Franchise timeline of Sonic the Hedgehog

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 series.

Note: Comics, books, 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

 * Early 1991: Rad Mobile, an arcade racing game published by SEGA, is released. Oddly enough, the game featured a little Sonic the Hedgehog air freshener which hung from the rear mirror. It was Sonic's first ever appearance in a game, predating even the first title of his own series.
 * 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 the Hedgehog 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 launches in Japan.
 * October: Sonic the Hedgehog CD' launches in Europe.
 * October 25: Sonic Chaos' (known as Sonic and Tails in Japan), launches in Latin America.
 * November 19: Sonic Chaos, launches in Japan. Sonic the Hedgheog CD launches in North America.
 * Metal Sonic and Amy Rose makes 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 only balloon inspired by a video game until the introduction of Pikachu in 2001.
 * 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.
 * Puffin Books publishes the Sonic Adventure Gamebooks, 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 propeller 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 &amp; Knuckles launch in Japan and to North America.
 * October 19: Sonic &amp; Knuckles: Sonic the Hedgehog 3, The Music of the Game, is marketed in Japan.
 * November 11: Sonic &amp; Tails 2 launches in Japan.
 * November: Sonic &amp; Knuckles launches in Europe. Sonic Triple Trouble (Sonic &amp; Tails 2 in Japan) launches in Europe and North America.
 * Nack the Weasel debuts in Sonic Triple Trouble/Sonic &amp; 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.
 * Puffin Books publishes the Sonic Adventure Gamebooks, Sonic v. 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 Sega 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.
 * 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.
 * Puffin Books publishes the Sonic Adventure Gamebook, Theme Park Panic.
 * Troll Associates publishes the novels Fortress of Fear, Friend or Foe and Sonic &amp; Knuckles.

1996

 * January: Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie, 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 Collection 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, canceled). 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.
 * Puffin Books publishes the Sonic Adventure Gamebook, Stormin' Sonic .
 * Virtual Sonic, music CD of Sonic Spinball, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic &amp; 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: Sonic the Screen Saver and Sonic &amp; Knuckles Collection (compilation of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic &amp; Knuckles and Sonic 3 &amp; Knuckles) launch for PC in Japan.
 * February: Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island (for Sega Saturn) launches in Europe.
 * March 20: Sonic &amp; 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 &amp; 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: Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island (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 vocal music of Sonic Adventure, launches in Japan.
 * December 16: Sonic Adventure Remix, remixed music of the vocal 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: Digi-Log Conversation: Sonic Adventure Original Sound Track, CD of the original musics of Sonic Adventure, launches in Japan.
 * July 15: Sonic Adventure: Limited Edition, 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. Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island (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

 * March 9: Sonic Shuffle launches in Europe
 * 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 Sonic collector's items.
 * August 22: Cuts Unleashed: Vocal SA2 Collection, 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: Sonic Adventure 2: Battle (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 &amp; 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: Sonic N (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: Triple Threat: Sonic Heroes Vocal Trax, 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: Complete Trinity: Sonic Heroes Original Soundtrax, 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.
 * August 16: Sonic Gems Collection is released for the Nintendo GameCube. (Only in North America).
 * October 7: Sonic Gems Collection is released for the PlayStation 2. (Only in Japan and Europe).
 * November 15: Shadow the Hedgehog is released for the Xbox, PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube. And 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 Xbox, PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube.
 * Jet the Hawk, Wave the Swallow and Storm the Albatross, the 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 2006.
 * 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 2006 is released on the PlayStation 3.
 * February 20: Sonic and the Secret Rings is released on Wii.


 * September 14: Sonic Rush Adventure is released on the Nintendo DS in Europe.


 * September 18: 4 days later, Sonic Rush Adventure is released on the Nintendo DS in North America.


 * September 27: 9 days later, Sonic Rush Adventure is released on the Nintendo DS in Australia.
 * 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 &amp; Sonic at the Olympic Games, an Olympic games 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.
 * October 18: 21 days later, Sonic Rush Adventure is released for the Nintendo DS in Japan.
 * Marine the Raccoon maker her debut into the Sonic Universe in Sonic Rush Adventure.
 * November 6: Mario &amp; Sonic at the Olympic Games is released in North America only for Wii.
 * November 13: Sonic Rivals 2 is released on the PlayStation Portable.

2008

 * January 8: Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity is released for the PlayStation 2 and Wii.
 * January 22: Mario &amp; Sonic at the Olympic Games is released on the Nintendo DS. 
 * March 9: Super Smash Bros. Brawl is released for the Wii in North America, with Sonic as a playable character.
 * March 18: Sega Superstars Tennis is released for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii and Nintendo DS, with Sonic, Tails, Amy, Shadow and Dr. Eggman as playable characters and multiple courts and games based off the Sonic franchise.
 * September 30: Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood is released for the Nintendo DS and was created by BioWare.
 * November 18: Sonic Unleashed is released for the PlayStation 2 and Wii.


 * November 20: 2 days later, Sonic Unleashed is released for the Xbox 360.


 * December 9: 19 days later, Sonic Unleashed is released for the PlayStation 3.
 * Sonic the Werehog, Sonic's new beast form generated by the corrupted Chaos Emeralds, makes his debut in this game.
 * Sonic and the Black Knight was announced as a sequel to Sonic and the Secret Rings for the Wii in the Sonic Storybook Series.

2009

 * March 3: Sonic and the Black Knight is released for the Wii.
 * May 28: Sonic &amp; Sega All-Stars Racing is announced for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Microsoft, Wii and Nintendo DS.
 * August 25: Sonic Unleashed is released on the cell phone.
 * September 8: Project Needlemouse is announced.
 * September 17: 2 years later, Sonic Rush Adventure is released for the Nintendo DS in South Korea.
 * October 13: Mario &amp; Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games is released for Wii and Nintendo DS.

2010

 * February 4: Project Needlemouse is renamed Sonic The Hedgehog 4, and episode 1 is announced to be released on Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, WiiWare, and another unknown system in July of 2010.
 * February 23: Sonic &amp; Sega All-Stars Racing is released for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows, Wii and Nintendo DS.
 * May 20: Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 is delayed to the later part of 2010, as well as the unknown game platforms being revealed to be in the iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad.


 * May 26: Sonic Colors is announced to be released on Wii and Nintendo DS at the end of 2010.
 * June 14: Sonic Free Riders is announced to be released on the Xbox 360 at the end of 2010.
 * September 15: Sonic Adventure for the Sega Dreamcast is back! And the game is released for the Xbox Live Arcade.
 * September 20: Sonic Adventure for the Sega Dreamcast is back! And the game is released for the PlayStation Network.
 * October 7: Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 is released for the iPhone / iPod Touch / iPad.
 * October 11: Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 is released for the WiiWare.
 * October 12: Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 is released for the PlayStation Network.
 * October 13: Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 is released for the Xbox Live Arcade.
 * November 4: Sonic Free Riders is released for the Xbox 360 and requires with the Kinect.
 * November 16: Sonic Colors is released for Wii and Nintendo DS.

2011

 * April: Sonic Generations was announce to be released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 to celebrate his 20th anniversary.