Yes, it’s that time of year again – Sonic the Hedgehog officially turns 28 years old on this day, 23rd June 2019. I mean, he doesn’t -really- turn 28 because Sonic is not real (sorry), but today was the day, 28 years ago, that the original Sonic the Hedgehog game was released on Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. So, that makes Sonic (and Dr. Eggman, technically) the same age.
As is traditional, SEGA is making a big deal of Sonic’s birthday – both online and offline. Especially in Japan, where SEGA is hosting a massive party in Tokyo’s Joypolis indoor theme park to celebrate the occasion. You can read more about that here.
Happy Birthday, Sonic!
セガ社員がソニックを連れ一緒にいろんな景色を観る「#世界を旅するソニック」ページも1周年。これからもソニックとたくさんお出かけしたいと思います！
あなたはどの写真が好きですか？
世界を旅するソニックhttps://t.co/0Xzj5D4qJS
Instagramhttps://t.co/ov9X5qkQ8L pic.twitter.com/0d9zV6YPMp
— セガ公式アカウント🦔 (@SEGA_OFFICIAL) June 23, 2019
SEGA development legends have weighed in to mark the occasion. Original Sonic programmer Yuji Naka wishes Sonic a happy birthday and thanks Jun’ichi Kanemaru (Japanese voice actor for Sonic) for his hard work over the years.
Happy Birthday Sonic 28th. This is a 1990 photo of Sonic 1 under development. And Sonic 1 is a program to examine the ground.
誕生日おめでとうソニック！28回目だね。これはソニック1開発中の1990年の私の写真とソニック1の地面を調べるプログラムです。#Sonic28th pic.twitter.com/gA36ocjVvy— Yuji Naka / 中 裕司 (@nakayuji) June 23, 2019
While Masato Nishimura (aka Mazin), who helped develop Sonic CD, expressed surprise at the amount of time that has passed since the original game’s release (tweet via SonicJPNews).
🔵 Mazin-san on Sonic's birthday:
"So today is set as Sonic's birthday, but since the game was first released on July 26th in Japan, it doesn't feel like that to me at all even after all these years.
Sonic and Thunder Fox were released on the same day. Oh, Wikipedia is wrong." https://t.co/I1b1JcXK0B— ●SonicJPNews● (@SonicJPNews) June 23, 2019
You can watch Tomoya Ohtani’s complete Sonic Birthday DJ Set below, too. This was performed just a few hours ago at Tokyo Joypolis live, so there’s still time to catch this and get yourself in a Sonical mood for the rest of the day.
Here’s a list of birthday-related stories that happened over the past week that you might have missed.
- SEGA Shop Europe is Running a Special 28% Off Promotion
- A Giant Sonic Will Appear in Phantasy Star Online 2
- Mobile Gamers Can Grab a Team Sonic Racing Card in Idola Phantasy Star Saga
- Sonic Adventure Music Experience Performed in Tokyo on June 22
- Korean Mobile Game Monster Super League x Sonic Collaboration
- Sonic Forces Speed Battle’s Special ‘Sluggers’ Events
- Sonic Icons Appear on Mobile Messaging Service LINE
- SEGA America Announces a Sonic Pizza Cutter
- Sonic Games on Sale on Nintendo Switch eShop (US)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG!
Happy Birthday Sonic! Twenty-Eight years! He may not be real, but he certainly does exist along with all his South Island pals.
Now, as REO Speedwagon says, “Keep pushin’ on!”
Happy 28th Birthday Sonic 💙🦔💎👑🎊🎉🎈🎂