New Games, Major Announcements To Mark Sonic The Hedgehog's 30th Anniversary In 2021

In 1991, a very fast, blue hedgehog with red running shoes turned the video game industry upside down on the Sega Genesis. In 2021, Sonic the Hedgehog celebrates his 30^th anniversary with the release of new games and some major announcements.

An advertisement of Sega in Licensing Source Book Europe’s summer 2020 edition, originally published in July, says the publisher is planning “a year of celebrations” for its mascot including “new games, digital content, major announcements, and a tailored licensing program.”

It also highlights various brand statistics, including over $6 billion in lifetime franchise revenue and over 92 million “Sonic the Hedgehog” game sales, Video Games Chronicle reports.

First appearing on the Sega Genesis (Sega Mega Drive in Japan) gaming console in 1991, Sonic the Hedgehog was to Sega what Mario was to Nintendo. With his smirk and slightly arrogant attitude matching his perpetual motion in the video games he was featured in, Sonic quickly became synonymous with Sega as representative of the company.

Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka announced at SXSW Gaming 2019 that production on the next major “Sonic the Hedgehog” title was already underway.

After a hit motion picture earlier this year with Ben Schwartz voicing Sonic and Jim Carrey as the villainous Dr. Robotnik, Paramount Pictures has confirmed plans to release “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” in cinemas on Apr. 8, 2022.

The live-action “Sonic the Hedgehog” motion picture saw Sonic and Sheriff Tom Wachowski (James Marsden) team up to save the planet from the villainous plans for world conquest of Dr. Robotnik.

That film has gone on to gross $146 million in the US and $306 million worldwide, making it the third-highest-grossing film of 2020 to date, according to Box Office Mojo.

With Nintendo currently in the middle of celebrating the 35^th anniversary of the “Super Mario Bros.” franchise, it might serve as a kind of blueprint for what Sega will do for Sonic’s own celebration next year. Among the Super Mario related releases is “Super Mario 3D All-Stars” for the Nintendo Switch.

Although Sega is no longer in the console making game, developing a new “Sonic the Hedgehog” game or two is certainly within their abilities.