The official reveal of Sonic Frontiers in late 2021 wasn't particularly surprising since Sega had teased it before, but its debut was still a big deal because of the questions it raised. Fans know the game will take Sonic to a new place full of mysterious technology called the Starfall Islands, but it's unclear where his usual allies are or what kinds of powers he might have obtained by visiting these islands. Sonic Frontiers is meant to release sometime this year, so Sega and Sonic Team might release more information in the coming months, but for now, fans are left guessing.
Lots of people want to know what Tails, Knuckles, Amy, and Dr. Eggman will do in the game's plot, but they're only the core Sonic the Hedgehog characters in a franchise with tons of recognizable faces. Perhaps the most recognizable is Shadow, Sonic's brooding counterpart who often alternates between an anti-heroic antagonist and unlikely ally. Sonic Team hasn't confirmed that Shadow will play a role in Sonic Frontiers, but considering how much Sonic fans love Shadow, as well as what fans know about Sonic Frontiers so far, it wouldn't be surprising if Shadow turned out to be a linchpin in the game's plot.
Shadow in Sonic Frontiers Makes Sense
A few supposed Sonic Frontiers plot details make it sound like Shadow has a good chance of appearing. For one thing, Sonic Frontiers' plot supposedly kicks off with Dr. Eggman trying to harness the Starfall Islands' technology, which goes horribly wrong. A disastrous experiment by Eggman sounds like exactly the kind of thing Shadow would consider interfering with thanks to his track record of begrudgingly protecting the world from destruction, although Shadow is bound to have an equally destructive solution in mind. Sonic may have to preserve the Starfall Islands from annihilation on multiple fronts.
What's more, Sonic Frontiers may not feature Sonic's friends in leading rolls. Although famous Sonic voice actors will reprise their roles in Sonic Frontiers, Sonic's friends have apparently been endangered by Eggman's activities, suggesting that they're not able to help him explore the Starfall Islands for most of the game. Shadow could end up working together with Sonic in their stead. Sonic and Shadow have a long history of teaming up in dire situations, including during his debut game Sonic Adventure 2. Considering how mysterious and daunting the dangers of the Starfall Islands look so far, Sonic may very well need Shadow's help again if Tails, Knuckles, and Amy are missing.
Shadow's Next Big Role
Perhaps the only thing standing in the way of Shadow appearing in Sonic Frontiers is the Starfall Islands themselves. Since Sonic the Hedgehog is going to such an elaborate new place, it would make sense if Sonic Team kept returning characters to a minimum so it can focus on expanding the lore of Sonic Frontiers. Ultimately, it seems unlikely that the Starfall Islands will keep Shadow from making an appearance. New locations and enemies haven't kept Shadow out of the spotlight in games like Sonic Boom, so there's sure to be room for him in Sonic Frontiers.
Sonic fans are already excited about Sonic Frontiers, and with good reason. Its "open-zone" design sounds like a fun new way to make the most of Sonic's signature speed. If Shadow returns, however, hype for Sonic Frontiers will undoubtedly go through the roof. Ever since Sonic Adventure 2, Shadow has been a fan favorite character; there's no doubt that Sonic Team knows Shadow could be a major boon to Sonic Frontiers. It's just a matter of deciding what role he should play. Whether he's a secondary antagonist or a consistent, brooding ally to Sonic, Shadow has a lot to offer.
Sonic Frontiers releases in 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.