Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds continues to turn heads, and at IGN Live 2025, Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka sat down to unpack some of the biggest surprises coming to the blue blur’s next racing adventure. Following its Summer Game Fest showcase, the interview offered deeper insight into CrossWorlds’ ambitious scale, especially its crossover character roster and the game-changing Travel Ring mechanic.
Iizuka explained that the game was built around keeping players on their toes throughout every race. “We wanted to make sure the second lap around was going to be full of surprises,” he said, referencing how Travel Rings allow racers to warp into entirely new worlds mid-race. These transitions are more than just visual effects. Each new world brings its own hazards and terrain, inspired by both Sega properties and guest franchises. “We knew it would be great to go to some of the Sega IP worlds, but we also wanted to go to other IP worlds and really surprise people.”
Among the surprises already revealed are crossover racers and themed stages from Minecraft, Persona, Like a Dragon, and the world of Hatsune Miku. Characters like Steve, Alex, the Creeper, Joker, and Ichiban Kasuga are all confirmed, with more expected through the game’s season pass.
The Travel Ring system is central to CrossWorlds’ three-lap race structure. The first lap establishes the course. The second lap is transformed by the world chosen by whoever is in first place. As for the third lap, Iizuka hinted that it would introduce another twist to keep things fresh, teasing unexpected changes to the racing environment.
When asked about items, Iizuka confirmed the return of familiar power-ups from past Sonic racing titles. Wisps are back, as is the Rocket Punch. A brand-new item called the Monster Truck transforms your vehicle and lets you bulldoze everything in your path. “It lets you turn your vehicle into a monster truck and just run over everyone in front of you,” Iizuka explained with a grin, describing it as a chaotic and hilarious option that adds to the fun.
Iizuka also confirmed the return of Extreme Gear hoverboards from the Sonic Riders series. Players can now race using either traditional vehicles or surf through stages with stylish hoverboards. This time around, vehicle selection is no longer tied to characters. Any racer can use any car or board, offering full flexibility across the launch lineup of 23 characters.
You can check out the full interview below which include the confirmation of online events and new gameplay footage:
With twelve-player online races, full cross-play across all systems, and deep customization options, CrossWorlds is shaping up to be the most expansive Sonic racing title yet. Iizuka emphasized that the focus was on fast-paced action, variety, and freedom to play your way, no matter the platform.
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds will launch on September 25, 2025, for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is also in development, with a paid upgrade available for existing Switch owners.
Stay tuned to Sonic City for more Sonic Racing CrossWorlds updates and surprises as the release date approaches.
Man, I can’t wait to play this come September 25th! This is going to be legendary!😁