Sega Once Tried to Cancel Sonic the Hedgehog
Sega lead producer Takashi Iizuka revealed that the company once considered canceling the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. Despite the series' long-term success, the brand has faced various challenges over its 35-year history.
Why it matters
It provides rare insight into the volatile nature of long-running intellectual property management in the gaming industry.
Image via Sega By Marc Deschamps Published Sep 22, 2026, 6:00 PM EDT Marc Deschamps has been writing about video games and popular culture for more than a decade. A reporter at GameRant, Marc has also been published at sites like IGN, Nintendojo, and ComicBook. Gaming is one of Marc's oldest loves, and he specializes in covering franchises like Pokemon, Zelda, and Mario. However, he also has a deep background when it comes to comics and movies. In addition to being a published comic writer, Marc is a Rotten Tomatoes-verified critic that has reviewed movies and interviewed directors, actors, and actresses.
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