Sonic Celebrates 35 Years with New Calendar and Art

Sonic the Hedgehog is revving up for its monumental 35th anniversary, with exciting plans unveiled through an Amazon listing. Dive into the details of the new art and merchandise, and get the scoop on Sega's playful rivalry with Mario Kart World.

Sega Teases Sonic 35th Anniversary Plans

New Calendar Features 35th Anniversary Logo and Art

As Sonic the Hedgehog gears up to celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2026, Sega is already setting the stage for a grand celebration. An Amazon listing by Sega now offers pre-orders for the Sonic the Hedgehog 35th Anniversary 2026 Wall Calendar, which comes with 4 bonus notecards.

The calendar boasts exclusive artwork of Sonic alongside a fresh 35th anniversary logo. From the cover image, it's clear that the calendar will take fans on a nostalgic journey through Sonic's history, featuring game art from 1991 to the present. The product description invites fans to "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 4 die-cut notecards featuring popular characters like Sonic, Amy, Knuckles, and Tails. These notecards can be transformed into 3D self-standing figures. The Sonic 35th Anniversary Wall Calendar is currently available for pre-order on Amazon, with shipping set to start on August 19, 2025.

Sega Takes a Jab at Mario Kart World

On the other hand, the Sonic franchise is also gearing up for the release of Sonic Racing: Crossworlds sometime in 2025. However, it looks like it’s not the only kart-racing game releasing this year, as Nintendo announced Mario Kart World during the Nintendo Direct dedicated to Switch 2. Mario Kart World is set to be released the same time as Switch 2, which would be on June 5, 2025.

Sega isn't just celebrating Sonic's anniversary; they're also preparing for the launch of Sonic Racing: Crossworlds in 2025. Yet, they're not alone in the kart-racing arena, as Nintendo has announced Mario Kart World, set to launch alongside the Switch 2 on June 5, 2025.

Sega playfully poked at Nintendo's announcement on April 3 via Twitter (X), starting with "Big day for worldly racing games!" seemingly in celebration of Mario Kart World. However, they quickly added that Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds will be the "ONLY upcoming kart racer you can play with your friends." This friendly rivalry between Sega and Nintendo continues to fuel excitement in the gaming community, with both CrossWorlds and Mario Kart World promising to deliver top-notch kart-racing experiences.

2025 is shaping up to be a thrilling year for kart racing enthusiasts, with two industry giants set to release highly anticipated titles. While Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds will be available across multiple platforms, Mario Kart World aims to leverage the innovative features of the upcoming Switch 2.

Ultimately, fans stand to benefit the most from this friendly competition, as both games promise high-quality and enjoyable experiences. Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is slated for release in 2025 on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, and PC, though a specific release date has yet to be announced.

Stay tuned for more updates on Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds by checking out our dedicated article below!