Sonic's Takashi Iizuka has dashed the hopes of fans anticipating a dedicated Chao Garden game. In a recent interview, he addressed the beloved feature from the Sonic Adventure series, revealing that there are currently no plans for a standalone title.
Sonic Team Head Confirms No Plans for Chao Garden Standalone Title
‘We Can’t Just Break It Off and Make It a Thing,’ Says Iizuka
For many Sonic fans, the Chao Garden wasn’t just a side activity—it was a virtual haven where adorable, squishy creatures called Chao thrived under their care. First introduced in Sonic Adventure and returning in its sequel, these little critters offered a relaxing break from the high-speed gameplay. But the dream of a dedicated Chao Garden game seems to be fading fast, with Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka throwing cold water on the idea in a recent interview.
Rumors of a standalone Chao Garden title have been circulating for years, fueled by fan enthusiasm and whispers of mobile game development. However, Iizuka’s comments to VGC definitively shut down those hopes for now.
"When we talk about Chao Garden specifically, I know everyone’s like ‘I want Chao Garden, I want Chao Garden,’" Iizuka said via an interpreter. "But Chao Garden is a piece… it’s part of a whole Sonic Adventure series of games."
Iizuka then points out that isolating the Chao Garden might make it feel incomplete, likening it to a sail without a ship. "It’s not a standalone game," he continued. "It’s integrated into the whole Adventure series gameplay, so we can’t just break it off and make it a thing. And so it’s like, alright, well, if you’re asking for Chao Garden and Adventure 3, then that’s pretty much asking for Adventure 3."
This sentiment aligns with previous statements by Iizuka. When discussing the upcoming Sonic X Shadow Generations, he confirmed the absence of Chao Gardens, further suggesting a disconnect between the creatures and future Sonic titles outside the "Adventure" framework. He did, however, suggest that the door wasn’t entirely closed: "I think at some time I’d like to say ‘hey, yeah, we’re making Adventure 3’, but we don’t have plans for that yet."
The Chao Garden was a unique feature of Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2, designed to highlight the capabilities of the Dreamcast’s Visual Memory Unit (VMU). The Adventure games even had minigames called Chao Adventure, which you could play in the VMU. While Sonic Advance 3 had a Chao Playground, it was more of a display than a feature, lacking the interactivity of the Chao Gardens.
While this leaves fans yearning for a full-fledged Chao experience in limbo, the news isn’t all bleak. The recent resurgence of classic Sonic titles, with compilations like Sonic Origins performing well, further bolsters the case for revisiting the Adventure era. If a well-received Sonic Adventure 3 materializes, it could be the perfect opportunity to reintroduce the beloved feature.
At the very least, Iizuka has indicated that he’s open to revisiting the Adventure series and has acknowledged that there is a demand for the Chao Garden’s return. But for now, fans may have to wait a while longer. In his words, "if the stars align and it all works out, then we’d love to make it."
Source:
VGC: Sonic boss suggests it won’t make a standalone Chao Garden game
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