By David Smith Sega’s recent trademark filing has sparked speculation about a potential new project featuring Shadow the Hedgehog. Fans are eagerly anticipating what this could mean for the beloved character’s future in gaming.
Sega May Be Teasing a New Shadow the Hedgehog Project
A recent buzz has emerged around Sega, fueling speculation about a potential remake of the iconic 2005 platformer, Shadow the Hedgehog, or maybe even a fresh game with Shadow taking the lead. Sega’s on a roll lately, especially after launching their new kart-racer, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds. Imagine racing with characters from your favorite universes—yes, that’s right! We’re talking about SpongeBob, Mega Man, Hatsune Miku, and even Ichiban Kasuga from the Yakuza series hitting the tracks!
Shadow’s Comeback
Shadow first appeared as a villain in Sonic Adventure 2 in 2001 before he snagged his own game in 2005. Fast forward to today, and he’s back in the spotlight thanks to his portrayal by Keanu Reeves in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Plus, Sonic X Shadow Generations, which released earlier this year, brought a remaster of the classic Sonic Generations along with a new Shadow Generations adventure.
New Trademark Rumors
Sega is fueling the fire with a new trademark for Shadow the Hedgehog, discovered by Sonic news Twitter handle Sonic City. This trademark isn’t just for games! It covers merch like toys and clothing, which has fans speculating about a remake or even an entirely new Shadow game. Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka hinted that they’re more into creating new experiences rather than remaking old titles. This could lead to either a sequel or an innovative new game featuring the ultimate antihero, Shadow.
What’s Next?
If you’re wondering about the timeline, trademark announcements usually hint that we might see something in about a year—so keep your eyes peeled! Plus, with Sonic’s big 35th anniversary around the corner in 2026, there’s definitely a buzz in the air about what Sega is planning.
Tips & Tricks for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
In the meantime, while waiting for Shadow’s comeback, dive into Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds with these tips and tricks:
- Character Selection: Each character has unique abilities. Test different ones to find your perfect match!
- Track Mastery: Spend time learning the tracks. Knowing shortcuts can boost your finish times and improve your rankings.
- Item Strategy: Use power-ups wisely. Save them for crucial moments—like when you’re about to be overtaken!
- Drift Wisely: Mastering the drift mechanics can help you corner at higher speeds, giving you an edge over opponents.
- Team Play: If there’s a multiplayer mode, coordinate with friends for strategies and combos!
Stay tuned for more updates about Shadow and get ready to kick it into high gear with Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds!
Shadow the Hedgehog
- Developer: Sega
- Platforms: PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube (Original); Potential remake for modern platforms (speculative)
- Retail Price: Estimated around $29.99 for a potential remake
- Release Date: Originally released on December 15, 2005; potential remake date TBD
- Where to Buy: Available on platforms like Amazon and GameStop, with speculative listings for a remake on major retail sites once announced.
A recent Sega trademark has fans speculating about a potential remake of the 2005 3D platformer Shadow the Hedgehog, or potentially a new game featuring The Ultimate Lifeform as the protagonist. Sega is in quite a good spot at the moment, as it just launched its new kart-racer Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, which features characters from all over pop culture like SpongeBob, Mega Man, Hatsune Miku, and even Ichiban Kasuga from the Yakuza franchise. Speaking of, Sega’s 2026 is set to start off with a bang with Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties due out in February.
Shadow the Hedgehog had his beginnings as the antagonist of Sonic Adventure 2 back in 2001 and later served as the protagonist of his own self-titled PlayStation 2 video game in 2005. Recently, the fan-favorite Sonic antihero has been having somewhat of a resurgence, as he was brought to the silver screen with the help of Hollywood megastar Keanu Reeves in last year’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie. 2024 also saw the release of Sonic X Shadow Generations, which bundled a Sonic Generations remaster with the all-new Shadow Generations game.
Sega seems ready to go all-in on Shadow, as a new trademark has been filed for a “Shadow the Hedgehog” project. This was discovered by Sonic news account Sonic City on Twitter, which notes that the trademark not only covers video games but other types of Shadow-branded merchandise like toys, clothes, and accessories as well. The news has naturally led many Sonic and Shadow fans to speculate about a possible port, remake, or remaster of the 2005 Shadow the Hedgehog game, which remains exclusively available for sixth-generation consoles to this day.
If a new Shadow project is indeed in the pipeline at Sega and this trademark move isn’t simply brand maintenance, it would almost certainly mean one of two things: either a revival of the 2005 Shadow the Hedgehog title or an all-new Shadow game. However, Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka mentioned earlier this year that the studio isn’t keen on remaking 3D Sonic games and would much rather create new ones instead. If this trademark does lead to a brand-new Shadow game, it’ll be fascinating to see whether it’s a 2D or 3D title, and whether it will follow in the footsteps of or even be connected to 2022’s Sonic Frontiers, which ushered in a slightly darker, more serious tone, setting, and atmosphere to the world of 3D Sonic.
Whenever a trademark like this is revealed to the public, it typically takes around a year for the related game announcement to occur. With that in mind and Sonic’s 35th anniversary coming in 2026, fans may learn exactly what fruit this Shadow the Hedgehog trademark will bear sometime next year.
We’d love to hear your thoughts! What do you think about the potential return of the game? Feel free to share your comments below!