SEGA Renews Sonic Forces Trademark in the U.S. and Japan, Raising Questions About What Comes Next

SEGA has renewed the Sonic Forces trademark in both the United States and Japan, putting the 2017 title back in the spotlight and prompting new questions about what the company may be planning for the name.

We first spotted the renewal, with the filings showing that the Sonic Forces trademark, previously marked as abandoned since 2019, has now been renewed in both regions.

Image from the trademark registration in the US.

Image from the trademark registration in Japan.

At this stage, there is no indication that SEGA has announced a new Sonic Forces game, remaster, or re-release. Trademark renewals can often be routine legal moves meant to maintain control of a name, logo, or brand identity. Even so, the timing has drawn attention, especially as Sonic Frontiers has recently been part of renewed speculation following listings tied to an unannounced Definitive Edition.

Originally released in 2017, Sonic Forces launched for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The game centered on a three-part structure featuring Modern Sonic, Classic Sonic, and a customizable Avatar character, with the player-created hero system serving as one of the game’s main selling points ahead of release.

Sonic Forces later received post-launch support, including a free Super Sonic add-on, Episode Shadow content, and crossover costume packs such as Persona 5-themed items. Despite that support, the game has remained one of the more divisive entries in the modern Sonic lineup.

One key detail still unclear is whether the Japanese trademark renewal relates directly to the 2017 console release, the broader Sonic Forces branding, or the mobile title Sonic Forces: Speed Battle. That uncertainty leaves room for multiple possibilities, ranging from simple legal maintenance to a wider branding decision inside SEGA.

For now, the trademark filings are the only concrete development. Whether this points to a future project, a brand protection measure, or something tied to existing mobile use remains unknown, but the return of the Sonic Forces trademark in both the U.S. and Japan has clearly given fans a new reason to pay attention.

Stay tuned to Sonic City for more Sonic Forces News and Updates.