LEGO may be preparing to step back from two of its popular video game partnerships. According to a new rumor, the company could stop releasing new sets based on Sonic the Hedgehog and Animal Crossing in 2027, although LEGO has not confirmed anything yet.

Over the past several years, LEGO has expanded its video game lineup considerably. The company has worked with major gaming brands including Nintendo, Sega, and Mojang, giving fans the chance to build LEGO versions of some of the industry's most recognizable characters and locations.

The company's video game push has also continued to grow in 2026. One of the biggest additions has been Pokemon, with LEGO beginning its partnership with The Pokemon Company after the latter's previous relationship with MEGA Bloks came to an end.

LEGO has already released a number of Pokemon products, including sets inspired by specific games such as Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. With Pokemon, Mario, and other major gaming properties in its lineup, LEGO clearly remains interested in the video game market.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean every partnership will continue at the same pace.

According to a rumor shared by The Brick News on social media, LEGO is planning to retire its current Sonic the Hedgehog and Animal Crossing sets. More notably, the report claims that there are currently no plans for additional sets based on either franchise during 2027.

It's important to stress that this information has not been confirmed by LEGO. The company also doesn't necessarily make public announcements every time it decides to stop producing products for a particular franchise.

There is another possibility, too. Rather than completely abandoning Sonic and Animal Crossing, LEGO could simply reduce the number of sets it produces for both brands. That would allow the company to keep the partnerships alive while focusing more of its resources on other franchises.

The timing of the rumor is also interesting because both Sonic and Animal Crossing are currently in somewhat unusual positions.

Nintendo has not announced when the next Animal Crossing game will be released. While Animal Crossing: New Horizons remains hugely popular, the franchise does not currently have a major new game announced that could provide a fresh reason for LEGO to release a large wave of related products.
Sonic is in a similar situation on the gaming side. Sega does not currently have a major new Sonic game scheduled for release in the near future. The movie franchise, however, is still moving forward, with Sonic the Hedgehog 4 currently planned for March 19, 2027.

That could potentially give LEGO another opportunity to keep the Sonic partnership going, particularly if the movie generates renewed interest in the character.

There is also the question of competition within LEGO's growing video game lineup. Mario and Pokemon are extremely popular brands with fans of all ages, while the upcoming Zelda movie could create even more interest in Nintendo-related products.

With limited shelf space and finite development resources, LEGO has to decide which franchises deserve the most attention at any given time. If the rumor is accurate, Sonic and Animal Crossing may simply be losing priority rather than being permanently abandoned.

For collectors, the possibility of both lines ending could make existing sets more interesting. Retired LEGO products can sometimes become harder to find, particularly when they are tied to popular franchises.

Still, fans shouldn't assume that the rumored retirement means Sonic and Animal Crossing are gone forever. Both franchises have large and dedicated fanbases, and strong demand could potentially convince LEGO to revisit either property in the future.

For now, the best approach is to treat the report as exactly what it is: a rumor. Until LEGO provides some kind of confirmation, there is still a chance that new Sonic or Animal Crossing sets could be announced.

If the rumor does turn out to be true, though, 2027 could mark a temporary end to two of LEGO's more interesting video game partnerships.