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 video game series. Note: comics and television shows are bolded, while games are italicized. - 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.
- 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.
- 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 propellor 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 & Knuckles launch in Japan and to North America.
- October 19: Sonic & Knuckles: Sonic the Hedgehog 3, The Music of the Game, is marketed in Japan.
- November 11: Sonic & Tails 2 launches in Japan.
- November: Sonic & Knuckles launches in Europe. Sonic Triple Trouble (Sonic & Tails 2 in Japan) launches in Europe and North America.
- 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.
- Penguin Books publishes the gamebook Sonic vs. 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 Saturn, where it is renamed Sonic X-treme.
- 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 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, cancelled). 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.
- Penguin Books publishes the novel Stormin' Sonic.
- Virtual Sonic, music CD of Sonic Spinball, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & 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.
Template:Sonic characters (other media) | Sonic the Hedgehog video games | | | Main console series | | | Main handheld
(and Master System) series | | | | Storybook series | | | | Console spin-offs | | | | Handheld spin-offs | | | | Compilations | | | | Arcade games | | | | Canceled games | | | | Related games | | | |
