Sonic the Hedgehog, the iconic blue, spiky video game character, faced the possibility of cancellation by his creator, Sega, according to Takashi Iizuka, head of Sonic Team. During an interview with One More Game, Iizuka described Sonic as something akin to "my own son" and revealed that there were times when Sega considered stopping the development of Sonic games altogether. Iizuka shared that he had to fight internally to keep the franchise alive, showing his deep commitment to the character. This situation began to change with the 2020 release of the movie Sonic the Hedgehog, which grossed $320 million globally despite a $90 million budget. Iizuka called the film "the biggest milestone" for the franchise, saying it marked a turning point in Sonic's trajectory. The success of the movie has led to the production of a fourth film, set for release on March 19, 2027. The film's success has helped raise the profile of the Sonic brand, though results in the video game sector have been more varied. In the video game space, Sonic Frontiers has been the most successful 3D Sonic title, selling over five million copies. However, other recent games like Sonic Superstars and Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds have not met Sega's expectations, indicating a mixed reception for some of the newer titles. Despite the strong sales of Sonic Frontiers, no official announcement has been made about a sequel. Iizuka hinted at the next major Sonic game during an interview at the Tokyo Game Show, stating it will introduce a new kind of gameplay experience. It is still unclear whether this will be a direct sequel to Sonic Frontiers or a new 3D Sonic game with a different name. Fans are eagerly waiting for more details, with the next potential announcement expected at The Game Awards on December 10, 2026.