Voice actor Roger Craig Smith has announced he is returning to voice Sonic the Hedgehog in future games, having previously announced he was departing the role in January. This news comes just ahead of the Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary stream scheduled for May 27, potentially signaling his voice work being included in a project that will be revealed soon.
Roger Craig Smith started voicing Sonic in 2010's Sonic Free Riders for the Xbox 360. Since then, he has been the go-to voice for the Blue Blur in all major video game entries. In January 2021, however, he announced he was no longer voicing Sonic. There was immediate fan backlash directed at Sega under the assumption he was being let go, as Smith's performance has become an iconic part of Sonic's character over the past decade. He eventually stated that he left of his own volition and that there was no bad blood between him and developer Sega, but something seems to have changed between his initial announcement he was leaving Sonic behind and now.
It seems the Sonic the Hedgehog fanbase was heard. In a tweet, Roger Craig Smith declared he was back on board to voice Sonic in future titles. Fans quickly celebrated his return, expressing excitement at what projects are yet to come. Even Ben Schwartz, the voice of Sonic in the recent film adaptation, commented his support for Smith's return, seemingly squashing rumors that the movie cast is replacing the games' actors.
Smith's next performance as Sonic will be his first since Team Sonic Racing in 2019. It is highly likely his voice will appear in the Sonic the Hedgehog 30th anniversary live stream. However, it is not clear if this is a temporary role reprisal or not. More information may be revealed in the coming days.
While Smith's return is clearly being celebrated, not all of the veteran voice cast is making a comeback. Cindy Robinson, the voice of Amy Rose, announced her departure shortly after Smith did. However, she has made no any statement indicating her return at publication time. Tails's voice actress, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, is still on to voice the young fox (albeit not in the upcoming Sonic Prime cartoon), while the voice of Dr. Eggman, Mike Pollock, clarified he is not leaving the role anytime soon.
Given the outpouring of support for Smith, it's obvious that his role has left an impression on the fan community. Sonic has had many voice actors over the years, each beloved in their own right. However, it's arguably Smith's performance that is the most memorable and iconic for many, especially among younger players. With Sonic 30th anniversary announcements inbound, bringing back Smith is a move that not only builds interests but reminds Sonic the Hedgehog fans that their voices are heard.
Sources: Roger Craig Smith, Ben Schwartz