Sonic the Hedgehog is gearing up for its 35th anniversary in 2026, as revealed by a recent listing on Amazon. Dive into the details about the new art and merchandise for Sonic, as well as Sega's playful jab at Mario Kart World.
Sega Teases Sonic 35th Anniversary Plans
New Calendar Features 35th Anniversary Logo and Art
Sonic the Hedgehog is set to celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2026, and Sega is already preparing for the festivities. An Amazon listing by Sega has opened pre-orders for the Sonic the Hedgehog 35th Anniversary 2026 Wall Calendar, which comes with 4 Bonus Notecards.
This calendar boasts exclusive artwork of Sonic and a new 35th anniversary logo. The cover photo of the listing suggests that the calendar will take fans on a journey through Sonic's history, featuring game art from 1991 to the present. The description entices fans with, "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!"
Additionally, the purchase includes 4 die-cut notecards featuring popular characters from the franchise, such as Sonic, Amy, Knuckles, and Tails, which transform into 3D self-standing figures. According to the listing, Sonic’s 35th Anniversary Wall Calendar is available for pre-order on Amazon and will start shipping on August 19, 2025.
Sega Takes a Jab at Mario Kart World
On another front, the Sonic franchise is preparing for the release of Sonic Racing: Crossworlds in 2025. However, it's not the only kart-racing game set to launch this year, as Nintendo announced Mario Kart World during the Nintendo Direct dedicated to Switch 2. Mario Kart World is slated for release alongside the Switch 2 on June 5, 2025.
Sega took to Twitter (X) on April 3 with what appears to be a friendly jab at Nintendo's announcement of Mario Kart World. The post began with "Big day for worldly racing games!", seemingly celebrating the announcement. However, Sega quickly added that Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds will be the "ONLY upcoming kart racer you can play with your friends." This playful banter reflects the ongoing friendly competition between Sega and Nintendo, which is set to continue with CrossWorlds and Mario Kart World.
This year promises to be an exciting and competitive time for kart racing games, as two industry giants prepare to release fan-favorite titles. While CrossWorlds will be available on all platforms, Mario Kart World aims to innovate and leverage the upcoming release of the Switch 2.
Ultimately, fans are the true winners, as both CrossWorlds and Mario Kart World look to deliver high-quality and enjoyable experiences. Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is scheduled for release in 2025 on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, and PC. No specific release date has been officially announced yet.
Stay tuned for the latest updates on Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds by checking out our article below!
