Sonic Origins was announced during a livestream commemorating the Sonic franchise's 30th anniversary on May 27, 2021,[1] and was released on June 23, 2022—the series' 31st anniversary—for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.[2] Prior to release, Sega delisted the existing versions of the games from most digital stores.[20] The move received criticism on video game preservation grounds and for preventing consumers from choosing their preferred versions.[21] It was compared to Rockstar Games delisting Grand Theft Auto games before the release of the compilation Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition (2021), a decision that was reversed following backlash.[22]