Sonic Central Livestream Recap: Every Announcement for Sonic the Hedgehog’s 30th Anniversary

SEGA presented its first ever Sonic Central livestream event today, in honor of Sonic the Hedgehog’s 30th anniversary this year, making several major announcements. You can watch the entire 12-minute presentation below, but here is a quick recap of everything announced.

The event was introduced by Ivo Gerscovich and Takashi Iizuka, the global chief brand officer and creative officer for Sonic the Hedgehog respectively, who thanked the fans for their support.

Sonic Symphony 30th anniversary event

Credit: SEGA

Sonic’s official 30th anniversary on June 23 will be celebrated with a free full symphony orchestra virtual music event. It will feature music from Sonic games over the last 30 years, with special guest performances by rock band Crush 40, DJ Tomoya Ohtani, and more. A special preview of the event will take place during Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest Kickoff Live! on June 10.

Sonic competing in Tokyo 2020

Ever wanted to compete as Sonic in Olympic events? You’ll soon have your chance! In Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 – The Official Video Game, you can dress up your avatar as Sonic and compete in 18 fun-filled Olympic events. The game is coming to all platforms on June 22 and available for pre-order now.

Sonic items coming to Two Point Hospital

Credit: SEGA

Sonic is coming to Two Point Hospital, the 2018 business simulation game where you build up a hospital from nothing. Sonic in-game items, character customization options and hospital decor will be available in-game for free on July 30.

Sonic the Fighters will be playable in Lost Judgment

Credit: SEGA

This fall, the 1996 arcade game Sonic the Fighters (known as Sonic Championship outside Japan) will be playable in Lost Judgment, the sequel to the Yakuza spinoff Judgment. Visit any Sega Arcade location in-game to play. Lost Judgment releases on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 on Sept. 24.

Sonic Colors: Ultimate remaster announced

Sonic Colors, the 2010 game for Nintendo DS and Wii, is getting remastered for modern platforms. Sonic Colors: Ultimate is coming to PC (via the Epic Games Store), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on Sept. 7. Those who pre-order now can get an exclusive “Baby Sonic” keychain and other bonus items.

Sonic Colors: Rise of the Wisps animated short coming this summer

A two-part animated short called Sonic Colors: Rise of the Wisps was announced by returning Sonic voice actor Roger Craig Smith. Releasing this summer, this is the first in a series of short-form animations coming that will feature full dialogue from the Sonic voice cast. In Rise of the Wisps, Sonic and Tails travel to Sweet Mountain where they team up with the Jade Ghost wisp to free wisps that have been captured by Dr. Eggman.

Sonic Origins compilation coming in 2022

Sonic Origins, a new compilation that includes Sonic 1, Sonic 2, Sonic 3, Sonic & Knuckles, and Sonic CD, is coming to modern platforms in 2022, with added content and features.

Sonic Mania, Team Sonic Racing, and Sonic Forces on cloud gaming

Credit: SEGA

Sonic Mania and Team Sonic Racing on now available on the Amazon Luna cloud platform. On June 1, Sonic Mania, Team Sonic Racing, and Sonic Forces are coming to Sony’s cloud gaming subscription service PlayStation Now.

Sonic mobile game special events are coming

Credit: SEGA

Several Sonic mobile game special events are coming this year.

Sonic Dash is getting a pirate-themed party starting in May, where players can unlock Pirate Sonic and Captain Shadow, as well as special prizes.

Sonic Forces: Speed Battle mobile will allow players to battle as Super Sonic this summer, with private races coming later this year as part of a limited-time event.

Sonic Racing on Apple Arcade is adding classic characters, cars and three new tracks in a classic zone, along with some old school remixes.

And both Sonic Forces and Sonic Dash are adding a special character to their roster for Halloween: the Werehog from the 2008 game Sonic Unleashed.

Sonic Prime animated series teased

Credit: SEGA

Joe Kelly, one of the showrunners of the upcoming 2022 Netflix animated series Sonic Prime, gave a brief tease of the project. “We’ve been working really hard to bring fans something they’ve never seen before in a Sonic series,” he said, after noting that he and the rest of the Man of Action Entertainment writers’ collective working on Sonic Prime created Cartoon Network’s Ben 10 and the characters in Disney’s Big Hero 6.

“Over the course of 24 episodes, Sonic will be thrust into a high-speed adventure through the strange and mysterious Shatterverse. It’s up to Sonic to save the universe and along the way experience moments of self-discovery and redemption. Sonic Prime is set to premiere worldwide in 2022. We look forward to taking this journey with you and sharing more information with you at a later date.”

New Sonic 30th anniversary merchandise

Credit: JAKKS Pacific

Brand new Sonic products are coming this year.

On the toy front, there’s a Giant Eggman Robot Battle Set coming from JAKKS Pacific in July.

If bling’s your thing, a stylish Sonic the Hedgehog 30th anniversary jewelry collection is coming from King Ice, “for the fans dialed into hip hop culture.”

For word nerds, the full-color hardcover Sonic the Hedgehog Encyclo-speed-ia, covering 30 years of video games, arrives from Dark Horse on November 23.

Finally, commemorative Sonic 30th Anniversary gold and silver collector’s coins are coming from APMEX.

New Sonic game teased for 2022

Gerscovich ended the livestream by promising more announcements coming later this year, before he was interrupted by Iizuka, who said he had one more thing to show the fans.

We were then treated to a very brief teaser for a new 3D video game from developer Sonic Team for 2022. The teaser features Sonic running through a forest, bursting forward with an enhanced effect, and sprinting in a loop shape that turns into a rune.

No title was revealed for the game, but the teaser states it is coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch.

That’s it! Which Sonic announcement are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments below!