Sonic the Hedgehog franchise timeline

The Evolution of the Universe of Sonic is listed chronologically, and presents the universe, games, and the events which are listed in relation to the fictional universe based on the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series.

Note: comics and television shows are bolded, while games are "italicized".

1988

* Sega's "AM8" studio was formed in Ota, Tokyo, Japan.

1990

* April: A contest is organized to create a mascot/character intended to prove the capabilities of the Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis. The proposals were various (a bulldog, an all-American wolf, an armadillo, a rabbit, a kangaroo, and even a short, fat man in pajamas). A blue hedgehog named Sonic was chosen as the mascot for Sega. Studio AM8 of Sega starts to work on Sonic the Hedgehog and is re-named "Sonic TEAM". Ultimately, the short fat man in pajamas (who bears a slight resemblance to United States President Theodore Roosevelt) would be re-designed as the villain of the Sonic the Hedgehog series, as Doctor Robotnik, and the armadillo would be reused as Mighty the Armadillo.
* November 7: Dreams Come True, a Japanese group, begins its tour, sponsored by Sega and Sonic.

1991

* June 23: "Sonic the Hedgehog (Mega Drive/Genesis)" launches in North America.
* June: "Sonic the Hedgehog (Mega Drive/Genesis)" launches in Europe.
* July 26: "Sonic the Hedgehog (Mega Drive/Genesis)" launches in Japan.
* October 25: "Sonic the Hedgehog (Master System)" launches in Brazil.

1992

* August: "UFO SegaSonic", an arcade game developed by Sega Mechatro, launches in Japan.
* October 25: "Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Master System)" launches in Brazil.
* October 29: "Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Master System)" launches in Europe.
* November: "Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Master System)" launches in North America.
* November 21: "Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Game Gear)" and "Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Mega Drive/Genesis)" launches in Japan.
* November 24: "Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Mega Drive/Genesis)" launches in North America and Europe.
** Miles "Tails" Prower makes his debut with "Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Mega Drive/Genesis)".
* A series of manga comics starring Sonic begins in the magazine Shogaku Yonensei.

1993

* February: Sega sponsors a team of football. Sonic appears on the shirt of the team. Archie Comics starts to publish the official comic series named Sonic the Hedgehog in the United States.
* from March 14 to November 7: Sega sponsors a team of Formula 1. Sonic appears on the cars.
* April: a machine with Sonic popcorn appears. A mini-game is integrated to have patience during the preparation.
* May 29: Fleetway starts to publish Sonic the Comic in the United Kingdom.
* June: "SegaSonic Arcade" launches in Japan.
* September: Sonic The Hedgehog (nick-named "SatAM"), an animated cartoon series, airs on ABC.
* September 13: The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, an animated cartoon series, starts.
* September 23: "Sonic the Hedgehog CD (Sega CD)" launches in Japan.
* October: "Sonic the Hedgehog CD" launches in Europe.
* October 25: "Sonic the Hedgehog Chaos" (known as "Sonic and Tails" in Japan), launches in Latin America.
* November 19: "Sonic the Hedgehog Chaos", launches in Japan. "Sonic the Hedgheog CD" launches in North America.
** Metal Sonic and Amy Rose make their entrances into the Sonic universe with their debut in "Sonic The Hedgehog CD".
* November 23: "Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball" and "Sonic the Hedgehog Chaos" launch in North America.
* November 25: A Sonic balloon appears in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It is the first and last balloon inspired of a video game at the time of this parade.
* November: "Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball" and "Sonic the Hedgehog Chaos" launch in Europe. "Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (Mega Drive/Genesis)" launches in North America and Europe.
* December 10: "Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball" launches in Japan.
* December: "Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (Game Gear)" launches in North America.
* An arcade game for children, "Sega Sonic Cosmo Fighter Galaxy Patrol", launches in Japan.
* A gene is named Sonic hedgehog after Sonic.
* Penguin Books publishes the gamebook Metal City Mayhem and Zone Rangers.
* Virgin Books publishes the novels Sonic the Hedgehog in Robotnik's Laboratory, Sonic the Hedgehog in the Fourth Dimension and Sonic the Hedgehog and the Silicon Warriors.
* Troll Associates publishes the novel Sonic the Hedgehog.

1994

* January: "Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (Game Gear)" launches in Europe.
* February 2: "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" launches in North America. Sonic Boom, the soundtrack music CD to "Sonic the Hedgehog CD" is distributed with the game.
** Knuckles the Echidna makes his debut with "Sonic the Hedgehog 3".
* February: "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" launches in Europe. McDonald's distributes Sonic figurines with its Happy Meals--Tails is recalled, due to a poorly-designed propellor mechanism that broke after a while.
* March 18: "Sonic Drift" launches in Japan.
* May 27: "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" launches in Japan.
* July 26: "Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (Master System)" launches in Brazil.
* August: "Sonic the Hedgehog's Gameworld" launches in Japan. "Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball (Game Gear)" launches in Europe.
* September: "Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball (Game Gear)" and "Tails and the Music Maker" launch in North America.
* October 18: "Sonic & Knuckles" launch in Japan and to North America.
* October 19: Sonic & Knuckles: Sonic the Hedgehog 3, The Music of the Game, is marketed in Japan.
* November 11: Sonic & Tails 2 launches in Japan.
* November: "Sonic & Knuckles" launches in Europe. "Sonic Triple Trouble" ("Sonic & Tails 2" in Japan) launches in Europe and North America.
** Fang the Sniper debuts in "Sonic Triple Trouble/Sonic & Tails 2".
* December 7: Sonic the Hedgehog Remix, CD of remixed techno music of the Sonic games, launches in Japan.
* An arcade game for children, "Waku Waku Sonic Patrol Car", appears in Japan.
* Virgin Books publishes the novel Sonic the Hedgehog in Castle Robotnik.
* Penguin Books publishes the gamebook Sonic vs. Zonik and The Zone Zapper.
* Troll Associates publishes the novel Robotnik's Revenge.
* Knuckles Chaotix/Sonic Crackers begins development.
* "Sonic Mars" is announced for the Mega Drive/Genesis, and would have contained elements and characters from SatAM Sonic, including the Knothole Freedom Fighters. However, it is pushed to the 32X briefly, then to the Saturn, where it is renamed "Sonic X-treme".

1995

* January 25: "Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball (Master System)" launches in Latin America.
* March 17: "Sonic Drift 2" launches in Japan.
* March: "Sonic Drift Racing" ("Sonic Drift 2" in North America) launches in Europe. "Knuckles Chaotix" launches in North America.
* April 21: "Knuckles Chaotix" launches in Japan.
* April 28: "Tails' Skypatrol" launches in Japan.
* May: "Knuckles Chaotix" launches in Europe. This is the first truly Knuckles-centric spin-off video game.
** The Chaotix make their debut in "Knuckles Chaotix".
* July: "Sonic Compilation", a compilation of "Sonic the Hedgehog (Mega Drive/Genesis)", "Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Mega Drive/Genesis)", and "Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (Mega Drive/Genesis)" launches in Europe.
* September 22: "Tails Adventure" launches in Japan.
* September: "Tails Adventure" launches in Europe.
* October: "Sonic 2 in 1", compilation of "Sonic the Hedgehog (Mega Drive/Genesis)" and "Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball" launches in Europe. "Sonic Labyrinth" launch in Europe.
* November 17: "Sonic Labyrinth" launches in Japan.
* November: "Sonic Drift 2", "Sonic Labyrinth" and Tails Adventure launch in North America.
* Penguin Books publishes the novel Theme Park Panic.
* Troll Associates publishes the novels Fortress of Fear, Friend or Foe and Sonic & Knuckles.

1996

*January: , an animated series of two episodes, launches in Japan.
* May: "Sonic X-Treme" is announced.
* June: "Sonic the Fighters" launches in Japan. The game is arcade-only, but will see a home console release on the "Sonic Gems" compilation.
* July: "Sonic Championship" ("Sonic the Fighters" in Japan and Europe) launches in North America. The game is arcade-only, but will see a home console release on the "Sonic Gems" compilation.
* August: "Sonic the Hedgehog CD" for PC launches in Japan and to North America.
* October 3: "Sonic the Hedgehog CD" (PC) launches in Europe.
* November: "Sonic X-Treme" is placed on indefinite hold (basically, cancelled). The game will never be released. "Sonic 3D Blast" (originally titled Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island) launches in Europe. Sonic 3D Blast launches on Sega Genesis and Sega Saturn, with Sonic the Hedgehog's Gameworld and Sonic's Schoolhouse respectively on PC and Sega Pico, to North America. "Sonic 3D Blast" launches in North America and Europe. This is the first semi-3D game in the Sonic franchise (in reality, it uses a 2.5D isometric view).
* November 24: Sonic Christmas Blast, an animated cartoon Christmas special airs in North America.
* December 7: Sonic the Fighters Soundtrack, the music of Sonic the Fighters, launches in Japan.
* December 13: "G Sonic" (also named "Sonic Blast" in Europe and North America) launches in Japan.
* Penguin Books publishes the novel Stormin' Sonic.
* Virtual Sonic, music CD of "Sonic Spinball", "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" and "Sonic & Knuckles", launches in the United States.
* Sonic the Hedgehog becomes the first video game to be added to the British National Film and Television Archive.

1997

* February 14: and "Sonic & Knuckles Collection" (compilation of "Sonic the Hedgehog 3", "Sonic & Knuckles" and "Sonic 3 & Knuckles") launch for PC in Japan.
* February: "" (for Sega Saturn) launches in Europe.
* March 20: "Sonic & Knuckles Collection" launches in Europe and North America.
* April: "Sonic the Hedgehog AWP", an arcade game machine, launches in the United Kingdom.
* June 20: "Sonic Jam" (compilation of "Sonic the Hedgehog", Sonic the Hedgehog 2", "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" and "Sonic & Knuckles") for Sega Saturn launches in Japan.
* August: "Sonic Jam" launches in Europe and North America. "Sonic Classics" (formerly known as "Sonic Compilation") launches in the United States.
* September 25: "" (PC) launches in Europe.
* September: "Sonic 3D Blast" (PC) launches in North America.
* November 18: "Sonic R" launches in North America. It is the first truly 3D Sonic game.
* November 21: "Sonic R" launches in Europe.
* November: "Sonic Blast" launches in Latin America.
* December 4: "Sonic R" launches in Japan.

1998

* January 21: Sonic R (Music CD), launches in Japan.
* August 22: Sega announces "Sonic Adventure".
* November 6: Sonic TEAM PowerPlay, music CD of the various Sonic games, launches in Japan.
* November 11: "Sonic R" (PC) launches in North America
* November: "Sonic R" (PC) launches in Europe and in Japan.
* December 2: Songs With Attitude, CD of the sung music of Sonic Adventure, launches in Japan.
* December 16: Sonic Adventure Remix ,remixed music of the sung music, launches in Japan.
* December 23: "Sonic Adventure" (Sega Dreamcast) launches in Japan. This is Sonic's debut into full-3D realms. It is also the first official 3D Sonic game.
** Big The Cat and E-102 Gamma make their debut into the Sonic universe with "Sonic Adventure"
* "Sonic Jam" (Tiger Game.com) launches in North America.
* The DMCA law on the copyright is rehabilitated with the addition of 3D games. Sonic is one of the first characters to use the law.

1999

* January 20: , CD of the original musics of Sonic Adventure, launches in Japan.
* July 15: "", an incomplete version of the American translation of the game, starts to be distributed. This version is only incomplete from having its internet capabilities removed, when compared to the full version.
* August 30: Sonic Underground, an animated cartoon, begins.
* September 9: "Sonic Adventure" launches in North America.
* October 14: "Sonic Adventure International", an improved and international version of Sonic Adventure, launches in Japan and in Europe. "" (Sega Saturn) launches in Japan.
* December 3: "Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure" (Neo-Geo Pocket) launches in North America.

2000

* January 11: "Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure" launches in Japan.
* November 14: "Sonic Shuffle" launches in North America.
* December 21: "Sonic Shuffle" launches in Japan.

2001

* June 23: the 10th Anniversary of Sonic, "Sonic Adventure 2" launches in Japan, to North America and Europe.
** Shadow the Hedgehog and Rouge the Bat make their debuts into the Sonic universe in "Sonic Adventure 2".
* June: Sonic Factory starts to sell collector's items Sonic.
* August 22: , CD of the sung music of Sonic Adventure 2, launches in Japan.
* September 5: Multi-Dimensional, CD of the music of Sonic Adventure 2, launches in Japan.
* December 20: "" (Nintendo GameCube) and "Sonic Advance" (Game Boy Advance) launches in Japan.
* December 28: Corocoro Comics publishes the official second manga of Sonic.

2002

* January 3: Sonic Adventure 2 Official Soundtrack, a selection of the musics of Sonic Adventure 2, launches in the United States.
* February 4: "Sonic Advance" launches in North America.
* February 12: "Sonic Adventure 2 Battle" launches in North America.
* March: "Sonic Advance" launches in Europe.
* April: "Sonic Adventure 2: Battle" launches in Europe.
* October: "Sonic & Tails Spinner", a betting game, appears in the United States.
* November 12: "Sonic Mega Collection", a collection of Sonic games, launches in North America.
* December 19: "Sonic Advance 2" and Sonic Mega Collection launches in Japan.
**Cream the Rabbit makes her debut into the Sonic Universe in "Sonic Advance 2".

2003

* March 10: "Sonic Advance 2" launches in North America.
* March 18: "Sonic Advance 2" launches in Europe.
* April 6: Sonic X, an animated cartoon, starts.
* May 27: "Sonic Pinball Party" launches in North America.
* June 17: "Sonic Adventure DX" launches in North America.
* June 19: "Sonic Adventure DX" launches in Japan.
* June: McDonald's launches their second series of Sonic toys.
* July 17: "Sonic Pinball Party" launches in Japan.
* October 7: SonicN (Nokia N-gage) launches in North America.
* October 31: "Sonic Pinball Party" launches in Europe.
* December 4: Sonic Battle launches in Japan.
* December 18: "Sonic Adventure DX" launches in Japan.
* December 30: "Sonic Heroes" launches in Japan.
** E-123 Omega debuts in Sonic Heroes.
* December: CR Sonic, pachinko machine, launches in Japan.

2004

* January 5: "Sonic Battle" launches in North America, to Target stores, only. This renders the game as a United States-only game (as Mexico and Canada do not have Target stores)..
* January 6: "Sonic Heroes" (Nintendo GameCube) launches in North America.
* January 27: "Sonic Heroes" (Sony PlayStation 2 and Microsoft XBox) launches in North America.
* February 4: , CD of the sung music of Sonic Adventure and Sonic Heroes, launches in Japan.
* February 6: "Sonic Heroes" launches in Europe.
* February 27: "Sonic Battle" launches in Europe.
* March 3: , soundtrack of Sonic Heroes, launches in Japan.
* May 25: "Sonic Advance 3" launches in North America.
* June 17: "Sonic Advance 3" launches in Japan.
* June 18: "Sonic Advance 3" launches in Europe. Also ProGames BSG finish it on June 20...
* August 26: Sonic TEAM Unplugged Live 2004, CD of six songs coming from various Sonic games, launches in Japan.
* November 2: "Sonic Mega Collection Plus" launches in North America.
* November 16: "Sonic Heroes" (PC) launches in Europe and North America.
* November: Sonic Heroes Official Soundtrack, music CD of Sonic Heroes, launches in North America.
* December 9: "Sonic Mega Collection Plus" and "Sonic Heroes" (PC) launches in Japan.
* December: McDonald's launches another series of Sonic toys.

2005

* March 8: Sonic is one of the first three heroes to be honored in the Walk of Game.
* November 15: "Shadow the Hedgehog" is released on GameCube, PS2, and Xbox. Sonic Rush is released on the Nintendo DS.
** Blaze the Cat and Eggman Nega make their debuts into the Sonic Universe in "Sonic Rush".

2006

* February 21: "Sonic Riders" is released on GameCube, PS2, and Xbox.
** Jet the Hawk, Wave the Swallow and Storm the Albatross, members of the Babylon Rogues, make their debut into the Sonic Universe in "Sonic Riders"
* November 14: "Sonic the Hedgehog 2006" is released on the Xbox 360 as the 15th Anniversary of Sonic.
** Silver the Hedgehog makes his debut into the Sonic universe in "Sonic the Hedgehog".
* November 16: "Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis" is released on the GBA.
* November 24: "Sonic Rivals" is released on the PlayStation Portable.

2007

* January 30: "Sonic the Hedgehog" is released on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
* February 20: "Sonic and the Secret Rings" is released on the Wii.
* September 14: "Sonic Rush Adventure" is released in Europe, and four days later, in America.
** Marine the Raccoon makes her debut into the Sonic universe in "Sonic Rush Adventure".
* Sega and Nintendo announce a joint-venture spin-off sports game starring Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog together in the same official video game for the very first time. This game is "Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games", an Olympics game being made for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. This marks the first time that Sonic and Mario meet head-to-head in an "official" video game.
* October 10: Sonic is announced to be in "Super Smash Bros. Brawl".
* November 6: "Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games" is released in North America.
* "Sonic Rivals 2" released on PSP November 6.

2008

* January 8: "" released for the PS2 and the Wii.
* March 9: "Super Smash Bros. Brawl" is released for the Wii in North America, with Sonic as a playable character.
* "" will be released for the DS and will be developed by BioWare.
* "Sonic Unleashed" is announced for the Wii, PS3, PS2 and Xbox 360 and is scheduled to be released on November 2008.
**In "Sonic Unleashed", Sonic unwillingly gains a new persona called "Sonic the Werehog" with dark fur, upgraded shoes and longer arms.
* "Sonic and the Black Knight" was announced as a sequel to "Sonic and the Secret Rings" for the Wii