Sonic The Hedgehog Unveils 35th Anniversary Plans

Sonic the Hedgehog is set to celebrate a major milestone—its 35th anniversary in 2026—and Sega is already building excitement with fresh announcements. A recent Amazon listing reveals new commemorative merchandise, including a special edition wall calendar featuring exclusive artwork and a newly designed anniversary logo. Alongside this, Sega appears to be ramping up competition in the kart racing space with Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, positioning it as a direct contender to Nintendo’s newly announced Mario Kart World.

Sega Unveils Sonic 35th Anniversary Calendar and Exclusive Art

As part of the upcoming 35th-anniversary celebrations for Sonic the Hedgehog, Sega has launched pre-orders for the Sonic the Hedgehog 35th Anniversary 2026 Wall Calendar on Amazon. This collectible item promises to take fans on a visual journey through Sonic’s storied history, from its debut in 1991 to the latest Sonic Frontiers release in 2022.

The calendar includes a redesigned 35th-anniversary logo and features original game art across its 12-month layout. Based on the cover image from the product listing, each month will highlight key moments and visuals from various Sonic titles over the decades. The official description reads: “Race into adventure and celebrate Sonic the Hedgehog’s 35th anniversary with this 12-month retrospective calendar. Featuring original game art from Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) to Sonic Frontiers (2022), this calendar is perfect for Sonic fans new and old. Gotta go fast!”

In addition to the calendar, buyers will receive four bonus die-cut notecards featuring iconic characters such as Sonic, Amy, Knuckles, and Tails. These notecards are specially designed to fold into 3D self-standing figures—making them a unique keepsake for collectors and fans alike.

The Sonic 35th Anniversary Wall Calendar is currently available for pre-order and is scheduled to begin shipping on August 19, 2025.

Sega Enters the Kart Racing Arena: Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds vs Mario Kart World

While the anniversary festivities build momentum, Sega is also preparing the launch of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds in 2025. However, the timing places it in direct competition with Nintendo’s Mario Kart World, which was unveiled during the Switch 2 dedicated Nintendo Direct and is expected to launch alongside the new console on June 5, 2025.

On April 3, Sega posted on X (formerly Twitter), cleverly referencing the announcement of Mario Kart World with the message: “Big day for worldly racing games!” The post continued with a playful yet competitive tone, emphasizing that Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds would be the “ONLY upcoming kart racer you can play with your friends.” This subtle jab highlights Sega’s intent to position their title as the more socially engaging option.

This friendly rivalry between Sega and Nintendo isn’t new—it's a long-standing tradition in the gaming world. But with both companies launching high-profile kart racing titles in 2025, the competition looks to be fiercer than ever. While Mario Kart World is expected to leverage the capabilities of the new Switch 2 hardware, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds aims for broader accessibility by launching across multiple platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.

No official release date has been confirmed for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, but anticipation continues to grow as more details emerge. Gamers around the world now have two highly anticipated kart racing experiences to look forward to in 2025.

Stay tuned for more updates on Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds and all things Sonic by following our ongoing coverage [ttpp].