The big difference is that Shadow had been out of the spotlight for a long time, but despite that he still had a very large fanbase, so now that he was appearing in the movies it was the perfect opportunity to bring him back into the spotlight and get him fresh in everyone's head again to prepare.

The problem is, it just wouldn't work as well with anyone else. Most other characters were never put to the side in the way Shadow was, so everyone already knows who they are, or they just don't have a broad enough appeal and/or aren't even nearly as popular as Shadow. Shadow's also had a far larger impact on the series, so there was far more to pull from.

Doesn't mean it'll never happen, but it really doesn't need to unless someone like Silver or Blaze appears in the movies, and even then they'd have to be far more careful with their approach then they were with Shadow.

@DKCfan10 Out of genuine curiosity, what do you mean by that? If Sega decides to do more years themed around characters then I could see it backfiring on Sega like the Year of Luigi did with Nintendo, but 2024 was arguably the best year Sonic has had in a very long time, if not ever.

What I mean is it’ll lead to Sonic fans constantly asking for more content akin to the Year of Shadow when this was likely either a rare event, or a one time event. I’m already seeing it happen, people requesting “Sonic x (character)” remasters, more “Year of”s, and it could manifest in other ways. Demanding Shadow to be in media where he doesn’t need to be there, wanting reappearances from niche characters the way Shadow Generations brought back Black Doom. Alongside some other behaviors that I don’t have the words for right now. The point is, because Sega did this, Sonic fans are going to get greedy, they’re going to constantly be bugging Sega wanting every year to be the Year of Shadow.

I think it's kind of dumb to expect them to do another "Year of [Insert Character Here]" thing. Other characters can have a spotlight without having a year-long event dedicated to them. I think what we should be saying is "I think Blaze (for example) should have a new playable appearance in a game, and get some recognition." And it can be in a brand-new game instead of a remaster.

YEAR OF BLAZE!

@DKCfan10

Sonic fans asking for more content akin to this one-time thing already happened in 2017 and it probably will be exactly the same here too

No one

I doubt they’re gonna do another year of (character)

It could be Amy.

Hopeful: year of silver

I still want a new tails and knuckles game

Which is entirely possible without needing to make these characters the spotlight of literally everything else