Farshore to publish Sonic the Hedgehog

Farshore will publish titles under Sonic the Hedgehog, the gaming franchise. 

Emma Cairns-Smith, global licensing acquisition director at Farshore, signed the deal for English language rights with SEGA of America. 

“To kick off this exciting deal, Farshore will be publishing two Sonic the Hedgehog titles in 2024, with plenty to entertain all Sonic fans, both old and new,” the HarperCollins imprint said. 

“Sonic the Hedgehog Joke Book, publishing on 29th February 2024, is packed full of jokes from Sonic, Tails, Amy, Knuckles, Dr Eggman, and other favourite characters. Featuring over 200 jokes with Sonic’s trademark sense of humour... [it] is perfect for readers between the ages of six to 10." 

Farshore added: “Sonic the Hedgehog Sticker Activities, publishing 9th May 2024, is jam-packed with puzzles, games, and over 200 fun, bright stickers." The title is aimed at readers between the ages of five and nine. 

The Sonic the Hedgehog brand has recently risen in profile again due to the global movie franchise.

There are more projects planned for the gaming brand over the next year, including the upcoming Sonic Superstars game, the "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" film, and a new Knuckles spin-off TV series voiced by Idris Elba. 

Zoe Masters, brands and licensing publisher at Farshore, said: “Farshore is proud and excited to partner with SEGA to publish Sonic the Hedgehog; there is a huge amount of love and affection for this cool blue hedgehog within our team. Sonic the Hedgehog has been a household name since the early 1990s, with many children now discovering Sonic for the first time through the highly successful movie franchise and TV series.” 

Alex Gomez, senior director of licensing at SEGA of America, said: “Between games, TV shows, and movies, Sonic has been a staple in the industry for three decades along with a continuously growing community. Through our partnership with Farshore, we’ll be able to introduce Sonic to a new generation of younger fans.”