In a 2015 interview with "Polygon", Iizuka acknowledged that contemporary "Sonic" games had been disappointing. He hoped, from then on, that the Sonic Team logo would stand as a "mark of quality"; he planned to release quality games and expand the "Sonic" brand, while retaining the modern Sonic design. At the San Diego Comic-Con in July 2016, Sega announced two "Sonic" games to coincide with the series' 25th anniversary: "Sonic Mania" and "Sonic Forces". Both were released for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Windows in 2017. "Sonic Mania" was developed by the independent game developers PagodaWest Games and Headcannon with a staff comprising members of the "Sonic" fandom; Whitehead conceived the project and served as director. The game, which emulates the gameplay and visuals of the Genesis entries, was hailed as a return to form for the franchise. Meanwhile, Sonic Team developed "Sonic Forces", which revives the dual gameplay of "Sonic Generations" along with a third gameplay style featuring the player's custom character. "Sonic Forces" received mixed reviews, with criticism for its short length. At SXSW 2019, Iizuka announced that a new mainline "Sonic" game was in development. Additionally, Sumo Digital developed a "Sonic" kart racing game, "Team Sonic Racing" (2019).