "Some of that criticism is probably warranted. We definitely recognize that a franchise that has been going as long as Sonic, you really have to put a huge amount of effort in to make sure that you maintain that quality, and arguably a disproportionate amount of effort. However, I would say we recognize it, which is why you're seeing us this year taking the first steps in making sure the quality is right, and we're constantly looking at innovation. We can't just stand still with Sonic; we've got to be looking at different ways to develop the character, different genres, and so on."

He added, "So your point [about quality] is a fair one, and it's a challenge to Sega to make sure we're pushing and making sure the quality is there with Sonic. Do we get concerned about it? Yes, of course we're always concerned about how we're developing that franchise. And a lot of time and effort is spent discussing how we develop Sonic."