SEGA used its Sonic the Hedgehog 35th Anniversary livestream to unveil a wide range of announcements, headlined by the surprise launch of Sonic Frontiers Definitive Edition for Nintendo Switch 2.
Available now both digitally and physically, the new edition of Sonic’s 2022 open-zone adventure includes the base game alongside all previously released updates. SEGA says the release also features enhanced visuals and performance on Nintendo’s latest hardware.
The birthday celebration stream also brought several updates for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds. Patch 4 is scheduled to go live later today, introducing Classic Sonic and his vehicle as free additions for all players. SEGA also confirmed that Axel will join the roster in August 2026, followed by Amigo in September 2026 at no extra cost.
Viewers also got a fresh look at the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles DLC Pack, which is set to arrive on July 29, 2026.
Competitive players have something new to look forward to as well, with the announcement of the Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds World Championship 2026. Online qualifiers will run from June 30 to July 19, with the top 24 racers earning a place in the live finals in New York City on October 9. Twitch viewers will also be able to earn in-game rewards through participating streams during the qualification period.
SEGA shared another look at SONIC PICO PARK, revealing Shadow the Hedgehog and Sonic Pico Cat as new playable characters. They join Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Amy ahead of the game’s release later this year.
To mark Sonic’s 35th anniversary, SEGA also announced the Sonic the Hedgehog 35th Anniversary Project, which includes several new physical collections and retro releases.
The Classic Sonic Collection bundles Sonic Origins, Sonic Mania, and Sonic Superstars for Nintendo Switch and launches in October 2026 for $49.99. A matching Modern Sonic Collection, featuring Sonic Frontiers, Sonic Colors: Ultimate, and Sonic Forces, will launch at the same price and include the same anniversary-themed bonuses.
Meanwhile, publisher iam8bit is releasing the Sonic the Hedgehog 1 & 2 Legacy Cartridge Collection. Both Genesis-compatible cartridges are available for pre-order now at $99.99 each and will ship later this year.
Outside of gaming announcements, SEGA revealed an expanded schedule for Sonic Live in Concert, adding more than 30 new performances across North America and Europe through early 2027. The company also launched a special 35-song Spotify playlist created to celebrate Sonic’s birthday.
The stream additionally highlighted Sonic Forces (Working Title) for the Nex Playground active play system, which is due to launch later this year, and announced a limited-time Idol Sonic event for Sonic Forces Mobile.
Rounding out the celebration, SEGA introduced Sonic’s Chaos Hunt, a new anniversary-themed event centred around the Chaos Emeralds, alongside a franchise-wide Steam sale offering discounts of up to 90% on selected Sonic titles.
