The Weeknd Visits SEGA HQ

Video GamesMusic

Feb 7

The Weekend is pictured playing Sonic Racing CrossWorlds with Sonic in the background, recreating an iconic image of Michael Jackson. — Image Source: Threads

Sonic and SEGA fans are “Blinded by the Light” after music star Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, better known by his stage name, The Weekend, visited the video game giant's Tokyo Headquarters. The company took the time to post some photos on X.

No reason was revealed for the visit, but it has SEGA and Sonic fans brimming with speculation. The most widespread theory is that The Weekend will potentially be composing for an installment in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, following in the footsteps of one of his musical heroes, Michael Jackson, who contributed to the soundtrack of the 1994 Genesis/MegaDrive title, Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Several fans even pointed out that the artist recreated an iconic photo of the King of Pop that was taken over 30 years earlier.

In the photo with Sonic, The Weekend is seen playing Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, and in another, he is seen playing another SEGA racing title, SEGA Rally, in its original arcade cabinet. He was also shown the classic Michael Jackson-inspired title, Moonwalker, along with vintage promotional art for the game. Whether or not this leads to a collaboration between SEGA and The Weekend, it is certainly a full-circle moment for the music and video game worlds.