How About a Sonic the Hedgehog Esports Drink That Tastes Like Chili Dogs?

(Credit: Sega/G Fuel)

Ever wanted to enjoy Sonic the Hedgehog’s favorite food, the chili dog, but as a liquid esports drink? Well, apparently G Fuel thinks it's a great idea.

On Thursday, the company introduced a chili dog flavor drink inspired by Sega’s video game character. The company insists the product is not an April Fools' Day joke. But we're pretty sure it is since G Fuel is only taking pre-orders for the limited-edition $40 product after you hand over your email address, and its Twitter handle has been renamed G Fool.

G Fuel says it developed this liquid monstrosity in partnership with Sega. But the companies decided to spare Sonic from the product’s official marketing. Instead, the drink has been stylized after “Sanic the Hedgehog” meme, which involves a poorly drawn sketch of the character.

Credit: G Fuel

“The Sanic meme still cracks us up after all of these years,” said G Fuel CEO Cliff Morgan in the announcement. “If you’re waiting for us to yell ‘April Fools,’ don’t hold your breath. G Fuel Sanic Chili Dogs is the real deal.”

The sugar-free energy drink tastes like chili dogs, which is obviously disgusting. On the plus side, the drink is loaded with 18 antioxidants? “A serving of the new flavor has only 15 calories and contains 140 mg of caffeine along with proprietary energy and focus-enhancing complexes. So, it will certainly help you if you ‘Gotta Go Fast!’” the company added.

If you’re not amused, G Fuel has been selling another Sonic-themed esports drink made in partnership with Sega that tastes like peach. The chili dog version would arrive in a 40-serving tub, alongside a 16-ounce “Sanic shaker cup” and an additional tub of the peach Sonic drink.

If you crave heartburn and chili dog burps, sign up before 3 p.m. EST tomorrow, when the waitlist for this product allegedly closes. Maybe it'll be delivered in a Voltswagen?

About Our Expert

Michael Kan

Principal Reporter

My Experience

I've been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I'm currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country's technology sector.

Since 2020, I've covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I've combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink's cellular service.

I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. In 2024 and 2025, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.

I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I'm now following how the AI-driven memory shortage is impacting the entire consumer electronics market. I'm always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.

The Best Tech I've Had:

My first video game console: a Nintendo Famicom
I loved my Sega Saturn despite PlayStation's popularity.
The iPod Video I received as a gift in college
Xbox 360 FTW
The Galaxy Nexus was the first smartphone I was proud to own.
The PC desktop I built in 2013, which still works to this day.

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