Long before Sega officially revealed Sonic Frontiers, it released a teaser for the game that revealed little more than Sonic running through a forest, accompanied by strange blue and pink lights with a digital look to them. Thankfully, in late 2021, Sega finally unveiled Sonic Frontiers properly, announcing a new Sonic the Hedgehog adventure in the Starfall Islands that dabbles in open-world mechanics. Aside from showing off the new setting, hinting at the partially open-world map design, and doubling down on a 2022 release window, Sonic Frontiers' release trailer was remarkable in that it confirmed the game's name as Sonic Frontiers, rather than Sonic Rangers.

Back when Sega released the first teaser for the game, some Sonic fans discovered metadata that indicated that the game's name might be Sonic Rangers, which seemed fitting for a game with a seemingly nature-heavy design. Certain press release material also suggested that the game might have once been Sonic Rangers. Although Sega and Sonic Team have clearly settled on a different name by now, the potential former name of Sonic Rangers could actually shed some light on the mysterious Sonic Frontiers, both in terms of its use of Sonic characters and its overarching plot.

RELATED: Sonic Frontiers Shouldn't Be Afraid to Slow Down

Sonic Frontiers' Potential Rangers

sonic the hedgehog rangers sega 2022 press release team

In a lot of different contexts, the term "ranger" is applied to a battle-ready person with intimate knowledge of the wilderness, whether they're a protector of nature or a hunter that capitalizes on nature. The name Sonic Rangers would therefore suggest that the game has some actual ranger characters, potentially associated with the Starfall Islands. While the game may not be called Sonic Frontiers, it could still feature a collection of new Sonic characters who act as rangers within the Starfall Islands, protecting each of its varied biomes and working to keep its ancient technology out of the wrong hands. Ranger characters like these seem like valuable allies for Sonic.

However, it's possible that Sonic and his friends are actually the rangers that the rumored Sonic Rangers name indicates. One Sonic Frontiers plot synopsis suggests that Sonic has to investigate the Starfall Islands' ruins and technology after Dr. Eggman harnesses their power in a dangerous way, and that could lead to Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy becoming unlikely rangers of the islands. As Sonic and company fight to keep the technology out of Eggman's hands, they might inadvertently develop a relationship with the islands' wildlife, playing the role of impromptu rangers who work to preserve nature's splendor.

RELATED: Ian Flynn Writing Sonic Frontiers Provides Hope for Fans

Sonic Frontiers' Relationship with Nature

sonic the hedgehog in Sonic Frontiers

Regardless of who the rangers in the possible former title are, Sonic Rangers certainly seems to emphasize that nature is a central theme of the game. The Sonic Frontiers title may not emphasize rangers, but it certainly puts untamed wilderness and uncharted landscapes at the game's forefront. Lots of Sonic the Hedgehog games pit nature against technology in some way, but both Sonic Rangers and Sonic Frontiers suggest that nature is particularly important in the next game. It's possible that Sonic Frontiers has a story about environmentalism to tell alongside its central conflict.

Sega and Sonic Team may never say explicitly if they considered running with the name of Sonic Rangers, but that rumored name's impact may still be seen in this year's Sonic Frontiers announcements. Since the game intends to release by the end of 2022, there could be a lot of new Sonic Frontiers information coming out in the next few months. Whether that means fans meet ranger-like denizens of the Starfall Islands or learn new plot details that emphasize protecting nature, it's possible that the Sonic Rangers name's impact will be felt. In a Sonic game where players may have more liberty than ever to appreciate the world around them, themes and characters like that seem perfect.

Sonic Frontiers releases in 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

MORE: Sonic Frontiers Needs to Choose Its Antagonist Carefully