If you are unaware, there are numerous significant video game anniversaries scheduled for 2026. From classics like The Legend of Zelda, to modern juggernauts like Overwatch, many games are celebrating this year, and Sega is starting to get into the spirit with a new hype video getting everyone ready for the 35 year anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog.
Sonic the Hedgehog Turns 35 in 2026
While there aren’t any big announcements from the short video above, we do have a new take on Live and Learn from Sonic Adventure 2 and tons of references to various games, shows, and movies. Everything from the first game to Sonic X and even the Lego version of Sonic from Lego Dimensions is included in this video.
Just before the video ends, we get a quick look at one of the boss fights in Sonic Frontiers before a message pops up saying, “Here’s to the next level,” which is, of course, a reference to the Welcome to the Next Level slogan for Sega in the 90s, but may also be a slight hint that the next big Sonic after Frontiers could be announced this year, but that is mere speculation.
While some may look at this and think this is a shallow way to celebrate 35 years, this is just the first step. Sega making a new logo to celebrate the 35 years of Sonic the Hedgehog feels very in line with the Year of Shadow in 2024. During that time, it released Sonic x Shadow Generations, which was a build-up to the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie, and announced Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds.
We know that the Sonic the Hedgehog 4 movie isn’t coming until late 2027, so we likely won’t get a movie trailer this year, or if we do it will be near the end, but you should definitely expect a look at the next mainline game, some big additions to Sonic Racing CrossWorlds, and probably some cool merch coming in the future.
