SEGA® and ImageNPay launch Sonic the Hedgehog™ Virtual Mastercard Collection

October 28, 2024

To coincide with the recent launch of the highly anticipated SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS game on October 25th, ImageNPay and SEGA are pleased to announce today’s release of the Sonic Virtual Mastercard collection, an exclusive series of Sonic-themed digital prepaid cards. Featuring characters and scenes from SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS, the collaboration combines the iconic Sonic the Hedgehog and ImageNPay, a digital wallet and mobile adtec platform. ImageNPay is on a mission to make the payments ecosystem plastic free.

Sonic fans can help reduce plastic consumption by downloading a prepaid digital card from the ImageNPay app on the App Store or Playstore and selecting their favourite Sonic image to pay with. Cardholders will also have the option to donate to Save the Children, a charity that creates lasting change for children around the world, and the Priceless Planet Coalition, a global initiative to fund the restoration of 100 million trees, each time they upload money onto their Sonic-branded prepaid card.

Michael Donald, Founder & CEO of ImageNPay, said, “The SEGA and Sonic collection represents a significant advancement in our mission to make payments hyper-personalised, plastic free, financially inclusive and fun for everyone. This collaboration also showcases animated Sonic images on digital payment cards for the first time, adding an element of fun to payments. We are proud to have developed this innovative technology in the UK which enables brands to build deeper partnerships with their customers and which is leading the fight to reduce plastic waste in the payments industry.

“This collaboration with ImageNPay for the release of the Sonic Virtual Mastercard Collection allows us to connect deeper with our ever-growing community.  To be able to educate our fanbase as well as contribute to the reduction of plastic produced on a global basis, is an opportunity we and the Sonic Team want to be a part of.” said Ivo Gerscovich, Senior Vice President and Chief Business and Brand Officer of Sonic, Head of SEGA Brands.

“At Mastercard, we work with the gaming industry to enable game-changing solutions and deliver unforgettable experiences,” said Simon Forbes, Divisional President, UK&I at Mastercard. “This collaboration with ImageNPay and Sonic delivers on all these fronts, and we’re proud to work with the world’s most famous hero hedgehog, helping reduce plastic consumption and raise funds for good causes.”

 

Media Contacts

Caroline Lumley, Mastercard

+44 7795 501782 | caroline.lumley@mastercard.com

About SEGA of America, Inc.

Sega of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA CORPORATION, a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment. Established in 1986, Sega of America publishes innovative interactive entertainment experiences for console, PC, mobile and emerging platforms. In 2020, SEGA ranked #1 among Metacritic's Annual Game Publisher Rankings. Its globally beloved franchises include Sonic the Hedgehog, Like a Dragon™, Virtua Fighter™, Super Monkey Ball™, and Phantasy Star Online™, along with Atlus' Persona™ and Shin Megami Tensei™ series. Since its debut more than three decades ago, Sonic has become a pop culture icon featured in dozens of games, TV series, and movies. Sega of America has offices in Irvine and Burbank, California. Visit www.sega.com.

 

About Save The Children

Save the Children exists to create lasting change for and with children. In more than 100 countries including the UK, we make sure children stay safe, healthy and learning, and change the future for good. We find new ways to reach children, no matter where they’re growing up. For a century, we’ve stood up for children’s rights and made sure their voices are heard.

For more information visit www.savethechildren.org.uk   

 

About ImageNPay

ImageNPay is a digital wallet and mobile adtec platform that enables you to pay with images in both Apple Pay and Google Wallet by personalising a virtual prepaid card on your phone, with images and dynamic content that reflect you. ImageNPay removes the need for plastic payment cards, enhancing the consumers mobile payment experience, whilst actively reducing their carbon footprint.

ImageNPay connects people to their passions with images they love whilst enabling brands to provide consumers with images the can pay with; from Gaming, to the Movies,  Charities to Art and Entertainment, there will always be a card for you. Above all, ImageNPay is creating a fun and more relevant way for brands to engage with their fans young and old which is original, inclusive, sustainable and plastic free

Act with confidence, pay with attitude and let your imagination guide you at Imagenpay.com

For more information on ImageNPay, please visit the website here.

 

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

www.mastercard.com