Late last week SEGA teased Sonic fans of the world with a trailer for an upcoming game widely believed to be the next high-definition outing for the blue speedster.

Today, SEGA has gone and neatly confirmed these beliefs by officially announcing Sonic Generations, a new 2D and 3D platform game for both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, due for release this holiday season.

From the looks of the debut trailer and screenshots for Sonic Generations, we may just be able to get excited for this one (“Don’t start that again!” – My Conscience):

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic Generations will allow us to play as the classic 2D Sonic of 1991, as well as the “modern day video game hero he has become,” and will be set across three eras from the history of Sonic the Hedgehog all recreated in HD.

Depending on the era, you’ll have access to Sonic’s classic range of moves such as Spin Dash and Spin Attack, as well as Homing Attack and Sonic Boost, while an “innovative new interactive menu system allows for complete immersion in Sonic’s universe with favourite characters and hidden treasures gradually being revealed throughout the game.”

Here’s the story blurb for Sonic Generations:

“Sonic’s universe is thrown into chaos when a mysterious new power creates ‘time holes’ which pull him and his friends back through time. As a result he encounters some surprises from his past history including Classic Sonic, Sonic as he appeared in 1991.

“Modern Sonic and Classic Sonic must defeat this strange new enemy, save their friends, and find out who really is behind this diabolical deed…” And… here’s that debut trailer:

Sonic Generations – Debut Trailer

We’ll bring you more information on Sonic Generations when it’s available, but until then you can flip through the rest of the first ever screenshots for the game, below: