The Sonic series is important. As one of my personal cornerstone franchises growing up, it’s astounding to see it claw its way into the huge pillar it’s become for SEGA. And what better way to celebrate one of gaming’s most legendary franchises than with a huge party?
Building up to this with the Emerald Hunt event throughout 2026, SEGA teams up with the Elsewhere venue to host Club Chaos! With three major music performances, fun events throughout the venue, and chances to speak with the legends behind the series, I’m excited to talk about my time at the event!
Rear View Parking – Sonic Racing CrossWorlds Year 2 Updates
SEGA had some surprises for fans tuning in for the Sonic Racing CrossWorlds competition taking place before the Club Chaos festivities.
Alongside the free Aigis and Joker characters, a proper paid Persona-themed DLC pack is on the way, dropping in late 2027. Dubbed ‘Reload, Royal, and Revival’, it will feature music, characters, and a track based on ATLUS’ landmark JRPG series.
The JRPG fun coming to Sonic Racing doesn’t end! Alongside the Persona announcement, SEGA also revealed that the Final Fantasy VII Remake Series joins the race.
Entering the Ring – Entering Club Chaos
After learning all the exciting Sonic Racing news, some of which we were given early hands-on with, I arrived at the venue and waited in line with my fellow Sonic fans.
Talking about the exciting CrossWorlds announcements and discussing the meta game with them was fun, but it reminded me so much of my time heading to Sonic Symphony. Waiting in line, discussing what we loved about Sonic, and wondering what surprises we’d see at Club Chaos was awesome.
Once inside, I was blown away. Walking through a giant ring, with mysterious smoky fog inviting us in, had me amped to see what was on the other side. Once inside, I looked around the venue and saw all kinds of fun side ventures.
Retro Fun – Time Warp
First up was the ‘Time Warp’ section, featuring some amazing artwork done throughout the series. You can see some of that below, celebrating the Genesis era.
Near all the amazing artwork were some cool hands-on experiences. The first was Sonic 2, which was playable on a real SEGA Genesis connected to several CRT’s. And right next to that were the newest Sonic Pinball machines. These take zones from Sonic Generations for the interactive screen and have Sonic act based on how well you score. They looked beautiful and offered a killer pinball experience.
After playing some pinball, I walked into the next room; it featured two Sonic arcade games (SEGA Sonic the Hedgehog & Sonic the Fighters) and a Dreamcast with Sonic Adventure 2. Finally having the chance to play SEGA Sonic the Hedgehog was a delight, as it was one of my few blind spots in the series.
It used a trackball to move Sonic around, having a top-down perspective similar to the later-released Sonic 3D Blast. The arcade game introduced Mighty and Ray, characters you might’ve seen in Sonic Mania. Playing this in three-player co-op with fellow fans of the blue blur was a delight, with the three of us nearly clearing the game.
Power of Teamwork – Sonic Pico Park
Sonic’s past wasn’t just playable; his future was too. Sonic Pico Park. The latest build was playable, letting people play as the recently announced Silver and Blaze. I didn’t go hands-on with this demo, but seeing fellow attendees working together to solve fun puzzles has me excited to check out the game when it drops in November 2026.
Speedy Cooking – Sonic Speed Cafe Brooklin
It’s not a party without some killer food! Thankfully, the Blue Blur brings the Sonic Speed Cafe to New York. While it doesn’t have the full menu like other locations, getting the Sonic Chili Dog and commemorative Club Chaos Shirt filled me up for the big party.
The atompshere was wonderful here, with Sonic merch in the background and golden rings hanging down from the ceiling. It really felt like you entered Sonic’s world, which is something I can say for other side ventures at the venue.
Chilling in the Chaos – The Chao Garden
Fans of Sonic Adventure, venue-goers enjoyed a relaxing time in the Chao Garden. Decorated with themed comfy beanbags and chairs, I loved chilling here. Like the Speed Cafe, I loved its set dressing, featuring key art of the lovable Chao.
If you wanted some spooky adventures projected on the wall near the Emerald Rooftop, the Chao Tales Halloween short was on. It was a lovely touch with Halloween right around the corner.
Sonic Jams – Special Stage
After exploring the side areas, I made my way to the Special Stage. Where all the music performances happened, it had an amazing set design, with the Master Emerald hanging from the ceiling and the stage itself inspired by Green Hill Zone.
Just like the Sonic Symphony, being part of the crowd and enjoying amazing Sonic music is an experience I would recommend to everyone. However, if you wanted to enjoy the music performances with more personal space, Emerald Tiers had an exclusive option.
A Rooftop Run – Emerald Rooftop
I spent a good amount of time on the Emerald Rooftop. Having its own exclusive drink, inspired by the Green Chaos Emerald, it was a sweet treat to drink while enjoying the first music performance.
Tee Lopes kicked off the party with an amazing set list. Starting with the Genesis Era of Sonic, I was tapping my foot to the killer beats of Flying Battery and new versions of his earliest Sonic remixes. All of us at the Emerald Rooftop were jamming to the beat.
The tone shifted to the original Sonic 1 Eggman theme, spinning into the party, and masterfully transitioning into Sonic CD’s Metallic Madness.
After that, the Dreamcast and Modern eras of Sonic were represented. I popped off hard when Sonic Frontiers’ Undefeatable started playing. I stood up and sang my heart out. It felt particularly special as several members of Sonic Team and the Sonic Racing CrossWorlds team were on the Emerald Rooftop.
While I didn’t get a chance to speak with them, I could only imagine how happy they must feel seeing the work they’ve created positively impact the hundreds of people attending Club Chaos.
Ninja Magic, Breakaways, and Denhattacks – Meeting Tee Lopes
After his performance, I met Tee Lopes in person. To say I love his music would be a huge understatement. Following him since his earliest days remixing Sonic music in 2012, and seeing him become one of the major musicians SEGA approaches for collaborations warms my heart. Seeing people who genuinely love the Sonic series given the opportunity to make amazing music for it and other pillar SEGA franchises like Shinobi is awesome.
I also sang the praises of his work on Berserk Boy and enjoyed his work on Penny’s Big Breakaway. And needless to say, his work on Denshattack is some of his best work yet.
Thunderious Jazz – Thundercat Performance at Club Chaos
But it wasn’t Tee Lopes performing at Club Chaos. Thundercat brings a unique vibe to the party, with original music inspired by the Sonic series. As someone who had never listened to their work before, I enjoyed their performance. Featuring a full band with singers, drummers, and Button Masher on guitar, the techno-funky melody worked well in the party environment.
Supported by Sonic Adventure footage, warping it to fit the musical beats of their performance added to the experience.
My personal highlight was hearing the female singers take the lead on singing Super Sonic Racing at one point of the performance, whom I actually talked to while waiting in line. They expressed how happy the band was that we loved their performance and sang along.
Other Highlights from Club Chaos
While these two musical performances were major highlights, taking a picture with Sonic and Tails was amazing. Alongside that, I am happy to report that for people who don’t go to Clubs, the team was very welcoming. The entire SEGA team and event crew on the show floor were accommodating to me as I explored the venue.
Even the bartenders were awesome, accommodating people who don’t usually drink and offering other options. In addition, one of them on the Emerald Rooftop noticed I was sensitive to the loud noise. They gave me earplugs so I could enjoy the loud atmosphere, which I appreciated.
If you were an Emerald Tier, you could receive a bag of cool merch. When I settled in at home with the latest issue of Sonic IDW, two cool keychains, a poster, and a commemorative coin, all in a sick tote bag, I was very happy. I’m going to treasure these and look at them when I want to reminisce about the event.
Memories and Beyond – Sonic 35th Anniversary Short Teaser & Other Reveals at Club Chaos
But the biggest highlights were some fun announcements. Firstly, there was a teaser for a 35th Anniversary short, where Sonic and crew take on a powered-up Metal Sonic. Done by the team behind Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings, we are in for a treat with awesome action sequences, killer music, and a fun story honoring the series 35 years of adventures.
Other reveals included new Sonic Merch collaborating with the Olympics and Sonic speeding his way to space in 2027.
And for those that want to roll into the battle bus, the Sonic X Fortnite collaboration isn’t over yet, with Metal Sonic being teased as coming to the ever-evolving game.
A Low Note – Austin Millz Performance & Merch Shortages
While I overall had an amazing time, there was some chaos within the, uh, chaos.
Firstly, the final musical performance ended on a low note, with Austin Millz DJing to close out the night.
It was ‘fine’ club music, but for a Sonic-themed party, it felt out of place. It felt like background music that played while we enjoyed the other side ventures the venue had to offer.
And if you’re eager to get most of the exclusive merch, it ran out quickly for people without the Emerald Tier. Some of it can be purchased on SEGA’s online store, but merch like the $250 jacket and the Sonic Cafe Brooklyn T-Shirt were exclusively sold at the event.
Maybe SEGA will offer the exclusive Club Chaos merch on Amazon or other shopping platforms in the distant future.
Closing Thoughts on Club Chaos
As a Sonic fan who’s been around for Blue Blur’s career, it’s surreal seeing Sonic become this mainstream. If you told me as a kid that events like this existed, I wouldn’t believe that.
Seeing Sonic’s rise as a major player in the gaming space has been cathartic, and I can’t wait to celebrate the Blue Blur’s next major milestone.
Happy 35th Birthday, Sonic! And may we celebrate another round of Chaos for your 40th. Thank you, SEGA, for inviting Lords of Gaming to cover this amazing celebration.
