LEGO Sonic and Animal Crossing Rumoured to End in 2027 – Which Sets Could Become Collectible?
Published: 1 month ago
Last Updated: 1 month ago
LEGO Sonic and Animal Crossing Rumoured to End in 2027
LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog and LEGO Animal Crossing may be approaching the end of their current product runs, according to a new and currently unconfirmed report.
The rumour claims that neither gaming theme has sets scheduled for the first half of 2027. When combined with reported retirement dates for their existing ranges, this has prompted speculation that both could conclude around the middle of next year.
LEGO has not confirmed that either theme or licensing partnership is ending. A gap in the release calendar could represent a pause, a change of format or incomplete information rather than permanent cancellation. The report should therefore be treated cautiously until LEGO, Sega or Nintendo provides official confirmation.
If the rumour proves accurate, however, it could create an important buying window for collectors. Both themes contain highly recognisable characters, distinctive moulded elements and sets that may become much harder to obtain once the final retail stock disappears.
LEGO Sonic Collectors Should Watch These 2027 Retirement Rumours
The report is based on claims that LEGO® Sonic the Hedgehog™ and Animal Crossing currently have no sets scheduled for the first half of 2027.
That absence has been combined with expected 2027 retirement dates to suggest that the August 2026 releases could form the last major wave for both themes. This remains an interpretation rather than an official announcement.
LEGO continues to operate official theme pages for Sonic and Animal Crossing and is actively promoting their 2026 products. The official Sonic shop currently lists a range of sets, while LEGO describes Animal Crossing as a customisable world of locations and characters inspired by Nintendo’s video-game series.
Collectors should therefore avoid presenting the themes as confirmed cancellations. The correct description is that they are rumoured to end or pause during 2027.
The latest LEGO Sonic sets
LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog received two further sets on August 1, 2026:
- 77119 Tails’ Tornado-1, containing 310 pieces and priced at $29.99 in the US and £24.99 in the UK
- 77120 Shadow’s Mech vs. G.U.N. Trooper, containing 374 pieces and priced at $49.99 in the US and £44.99 in the UK
The wave draws on both classic and more recent Sonic games, continuing the theme’s focus on characters, vehicles and action-oriented play.
LEGO’s official 2026 Sonic range also includes products such as Sonic’s Campfire Clash, Cyclone vs. Metal Sonic and Silver’s Car vs. Knuckles’ Monster Truck. The continued introduction of characters beyond Sonic himself has helped transform the range from a single nostalgic Ideas model into a broader gaming theme.
If the theme does end in 2027, its later sets could become particularly interesting because they contain characters and vehicles that may not be revisited for some time.
LEGO Tails’ Tornado 1 (77119)
LEGO Shadows Mech vs Gun Trooper 77120
The latest LEGO Animal Crossing set
The August 2026 Animal Crossing release is 77059 Timmy & Tommy’s Fun Day Out.
Rather than using conventional minifigures, the set includes larger, posable brick-built versions of Timmy and Tommy. LEGO positions it as gaming décor as well as a play product for fans aged ten and over.
The wider Animal Crossing range has covered locations and characters including Nook’s Cranny, Isabelle, Tom Nook, Kapp’n, Celeste, Mabel and other villagers. LEGO’s official theme description emphasises the ability to rearrange buildings and create a personalised island environment.
That modularity is one of the theme’s greatest strengths for collectors, but it can also become a weakness after retirement. Buyers entering late may need several discontinued sets to assemble a complete village, increasing demand for particular buildings and characters.
Why would LEGO end the themes?
An ending would not necessarily mean that Sonic or Animal Crossing performed badly.
Licensed LEGO themes can conclude for many reasons:
- A licensing agreement reaches the end of its term
- LEGO and the intellectual-property owner change strategy
- Sales are concentrated around particular characters
- The range has covered most of its commercially viable subjects
- LEGO needs space for newer gaming partnerships
- A theme is paused ahead of a redesigned relaunch
- Retail performance does not justify further waves
LEGO’s gaming portfolio has expanded substantially, with Super Mario, Minecraft, The Legend of Zelda and Pokémon competing for attention and shelf space. An increasingly crowded portfolio could lead LEGO to concentrate on the largest or newest partnerships.
That does not mean Sonic or Animal Crossing could never return. LEGO has repeatedly revisited popular licences after gaps, sometimes through a different theme, format or age category.
Which Sonic sets could become the most collectible?
The strongest Sonic investment opportunities are unlikely to be determined by size alone.
Character exclusivity should be the central consideration. Sonic himself appears in numerous sets, while characters such as Shadow, Silver, Knuckles, Amy, Tails and Metal Sonic have appeared less frequently.
Sets containing a desirable character for the first or only time may have a stronger post-retirement proposition than another Green Hill Zone build with a common Sonic figure.
Vehicles can also matter. Tails’ Tornado aircraft and character-specific mechs or cars may appeal to gaming collectors because they represent recognisable elements from the wider franchise rather than generic scenery.
The original 21331 Sonic the Hedgehog – Green Hill Zone remains useful context. Investabrick previously projected a fifth-year value of approximately $109 from its $80 RRP, while noting the strength of the broader Ideas theme and the importance of buying below retail.
The smaller retired 40627 Sonic the Hedgehog BrickHeadz provides another encouraging signal. Investabrick has recorded the $10 set at approximately $19, representing growth of around 90%. That suggests compact, character-led Sonic products can attract strong demand after retirement.
The dedicated play theme is still too young to provide a mature set of retired comparators, but the licence has already demonstrated collector strength across Ideas, BrickHeadz and promotional products.
Which Animal Crossing sets could become the most collectible?
Animal Crossing’s investment potential is likely to be driven heavily by its minifigures.
The franchise contains a very large cast of villagers, but LEGO has released only a limited selection. Each set therefore acts partly as a character pack as well as a building model.
Sets containing exclusive or especially popular characters may become difficult to obtain once their retail run ends. Buyers assembling a complete island may need Isabelle, Tom Nook, Rosie, Kapp’n, Celeste, Mabel and other villagers from several different products.
Important locations could also outperform more generic outdoor scenes. Nook’s Cranny, the Able Sisters shop and recognisable character homes have stronger franchise identities than interchangeable scenery.
The first retired results are mixed. Public Investabrick records have shown 77050 Nook’s Cranny & Rosie’s House close to or slightly below its original retail value, while 77049 Isabelle’s House Visit has also experienced early weakness.
That should not automatically be interpreted as a poor long-term outlook. Newly retired sets often face remaining discounted stock, and Animal Crossing has not yet had enough time to establish genuine scarcity.
It does show that investors should avoid buying every set simply because the theme may be ending.
Why an ending could improve the investment case
A confirmed conclusion would place a ceiling on future supply.
Once the final sets retire, new collectors would have to purchase existing products from the secondary market. This could be particularly important for exclusive minifigures and characters that have no alternative LEGO version.
A theme ending can also create renewed attention. Buyers who previously assumed they had years to complete their collection may begin purchasing missing sets before stock disappears.
The strongest benefits would probably be felt by:
- Sets with exclusive characters
- Definitive locations
- Final-wave products
- Smaller sets with low original prices
- Products with limited retail distribution
- Sets that received little investor hoarding
- Gift-with-purchase and promotional items
However, a theme ending only creates scarcity if demand remains. Discontinued products with weak collector interest can remain below RRP for years.
The risk of future relaunches
Both Sonic and Animal Crossing remain active and valuable gaming properties.
A successful new game, film or anniversary could encourage LEGO to revive either partnership. A relaunch might introduce improved versions of important characters and locations, reducing demand for some earlier products.
Sonic carries particular relaunch risk because the franchise spans games, films, animation and merchandise. LEGO could later return with adult display models, further BrickHeadz or a redesigned play range.
Animal Crossing has a large character library, giving Nintendo and LEGO many subjects that remain untouched. Even if the current format ends, a future wave connected to a new game cannot be ruled out.
Investors should therefore prioritise sets with distinctive versions rather than assuming every character will remain permanently unavailable.
Should collectors buy now?
The rumour alone is not a reason to rush.
If the reported mid-2027 timeline is accurate, most current sets should remain available for several more months. That leaves time to monitor discounts, retirement updates and stock levels.
Collectors should begin by identifying the characters and locations they genuinely want. It would be sensible to prioritise sets that contain exclusive figures or represent essential parts of either franchise.
Investors should look for meaningful reductions rather than buying the entire range at RRP. Investabrick’s wider analysis shows how strongly entry price influences eventual return, with even moderate discounts materially improving ROI.
The exception may be a set that becomes unexpectedly scarce or receives limited distribution. Availability should always be considered alongside discount percentage.
Investabrick investment verdict
A confirmed ending for LEGO Sonic and Animal Crossing would make both themes more attractive from a scarcity perspective, but the opportunities should be selected carefully.
LEGO Sonic currently has the stronger proven collector evidence. The original Ideas set established adult nostalgia demand, while the retired Sonic BrickHeadz has produced encouraging early growth. The franchise also offers recognisable characters, vehicles and gaming history extending across several generations.
LEGO Animal Crossing may offer the stronger minifigure-driven opportunity. Its large cast and limited character coverage could make exclusive villagers increasingly important after retirement. However, the first retired sets have not yet produced convincing growth, so the theme requires greater selectivity and patience.
The provisional Investabrick verdict is:
LEGO Sonic: Positive Investment Interest — Prioritise Exclusive Characters
LEGO Animal Crossing: Selective Buy on Discount — Prioritise Villagers and Key Locations
Collectors should not assume either range has officially ended. The immediate strategy should be to monitor availability and identify the strongest character-led sets rather than buying indiscriminately.
If LEGO confirms that no further waves are planned, Investabrick should reassess every current set using character exclusivity, discount level, remaining supply and retirement timing. That confirmation could turn selected final-wave products into some of the more interesting gaming investments entering retirement in 2027.
Author: Stephen Montague
Steve is a qualified accountant with over 15 years’ experience as a trader and investor, complemented by more recent work in data analytics. He entered the world of LEGO as an AFOL through the investment lens, but soon became captivated by the creativity and engineering behind the bricks. Drawn to the precision of Technic and the architectural elegance of large-scale display sets, Steve blends financial insight with an analytical approach to LEGO trends. He thrives on uncovering patterns in performance across themes and generations.
See Stephen's ArticlesYour next 2 reads
LEGO Sonic Speed Shoes On: More Blue-Blur Brick-Action Arrives This August!
7 months ago
New Wave, New Speed – August’s LEGO Sonic Line-Up. LEGO® Sonic the Hedgehog™ has been racing across our display shelves ever since 2023’s Green Hill Zone Ideas set (21331)......
Read More
LEGO Animal Crossing Sets Announced | LEGO and Nintendo Collaborate to Bring LEGO Animal Crossing to Life!
7 months ago
The LEGO Group and Nintendo are thrilled to unveil the magical LEGO Animal Crossing sets that will delight fans of both LEGO and the beloved Animal Crossing video game franchise....
Read More
