Sonic's 35th Anniversary: New Calendar, Art Unveiled

Sonic the Hedgehog is preparing for its 35th anniversary celebration, as evidenced by a newly listed product on Amazon. Discover the brand-new artwork and merchandise, along with Sega's playful response to Mario Kart World.

Sega Announces Sonic 35th Anniversary Celebration

Limited-Edition Calendar Showcases Anniversary Logo and New Art

Sonic the Hedgehog will celebrate its 35th Anniversary in 2026, and Sega is already preparing special commemorative items. An Amazon listing now shows pre-orders available for the Sonic 35th Anniversary 2026 Wall Calendar, which includes 4 bonus collectible notecards.

The calendar features exclusive artwork of Sonic with a specially designed 35th anniversary logo. From preview images, it appears to showcase significant moments throughout Sonic's history with game art spanning from the 1991 original to recent releases. The product description states: "Speed through decades of adventure with this 12-month retrospective calendar highlighting Sonic's journey. Featuring classic artwork from Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) through Sonic Frontiers (2022), this collectible item is perfect for longtime fans and newcomers alike."

Purchasers will also receive four premium die-cut notecards featuring fan-favorite characters including Sonic, Amy, Knuckles and Tails - each transforming into 3D stand-up figures. According to the listing, the Sonic 35th Anniversary Wall Calendar is available for pre-order on Amazon with an estimated shipping date of August 19, 2025.

Sega's Playful Response to Mario Kart Announcement

Meanwhile, the Sonic franchise is also preparing to launch Sonic Racing: Crossworlds in 2025. However, it now faces competition as Nintendo recently announced Mario Kart World during their Switch 2 presentation. Mario Kart World will launch alongside the new console on June 5, 2025.

Sega responded to this announcement in characteristic fashion with an April 3rd post on X (formerly Twitter). The message began by acknowledging: "Big day for global racing games!" appearing to congratulate Nintendo. However, Sega soon revealed their competitive spirit, stating that Sonic Racing: Crossworlds would be "the ONLY upcoming kart racer you can play with your friends." This continues the good-natured rivalry between these gaming giants.

2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year for racing game enthusiasts, with two major franchises releasing competitive titles. While Crossworlds will be available across all platforms, Mario Kart World aims to leverage the technological capabilities of the upcoming Switch 2.

Ultimately, players benefit most from this friendly competition between high-quality racing experiences. Sonic Racing: Crossworlds is scheduled for release across PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, and PC in 2025 - though exact timing remains unannounced.

For the latest updates on Sonic Racing: Crossworlds, be sure to check our detailed coverage below!