A recent Amazon listing reveals Sega is preparing for Sonic the Hedgehog's 35th anniversary. Here's a look at the new commemorative art and merchandise, and Sega's playful jab at Mario Kart's upcoming title.

Sega Hints at Plans for Sonic's 35th Anniversary

Special 35th Anniversary Logo and Art Featured on New Calendar

Sonic the Hedgehog will mark its 35th anniversary in 2026, and Sega appears to be preparing its celebrations well in advance. A Sega product listing on Amazon has opened pre-orders for a Sonic the Hedgehog 35th Anniversary 2026 Wall Calendar, which includes four bonus notecards.

The calendar showcases exclusive, never-before-seen artwork of Sonic featuring a special 35th-anniversary logo. The cover image suggests the calendar will take a retrospective journey through Sonic's history, featuring art from games released between 1991 and the present day. Its official description reads: "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, buyers will receive four die-cut notecards featuring popular characters from the series—Sonic, Amy, Knuckles, and Tails—which can be assembled into 3D, free-standing figures. According to the listing, the 35th Anniversary Wall Calendar is available for pre-order on Amazon now, with shipping slated to begin on August 19, 2025.

Sega Playfully Comments on Mario Kart World Announcement

Meanwhile, the Sonic franchise is also gearing up for the release of *Sonic Racing: Crossworlds* later in 2025. It won't be the only major kart racer launching this year, however, as Nintendo announced *Mario Kart World* during a Nintendo Direct focused on the Switch 2. *Mario Kart World* is scheduled for release alongside the Switch 2 on June 5, 2025.

Sega took to X (formerly Twitter) on April 3 with what appears to be a friendly shot at Nintendo's new announcement. The post began with "Big day for worldly racing games!", seemingly acknowledging *Mario Kart World*. The message continued, stating that *Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds* will be the "ONLY upcoming kart racer you can play with your friends." Sega and Nintendo have maintained a lighthearted rivalry for decades, and it looks set to continue with these two new racing titles.

This year is shaping up to be an exciting and competitive period for kart racing fans, with two titans of the industry releasing major titles. While *CrossWorlds* will be available on all major platforms, *Mario Kart World* is poised to introduce innovations that take full advantage of the Switch 2's capabilities.

Ultimately, fans emerge as the real winners, with both *CrossWorlds* and *Mario Kart World* looking like high-quality, enjoyable experiences. *Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds* is set to launch in 2025 on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. An exact release date has not yet been announced.

For the latest updates and information on *Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds*, check out our article below.