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[nihongo_foot lead="yes" group="lower-alpha"]Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds||ソニックレーシングクロスワールド||Sonikku Reshingu Kurosu Warudo[/nihongo_foot] is a 2025 [[kart racing game]] developed by [[Sonic Team]] and published by [[Sega]]. A [[Spinoff (media)|spin-off]] in the [[Sonic the Hedgehog]] series, it draws on characters and ideas from earlier Sonic racing titles while introducing the "CrossWorld" mechanic, which sends racers through [[Travel Ring]]s into different worlds in the middle of a race. The roster is centered on characters from the Sonic universe, with additional racers from other Sega properties and outside franchises added through [[downloadable content]].[ref name="PlaystationBlog"][cite_web first="Thalia" last="Piedra" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds gameplay revealed, new mechanics detailed" url="https://blog.playstation.com/2025/02/12/sonic-racing-crossworlds-gameplay-revealed-new-mechanics-detailed/" work="PlayStation.Blog" date="12 February 2025" accessdate="18 February 2025"][/ref][ref name="Cosmocover"][cite_web title="SEGA® Fully Unveils Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds™" url="https://www.cosmocover.com/newsroom/sega-fully-unveils-sonic-racing-crossworlds/" work="Cosmocover" date="13 February 2025" accessdate="18 February 2025"][/ref][ref]<a href="https://asia.sega.com/SonicRacingCrossWorlds/en/news/20250607minecraft.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://asia.sega.com/SonicRacingCrossWorlds/en/news/20250607minecraft.html</a>[/ref]

The game was first announced at The Game Awards 2024 on December 12, 2024. A [[Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Closed Network Test|Closed Network Test]] for [[PlayStation 5]] followed on February 22, 2025, and a [[Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Open Network Test|Open Network Test]] for multiple platforms was later held from August 29 to September 1, 2025.[cite_web url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250212232045/https://blog.playstation.com/2025/02/12/sonic-racing-crossworlds-gameplay-revealed-new-mechanics-detailed/" title="Archived PlayStation Blog page"][cite_web url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250826164745/https://asia.sega.com/SonicRacingCrossWorlds/en/news/open-network-test.html" title="Archived SEGA Asia page"][cite_web url="https://ghostarchive.org/archive/2Fs0q" title="Ghostarchive snapshot" quote="Original post: https://x.com/SonicOfficialJP/status/1889799999204294869?mx=2"]

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds launched worldwide for [[Nintendo Switch]], [[PlayStation 4]], [[PlayStation 5]], [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[Xbox One]], and [[Xbox Series X/S]] on September 25, 2025, followed by a [[Nintendo Switch 2]] version on December 4, 2025; a physical Switch 2 release followed on March 26, 2026, or April 10, 2026 in Japan.[ref name="Steam"][cite_web title="Sonic Racing: Crosswords - on Steam" url="https://store.steampowered.com/app/2486820/Sonic_Racing_CrossWorlds/" work="[[Steam]]" accessdate="18 February 2025"][/ref][ref]<a href="https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicRacingCrossWorlds/news/20260113sw2.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicRacingCrossWorlds/news/20260113sw2.html</a>[/ref] An [[Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds - The Animation|animated short]] promoting the game was released on August 29, 2025, and a tie-in [[Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds One-shot|one-shot comic]] published by [[IDW Publishing]] followed on March 4, 2026.[ref name="Steam" /]

CrossWorlds received positive reviews from critics, with particular praise going to its gameplay and customization features, although some reviews were more critical of its single-player content and the presentation of its downloadable characters.

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Gameplay</h2>

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is a [[kart racing game]] similar to [[Team Sonic Racing]] (2019), though it does not retain that game's cooperative team racing mechanic in normal gameplay.[ref name="eurogamer-reveal"][cite_web last="Nightingale" first="Ed" date="2025-02-12" title="Sega reveals Sonic Racing: Crossworlds, follow up to Team Sonic Racing" url="https://www.eurogamer.net/sega-reveals-sonic-racing-crossworlds-follow-up-to-team-sonic-racing" access-date="2025-02-13" website="Eurogamer.net" language="en" archive-date="February 12, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250212232850/https://www.eurogamer.net/sega-reveals-sonic-racing-crossworlds-follow-up-to-team-sonic-racing" url-status="live"][/ref][ref name="ign-preview"][cite_web last="Griffin" first="Jada" date="2025-02-13" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds: The First Preview" url="https://www.ign.com/articles/sonic-racing-crossworlds-the-first-preview" access-date="2025-02-14" website="[[IGN]]" language="en" archive-date="February 14, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250214034647/https://www.ign.com/articles/sonic-racing-crossworlds-the-first-preview" url-status="live"][/ref] Players race against up to 11 opponents in three-lap races, collecting [[Ring]]s to raise their top speed, using items from [[Item Box]]es, and building speed through [[Drifting (motorsport)|drifting]] and mid-air tricks.[ref name="ign-preview" /][ref name="rings"][cite_web last="Alexander" first="Cristina" title="Sonic Racing: Crossworlds is already giving Mario Kart a run for its money" website="Digital Trends" date="2025-02-27" url="https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/sonic-racing-crossworlds-hands-on-preview/" access-date="2025-08-30" archive-date="March 2, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250302224046/https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/sonic-racing-crossworlds-hands-on-preview/" url-status="live"][/ref] Four speed options are available, which also act as the race difficulty settings: Normal Speed, High Speed, Sonic Speed, and Super Sonic Speed.[ref name="VGCRev"][cite_web url="https://www.videogameschronicle.com/review/sonic-racingcrossworlds/" title="Sonic Racing CrossWorlds review: A great alternative to Mario Kart's new open-world focus" last="Scullion" first="Chris" date="September 18, 2025" website="[[Video Games Chronicle]]" access-date="September 18, 2025"][/ref]

Players can choose between standard race cars, which transform into boat and air forms at different points in a course, or [[Extreme Gear]] hoverboards from the [[Sonic Riders]] series.[ref name="SI"][cite_web last="Cunliffe" first="Thomas" date="2025-02-12" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Features Extreme Gear, Transforming, and Cream the Rabbit" url="https://www.siliconera.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds-features-extreme-gear-transforming-and-cream-the-rabbit/" access-date="2025-02-13" website="Siliconera" language="en-US" archive-date="February 13, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250213142530/https://www.siliconera.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds-features-extreme-gear-transforming-and-cream-the-rabbit/" url-status="live"][/ref] Air forms can drift like land vehicles, while boat forms perform Charge Jumps that can be chained into additional tricks. Unlike earlier Sonic racing titles, characters are not restricted to their own signature vehicles, and machines can be selected across five stat types: Speed, Acceleration, Handling, Power, and Boost, with the Boost type reserved for Extreme Gear.[ref name="ign-preview" /] Vehicles can also be customized by mixing front and rear parts and applying paint jobs, decals, horns, and auras, while performance can be further adjusted with over 70 unlockable [[Gadget]]s placed on a Gadget Plate that expands from two to six slots.[ref name="ign-preview" /][ref name="Switch2FAQ"][cite_web last="Romano" first="Sal" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds for Switch 2 launches this holiday, 'Customization and Gadgets' trailer" website="Gematsu" date="July 16, 2025" url="https://www.gematsu.com/2025/07/sonic-racing-crossworlds-for-switch-2-launches-this-holiday-customization-and-gadgets-trailer" access-date="July 16, 2025" archive-date="July 16, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250716192707/https://www.gematsu.com/2025/07/sonic-racing-crossworlds-for-switch-2-launches-this-holiday-customization-and-gadgets-trailer" url-status="live"][/ref]

The game's main mechanic is the use of [[Travel Ring]]s, which appear near the end of the first lap and send racers into alternate courses known as [[CrossWorld]]s.[ref name="eurogamer-reveal" /] The leading racer chooses between two Travel Rings, one tied to a visible destination and the other to a random route, after which the entire field enters the selected CrossWorld for the second lap before returning to the original course for an altered final lap.[ref name="IGNRev"][cite_web url="https://www.ign.com/articles/sonic-racing-crossworlds-review" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Review" last="Griffin" first="Jada" date="September 18, 2025" website="[[IGN]]" access-date="September 18, 2025"][/ref] The game features 24 tracks divided into eight Grands Prix, while 15 separate CrossWorlds can appear during races.[ref name="IGNRev" /] The returning main track is modified for the last lap with new routes, hazards, [[Dash Panel]] placements, [[Shortcut Ring]]s, and item layouts, and after clearing the Egg Grand Prix, standard tracks can also begin appearing as random CrossWorld destinations.

Some Travel Rings can trigger Frenzy events, which temporarily change the selected CrossWorld by adding effects such as extra Dash Gates or Dash Panels, reusable [[White Wisp|Boost]]s, faster drift charge, higher-level drift boosts, or additional Item Boxes and bonus Rings. [[Transformation Gate]]s also return from [[Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed]], allowing vehicles to shift between land, water, and air travel. In addition to standard races, the game includes Grand Prix play, local multiplayer, split-screen support, and online multiplayer for up to 12 players.

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Characters</h2>

The playable roster in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is the largest in a Sonic racing game to date, with the final lineup planned to exceed 50 characters once all [[downloadable content]] is included.[cite_web last="Romano" first="Sal" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds debut trailer, screenshots" website="Gematsu" date="February 12, 2025" url="https://www.gematsu.com/2025/02/sonic-racing-crossworlds-debut-trailer-screenshots" access-date="September 9, 2025" archive-date="April 6, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250406142531/https://www.gematsu.com/2025/02/sonic-racing-crossworlds-debut-trailer-screenshots" url-status="live"][ref name="50char"][cite_web last="Tailby" first="Stephen" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Free and Paid DLC Adds Guests from Minecraft, Like a Dragon, More" website="Push Square" date="June 7, 2025" url="https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2025/06/sonic-racing-crossworlds-free-and-paid-dlc-adds-guests-from-minecraft-like-a-dragon-more" access-date="June 16, 2025" archive-date="July 12, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250712134117/https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2025/06/sonic-racing-crossworlds-free-and-paid-dlc-adds-guests-from-minecraft-like-a-dragon-more" url-status="live"][/ref][ref name=NLifeChar][cite_web last="Doolan" first="Liam" date="2025-02-14" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds: Full Character Roster - Every Racer Confirmed So Far" url="https://www.nintendolife.com/guides/sonic-racing-crossworlds-full-character-roster-every-racer-confirmed-so-far1" access-date="2025-02-14" website="[[Nintendo Life]]" language="en-GB" archive-date="February 14, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250214071116/https://www.nintendolife.com/guides/sonic-racing-crossworlds-full-character-roster-every-racer-confirmed-so-far1" url-status="live"][/ref] The game launched with 24 playable racers, although only 23 are available at the start; [[Super Sonic]] must be unlocked and can only be used in Grand Prix mode.[ref name="IGNRev"/][ref name=Super][cite_web last="Givens" first="Billy" title="How to unlock all Sonic Racing Crossworlds characters and tracks" website="PCGamesN" date="September 25, 2025" url="https://www.pcgamesn.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds/characters-tracks" access-date="October 16, 2025"][/ref] The base roster draws from across the [[Sonic the Hedgehog]] series and includes characters such as [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]], [[Miles "Tails" Prower|Tails]], [[Knuckles the Echidna|Knuckles]], [[Amy Rose|Amy]], [[Cream the Rabbit|Cream]] and [[Cheese]], [[Big the Cat|Big]], [[Silver the Hedgehog|Silver]], [[Blaze the Cat|Blaze]], [[Shadow the Hedgehog|Shadow]], [[Rouge the Bat|Rouge]], [[E-123 Omega]], the [[Chaotix]] members [[Vector the Crocodile|Vector]], [[Espio the Chameleon|Espio]], and [[Charmy Bee]], the [[Babylon Rogues]] members [[Jet the Hawk|Jet]], [[Wave the Swallow|Wave]], and [[Storm the Albatross|Storm]], as well as [[Dr. Eggman]], [[Metal Sonic]], [[Egg Pawn]], [[Sage (Sonic the Hedgehog)|Sage]], [[Zavok]], and [[Zazz]].[ref name="eurogamer-reveal" ][Cite_web last="Nightingale" first="Ed" date="2025-02-12" title="Sega reveals Sonic Racing: Crossworlds, follow up to Team Sonic Racing" url="https://www.eurogamer.net/sega-reveals-sonic-racing-crossworlds-follow-up-to-team-sonic-racing" access-date="2025-02-13" website="Eurogamer.net" language="en" archive-date="February 12, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250212232850/https://www.eurogamer.net/sega-reveals-sonic-racing-crossworlds-follow-up-to-team-sonic-racing" url-status="live"][/ref][ref name="NLifeChar"][cite_web last="Doolan" first="Liam" date="2025-02-14" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds: Full Character Roster - Every Racer Confirmed So Far" url="https://www.nintendolife.com/guides/sonic-racing-crossworlds-full-character-roster-every-racer-confirmed-so-far1" access-date="2025-02-14" website="[[Nintendo Life]]" language="en-GB" archive-date="February 14, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250214071116/https://www.nintendolife.com/guides/sonic-racing-crossworlds-full-character-roster-every-racer-confirmed-so-far1" url-status="live"][/ref]

The roster expanded further through post-launch content. A premium [[Season pass (video games)|Season Pass]] adds 15 guest characters from external properties across six waves, while also including the [[Sonic Prime]] Character Pack with [[Tails Nine]], [[Knuckles the Dread]], and [[Rusty Rose]]. [[Werehog]] from [[Sonic Unleashed]] was also offered as a pre-order bonus.[ref name=NS2][cite_web last="Hesse" first="Brendan" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorld Preorders Are Live On Console And PC" website="GameSpot" date="June 6, 2025" url="https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sonic-racing-crossworld-preorders-are-live-on-console-and-pc/1100-6532225/" access-date="June 16, 2025" archive-date="June 8, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250608074958/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sonic-racing-crossworld-preorders-are-live-on-console-and-pc/1100-6532225/" url-status="live"][/ref][ref name="VGCint"][cite_web last="Scullion" first="Chris" title="Interview: Sonic Team head talks CrossRoads, competing with Mario Kart World and leak culture" website="VGC" date="June 8, 2025" url="https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/interviews/interview-sonic-team-head-talks-crossroads-competing-with-mario-kart-world-and-leak-culture/" access-date="June 8, 2025" archive-date="June 9, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250609141850/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/interviews/interview-sonic-team-head-talks-crossroads-competing-with-mario-kart-world-and-leak-culture/" url-status="live"][/ref][ref name="SGF"][cite_web last="McCrae" first="Scott" title="Sonic's Takashi Iizuka dunks on Mario Kart World as Sonic Racing Crossworlds unveils Hatsune Miku, Persona 5, and Minecraft Steve" website="GamesRadar+" date="June 6, 2025" url="https://www.gamesradar.com/games/racing/sonics-takashi-iizuka-dunks-on-mario-kart-world-as-sonic-racing-crossworlds-unveils-hatsune-miku-persona-5-and-minecraft-steve/" access-date="June 6, 2025" archive-date="June 7, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250607005424/https://www.gamesradar.com/games/racing/sonics-takashi-iizuka-dunks-on-mario-kart-world-as-sonic-racing-crossworlds-unveils-hatsune-miku-persona-5-and-minecraft-steve/" url-status="live"][/ref][ref name="Spongebob"][cite_web last="Doolan" first="Liam" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Officially Reveals Nickelodeon Collaboration" website="Nintendo Life" date="June 22, 2025" url="https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/06/sonic-racing-crossworlds-officially-reveals-nickelodeon-collaboration" access-date="June 22, 2025" archive-date="June 22, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250622032140/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/06/sonic-racing-crossworlds-officially-reveals-nickelodeon-collaboration" url-status="live"][/ref][ref name="PacMan"][cite_web last="Scullion" first="Chris" title="Sonic and Pac-Man's next games will have crossover DLC featuring each other" website="[[Video Games Chronicle]]" date="August 19, 2025" url="https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sonic-and-pac-mans-next-games-will-have-crossover-dlc-featuring-each-other/" access-date="August 19, 2025" archive-date="August 28, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250828225615/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sonic-and-pac-mans-next-games-will-have-crossover-dlc-featuring-each-other/" url-status="live"][/ref][ref name="MegaMan"][cite_web last="Scullion" first="Chris" title="Mega Man has officially been confirmed as a Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds DLC character" website="VGC" date="September 24, 2025" url="https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/mega-man-has-officially-been-confirmed-as-a-sonic-racing-crossworlds-dlc-character/" access-date="September 24, 2025" archive-date="September 25, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250925053652/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/mega-man-has-officially-been-confirmed-as-a-sonic-racing-crossworlds-dlc-character/" url-status="live"][/ref] Paid guest racers released for the game include characters from [[Minecraft]], [[SpongeBob SquarePants]], [[Pac-Man]], and [[Mega Man]], while Sega also committed to free monthly character updates through the end of 2026.[ref name="SGF"/][ref name="VGCint"/][cite_web last="Serin" first="Kaan" title="Persona 5 and Hatsune Miku aren't enough – Sega confirms Mario Kart World rival Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds will get new characters every month" website="GamesRadar+" date="June 12, 2025" url="https://www.gamesradar.com/games/sonic-the-hedgehog/persona-5-and-hatsune-miku-arent-enough-sega-confirms-mario-kart-world-rival-sonic-racing-crossworlds-will-get-new-characters-every-month/" access-date="June 16, 2025" archive-date="June 13, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250613164725/https://www.gamesradar.com/games/sonic-the-hedgehog/persona-5-and-hatsune-miku-arent-enough-sega-confirms-mario-kart-world-rival-sonic-racing-crossworlds-will-get-new-characters-every-month/" url-status="live"][/ref]

Free post-launch additions include [[Hatsune Miku]], Joker from [[Persona 5]], Ichiban Kasuga, [[NiGHTS]], AiAi, [[Tangle the Lemur]], [[Whisper the Wolf]], Red from Angry Birds, Goro Majima, and Arle.[ref name=IDWChar][cite_web last="Romano" first="Sal" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds DLC 'SpongeBob SquarePants Pack' launches in November; free character updates NiGHTS, AiAi, Tangle, and Whisper to follow" website="Gematsu" date="November 11, 2025" url="https://www.gematsu.com/2025/11/sonic-racing-crossworlds-dlc-spongebob-squarepants-pack-launches-in-november-free-character-updates-nights-aiai-tangle-and-whisper-to-follow" access-date="November 11, 2025" archive-date="November 12, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20251112101546/https://www.gematsu.com/2025/11/sonic-racing-crossworlds-dlc-spongebob-squarepants-pack-launches-in-november-free-character-updates-nights-aiai-tangle-and-whisper-to-follow" | url-status="live"][/ref][ref name=AprilMay][cite_web last="Romano" first="Sal" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds free character updates Red, Goro Majima, and Arle announced" website="Gematsu" date="March 16, 2026" url="https://www.gematsu.com/2026/03/sonic-racing-crossworlds-free-character-updates-red-goro-majima-and-arle-announced" access-date="March 16, 2026"][/ref] [as_of year="2026" month="3" day="29" df="US"], the game features 44 playable characters. Beyond the playable lineup, the game also includes numerous non-playable cameos from across the Sonic franchise and its crossover properties through track set dressing, hazards, stickers, and other cosmetic elements.

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Development</h2>

Sonic Team began developing Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds in 2022, with members of the development staff behind the [[Initial D (video game series)|Initial D]] arcade racing games also contributing to the project.[ref name="GlobalAppeal"][cite_web last="Chik" first="Kalai" title="Sonic Team Studio Head Takashi Iizuka's Bid to Appeal to Japanese and Global Audiences Through Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds" website="Anime News Network" date="June 12, 2025" url="https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2025-06-12/sonic-team-studio-head-takashi-iizuka-bid-to-appeal-to-japanese-and-global-audiences-through-sonic-/.225415" access-date="July 7, 2025" archive-date="July 8, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250708011114/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2025-06-12/sonic-team-studio-head-takashi-iizuka-bid-to-appeal-to-japanese-and-global-audiences-through-sonic-/.225415" url-status="live"][/ref][ref name="initial d"][cite_web last="V" first="Amber" date="2025-02-14" title="Initial D arcade developers involved in Sega's new Sonic racing game" url="https://automaton-media.com/en/news/initial-d-arcade-developers-involved-in-segas-new-sonic-racing-game/" access-date="2025-02-15" website="AUTOMATON WEST" language="en-US"][/ref] The developers approached the game as a broad celebration of the series' racing history, combining ideas from earlier titles by bringing back both transforming vehicles and [[Extreme Gear]] hoverboards.[ref name="ExG"][cite_web last="Doolan" first="Liam" date="February 13, 2025" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Confirms SEGA Characters, Extreme Gear, And Much More" url="https://www.purexbox.com/news/2025/02/sonic-racing-crossworlds-confirms-sega-characters-extreme-gear-and-much-more" access-date="February 16, 2025" website="Pure Xbox" archive-date="February 14, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250214113939/https://www.purexbox.com/news/2025/02/sonic-racing-crossworlds-confirms-sega-characters-extreme-gear-and-much-more" url-status="live"][/ref]

The game's central [[Travel Ring]] mechanic was inspired partly by the use of rings as portals in the [[Sonic the Hedgehog (film series)|Sonic the Hedgehog film series]], as well as producer Ryuichi Taki's childhood memories of driving through long tunnels and emerging into completely different surroundings.[ref name="4Gint"][cite_web last="Inamoto" first="Tetsuya" title="［インタビュー］セガのアーケードゲーム開発チームが手がける「ソニックレーシングクロスワールド」は，ワクワクと驚きが満載のレースゲームだ" trans-title="&#91;Interview&#93; &quot;Sonic Racing Cross Worlds,&quot; created by Sega's arcade game development team, is a racing game full of excitement and surprises." website="4Gamer" url="https://www.4gamer.net/games/882/G088214/20250606039/" language="ja" access-date="June 7, 2025" archive-date="June 8, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250608085329/https://www.4gamer.net/games/882/G088214/20250606039/" url-status="live"][/ref] Sega's arcade racing background also shaped the structure of the courses, with the team aiming to make each lap feel distinct in order to keep races dynamic from start to finish.[ref name="4Gint" /] Taki noted that Extreme Gear proved particularly difficult to implement because it required the creation of a separate gameplay system to make it function properly alongside the standard vehicles.[ref name="4Gint" /]

During development, the team focused first on the basic feel of racing and course layout before introducing items, and removed items they felt were too frustrating or too dominant in play.[cite_web last="Jones" first="Ali" title="Veteran Sonic producer says Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds team completely removed items from the game if they were too &quot;stressful&quot; or let players &quot;win all the time&quot;" website="GamesRadar+" date="June 22, 2025" url="https://www.gamesradar.com/games/sonic-the-hedgehog/veteran-sonic-producer-says-sonic-racing-crossworlds-team-completely-removed-items-from-the-game-if-they-were-too-stressful-or-let-players-win-all-the-time/" access-date="August 30, 2025"] Creative director Masaru Kobayakawa also drew on his experience with arcade card games when balancing the [[Gadget]] system, aiming to give loadout choices enough edge to support a meaningful [[metagame]].[ref name="4Gint" /] According to Taki, the balance of the power-ups was adjusted heavily after feedback from the closed beta test.[ref name="4Gint" /]

[[Takashi Iizuka (game designer)|Takashi Iizuka]] said the project was conceived first and foremost as a Sonic racing game, but that fan disappointment over the lack of crossover material in [[Team Sonic Racing]] influenced the decision to add more guest content through downloadable content.[ref name="VGCint"][cite_web last="Scullion" first="Chris" title="Interview: Sonic Team head talks CrossRoads, competing with Mario Kart World and leak culture" website="VGC" date="June 8, 2025" url="https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/interviews/interview-sonic-team-head-talks-crossroads-competing-with-mario-kart-world-and-leak-culture/" access-date="June 8, 2025" archive-date="June 9, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250609141850/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/interviews/interview-sonic-team-head-talks-crossroads-competing-with-mario-kart-world-and-leak-culture/" url-status="live"][/ref] He also stated that because the Sonic series has historically performed most strongly in western markets, some guest selections were chosen with Japanese appeal in mind.[ref name="GlobalAppeal" /] The downloadable guest characters do not feature voice acting, which Iizuka attributed to the lengthy approval process involved when working with external licensors.[cite_web last1="Duwe" first1="Scott" last2="Newell" first2="Adam" title="Iizuka explains how Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds DLC guest characters were chosen and why they don't have voices" website="Destructoid" date="August 26, 2025" url="https://www.destructoid.com/iizuka-explains-how-sonic-racing-crossworlds-dlc-guest-characters-were-chosen-and-why-they-dont-have-voices/" access-date="August 26, 2025" archive-date="August 26, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250826093854/https://www.destructoid.com/iizuka-explains-how-sonic-racing-crossworlds-dlc-guest-characters-were-chosen-and-why-they-dont-have-voices/" url-status="live"]

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Music</h2>

Takahiro Kai served as sound director and lead composer for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, and also composed the main theme, "[[Sonic Racing - Cross the Worlds]]", which features lyrics and vocals by [[James Bourne]] of [[Busted (band)|Busted]].[cite_web last1="Hagues" first1="Alana" title="Wait, 'Busted' Member Is The Singer Of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds' Opening?" url="https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/07/wait-busted-member-is-the-singer-of-sonic-racing-crossworlds-opening" website="[[Nintendo Life]]" date="July 3, 2025" accessdate="July 3, 2025" archive-date="July 3, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250703182723/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/07/wait-busted-member-is-the-singer-of-sonic-racing-crossworlds-opening" url-status="live"] The song was first publicly revealed on 3 July 2025. The credits also feature "Get Higher" by [[Creepy Nuts]].[cite_web last="Rago" first="Luca" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds" website="IGN Italia" date="September 18, 2025" url="https://it.ign.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds/220861/review/sonic-racing-crossworlds-la-recensione" language="it" access-date="September 18, 2025" archive-date="October 30, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20251030042210/https://it.ign.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds/220861/review/sonic-racing-crossworlds-la-recensione" url-status="live"]

Other contributors to the soundtrack include Sega composers [[Tomoya Ohtani]], Tae Fujimoto, [[Jun Senoue]], Kanon Oguni, Iona Takashima, Satoshi Okamura, Hidekuni Horita, and Makoto Tokuyama, alongside guest musicians Riot, [[Giga (musician)|Giga]], [[Tee Lopes]], [[Zardonic]], [[Camellia (musician)|Camellia]], TORIENA, Nanobii, [[:ja:Aiobahn|Aiobahn]], and Laur.[cite_tweet author="Sonic the Hedgehog" author-link="Sonic the Hedgehog" user="Sonic_Hedgehog" number="1956023006112694660" date="August 14, 2025" title="Slip into cruise control with this special Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds DJ Mix created by @Ohtanitter! Enjoy remixes from @GigaMozuku, @cametek, @toriena, @TeeLopes, @nanobii, ZARDONIC, & Jun Senoue of @crush40!" access-date="August 30, 2025"][cite_press_release title="SEGA Shares Latest OST Video for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds" website="Games Press" date="August 29, 2025" url="https://www.gamespress.com/en-GB/SEGA-Shares-Latest-OST-Video-for-Sonic-Racing-CrossWorlds" access-date="August 30, 2025" archive-date="September 7, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250907184256/https://www.gamespress.com/en-GB/SEGA-Shares-Latest-OST-Video-for-Sonic-Racing-CrossWorlds" url-status="live"] A set of five songs by [[Vocaloid]] musicians [[Kairiki Bear]], cosMo@Bousou-P, Yunosuke, Ponchi♪, and Camellia also appears in the game as part of the "Project Onsoku" collaboration with [[Hatsune Miku]].[cite_web last="Stenbuck" first="Kite" title="Project ONSOKU Stars Hatsune Miku and Sonic the Hedgehog" website="Siliconera" date="August 28, 2025" url="https://www.siliconera.com/project-onsoku-stars-hatsune-miku-and-sonic-the-hedgehog/" access-date="August 30, 2025" archive-date="August 29, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250829140722/https://www.siliconera.com/project-onsoku-stars-hatsune-miku-and-sonic-the-hedgehog/" url-status="live"] Additional songs were later added through free updates and paid downloadable content.

The official soundtrack album, [[Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Original Soundtrack - Echoes of Dimensions]], was announced for pre-order on 14 October 2025 and released on 26 November 2025. It contains 208 tracks, including jingles, across four CDs. Music from the game's [[Minecraft World]] content was later released separately in December 2025, alongside a teaser for the Overworld lap and final lap themes.

The game also features a Jukebox containing music from Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds and selections from earlier games in the [[Sonic the Hedgehog]] series. Each track has a regular version and a "Final Lap ver.", with the latter generally starting from a later section of the music.

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Release</h2>

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds was first announced with a [[teaser trailer]] at [[The Game Awards 2024]] on December 12, 2024.[cite_web last="Yin-Poole" first="Wesley" date="2024-12-13" title="The Next Big Sonic Game Is Sonic Racing CrossWorlds - The Game Awards 2024" url="https://www.ign.com/articles/the-next-big-sonic-game-is-sonic-racing-crossworlds-the-game-awards-2024" access-date="2025-02-13" website="IGN" language="en" archive-date="February 5, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250205022631/https://www.ign.com/articles/the-next-big-sonic-game-is-sonic-racing-crossworlds-the-game-awards-2024" url-status="live"] Its first gameplay trailer followed during [[Sony Interactive Entertainment]]'s [[State of Play (livestream event)|State of Play]] on February 12, 2025.[cite_news last="Prescott" first="Shaun" date="2025-02-12" title="Sonic Racing CrossWorlds looks like a return to the over-the-top arcade fun of All-Star Racing Transformed, and we'll get to play it this month" url="https://www.pcgamer.com/games/racing/sonic-racing-crossworlds-looks-like-a-return-to-the-over-the-top-arcade-fun-of-all-star-racing-transformed-and-well-get-to-play-it-this-month/" access-date="2025-02-13" work="PC Gamer" language="en" archive-date="February 13, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250213114954/https://www.pcgamer.com/games/racing/sonic-racing-crossworlds-looks-like-a-return-to-the-over-the-top-arcade-fun-of-all-star-racing-transformed-and-well-get-to-play-it-this-month/" url-status="live"][cite_web last="Makar" first="Connor" date="2025-02-12" title="Sonic Racing: Crossworlds gets it first gameplay trailer at the Sony State of Play, as well as a network test later this month" url="https://www.vg247.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds-gameplay-trailer" access-date="2025-02-13" website="VG247" language="en" archive-date="February 13, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250213115212/https://www.vg247.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds-gameplay-trailer" url-status="live"] A closed beta test for the [[PlayStation 5]] version was held from February 21 to 23, 2025, and an open beta for [[PlayStation 5]], [[Xbox Series X/S]], [[Nintendo Switch]], and [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] followed from August 29 to September 1, 2025.[cite_web last="Watts" first="Steve" title="Sonic Racing CrossWorlds Closed Beta: How To Sign Up" website="GameSpot" date="February 13, 2025" url="https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sonic-racing-crossworlds-getting-closed-beta-test-this-month/1100-6529457/" access-date="September 9, 2025" archive-date="March 16, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250316091009/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sonic-racing-crossworlds-getting-closed-beta-test-this-month/1100-6529457/" url-status="live"][cite_web last="Lennox" first="Jesse" title="How to join the Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds closed test" website="Digital Trends" date="February 13, 2025" url="https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/how-to-join-sonic-racing-crossworlds-test/" access-date="September 9, 2025" archive-date="July 8, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250708190502/https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/how-to-join-sonic-racing-crossworlds-test/" url-status="live"][cite_web last="Orry" first="Tom" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Open Network Test to begin on 29th August" website="[[Eurogamer]]" date="August 20, 2025" url="https://www.eurogamer.net/sonic-racing-crossworlds-open-network-test-to-begin-on-29th-august" access-date="August 21, 2025"] A single-player demo was released on September 17, 2025.[cite_web last="Romano" first="Sal" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds single-player demo launches September 17 for PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC" website="Gematsu" date="September 10, 2025" url="https://www.gematsu.com/2025/09/sonic-racing-crossworlds-single-player-demo-launches-september-17-for-ps5-xbox-series-switch-and-pc" access-date="September 10, 2025" archive-date="September 12, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250912101112/https://www.gematsu.com/2025/09/sonic-racing-crossworlds-single-player-demo-launches-september-17-for-ps5-xbox-series-switch-and-pc" url-status="live"]

In June 2025, leaked concept art and footage from an early build revealed several planned guest characters from non-Sega properties.[cite_web last="Zwiezen" first="Zack" title="Sonic's Upcoming Kart Racer Will Include Minecraft And SpongeBob Characters" website="Kotaku" date="June 4, 2025" url="https://kotaku.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds-leak-mario-kart-spongebob-1851783558" access-date="June 9, 2025" archive-date="June 7, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250607014231/https://kotaku.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds-leak-mario-kart-spongebob-1851783558" url-status="live"] Their inclusion was officially confirmed at [[Summer Game Fest]] on June 6, 2025, when Sega also announced the final release date of September 25, 2025.[cite_web last="Romano" first="Sal" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds adds Switch 2 version, launches September 25" website="Gematsu" date="June 6, 2025" url="https://www.gematsu.com/2025/06/sonic-racing-crossworlds-adds-switch-2-version-launches-september-25" access-date="August 21, 2025" archive-date="August 19, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250819030926/https://www.gematsu.com/2025/06/sonic-racing-crossworlds-adds-switch-2-version-launches-september-25" url-status="live"] [[Takashi Iizuka (game designer)|Takashi Iizuka]] later said he was disappointed by the leak, feeling it had spoiled planned surprises for fans.[cite_web last="Scullion" first="Chris" title="Interview: Sonic Team head talks CrossRoads, competing with Mario Kart World and leak culture" website="VGC" date="June 8, 2025" url="https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/interviews/interview-sonic-team-head-talks-crossroads-competing-with-mario-kart-world-and-leak-culture/" access-date="June 8, 2025" archive-date="June 9, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250609141850/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/interviews/interview-sonic-team-head-talks-crossroads-competing-with-mario-kart-world-and-leak-culture/" url-status="live"] The game launched worldwide for [[PlayStation 5]], [[PlayStation 4]], [[Xbox Series X and Series S|Xbox Series X and S]], [[Xbox One]], [[Nintendo Switch]], and [[PC]] on September 25, 2025.[ref name="Steam"][cite_web title="Sonic Racing: Crosswords - on Steam" url="https://store.steampowered.com/app/2486820/Sonic_Racing_CrossWorlds/" work="[[Steam]]" accessdate="18 February 2025"][ref]https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicRacingCrossWorlds/news/20260113sw2.html[/ref] A [[Nintendo Switch 2]] version was announced alongside the June release date reveal, then released digitally on December 4, 2025, with a paid upgrade path for owners of the original Switch version that carries over save data. A physical Switch 2 edition followed on March 26, 2026, or April 10, 2026 in Japan.[ref]https://www.sega.com/news/sonic-racing-crossworlds-nintendo-switch-2-faq[/ref][ref]https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicRacingCrossWorlds/news/20260113sw2.html[/ref][cite_web last="Doolan" first="Liam" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Switch 2 Version Announced Alongside "Paid Upgrade" For Switch" website="Nintendo Life" date="June 7, 2025" url="https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/06/sonic-racing-crossworlds-switch-2-version-announced-alongside-paid-upgrade-for-switch" access-date="June 16, 2025" archive-date="June 22, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250622074523/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/06/sonic-racing-crossworlds-switch-2-version-announced-alongside-paid-upgrade-for-switch" url-status="live"]

Alongside the standard release, Sega offered a Digital Deluxe Edition that granted three days of early access on all non-Nintendo platforms and included the game's [[season pass]].[cite_web last="Hesse" first="Brendan" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorld Preorders Are Live On Console And PC" website="GameSpot" date="June 6, 2025" url="https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sonic-racing-crossworld-preorders-are-live-on-console-and-pc/1100-6532225/" access-date="June 16, 2025" archive-date="June 8, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250608074958/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sonic-racing-crossworld-preorders-are-live-on-console-and-pc/1100-6532225/" url-status="live"] The pass is scheduled to roll out in six waves over the year after launch, adding characters, tracks, vehicles, emotes, and music themed around franchises including [[Minecraft (franchise)|Minecraft]], [[SpongeBob SquarePants (franchise)|SpongeBob SquarePants]], [[List of Pac-Man video games|Pac-Man]], [[Mega Man]], [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem]], and [[Avatar Legends]], in addition to a [[Sonic Prime]] character pack.[cite_web last="Hesse" first="Brendan" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorld Preorders Are Live On Console And PC" website="GameSpot" date="June 6, 2025" url="https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sonic-racing-crossworld-preorders-are-live-on-console-and-pc/1100-6532225/" access-date="June 16, 2025" archive-date="June 8, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250608074958/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sonic-racing-crossworld-preorders-are-live-on-console-and-pc/1100-6532225/" url-status="live"][cite_web last="Scullion" first="Chris" title="Interview: Sonic Team head talks CrossRoads, competing with Mario Kart World and leak culture" website="VGC" date="June 8, 2025" url="https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/interviews/interview-sonic-team-head-talks-crossroads-competing-with-mario-kart-world-and-leak-culture/" access-date="June 8, 2025" archive-date="June 9, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250609141850/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/interviews/interview-sonic-team-head-talks-crossroads-competing-with-mario-kart-world-and-leak-culture/" url-status="live"] Sega Account holders could also redeem a code for the "Blue Star" Extreme Gear, which was later released more widely as downloadable content.[cite_web last="Mäki" first="Jonas" title="Claim a free cosmetic item for Sonic Racing: Crossworlds" website="Gamereactor UK" date="September 22, 2025" url="https://www.gamereactor.eu/claim-a-free-cosmetic-item-for-sonic-racing-crossworlds-1605073/" access-date="January 15, 2026" archive-date="September 22, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250922025122/https://www.gamereactor.eu/claim-a-free-cosmetic-item-for-sonic-racing-crossworlds-1605073/" url-status="live"] [[Limited Run Games]] also offered a Collector's Edition with additional physical items, available to order during June 2025 only.[cite_web last="Romano" first="Sal" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds adds Switch 2 version, launches September 25" website="Gematsu" date="June 6, 2025" url="https://www.gematsu.com/2025/06/sonic-racing-crossworlds-adds-switch-2-version-launches-september-25" access-date="August 21, 2025" archive-date="August 19, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250819030926/https://www.gematsu.com/2025/06/sonic-racing-crossworlds-adds-switch-2-version-launches-september-25" url-status="live"]

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Reception</h2>

In pre-release coverage, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds drew a positive response from critics and players. In a preview for [[IGN]], Jada Griffin praised the game's broad customization options and the novelty of the CrossWorld mechanic.[ref name="ign-preview" /] Coverage of the closed beta in [[Digital Trends]], [[ComicBook.com]], and roundups of fan reactions similarly highlighted the presentation, gameplay, track variety, and large playable roster, with the races' chaotic pace often described as entertaining. At the same time, some preview impressions found that chaos excessive and argued that several combat-focused power-ups felt unbalanced, an issue producer Ryuichi Taki later said was heavily adjusted following feedback from the test.[cite_web last="Alexander" first="Cristina" title="Sonic Racing: Crossworlds is already giving Mario Kart a run for its money" website="Digital Trends" date="February 27, 2025" url="https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/sonic-racing-crossworlds-hands-on-preview/" access-date="September 9, 2025" archive-date="July 13, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250713220347/https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/sonic-racing-crossworlds-hands-on-preview/" url-status="live"][cite_web last="Murphy" first="Michael" date="2025-02-28" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Feels Like Sega's Mario Kart (But With More Chaos)" url="https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/sonic-racing-crossworlds-preview/" access-date="2025-03-01" website="ComicBook.com" language="en-US" archive-date="March 1, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250301100154/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/sonic-racing-crossworlds-preview/" url-status="live"][cite_web last="Doolan" first="Liam" date="2025-02-23" title="Round Up: The First Impressions Of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds 'Closed Network Test' Are In" url="https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/02/round-up-the-first-impressions-of-sonic-racing-crossworlds-closed-network-test-are-in" access-date="2025-03-01" website="Nintendo Life" language="en-GB" archive-date="March 2, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250302225454/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/02/round-up-the-first-impressions-of-sonic-racing-crossworlds-closed-network-test-are-in" url-status="live"][ref name="4Gint"/]

Upon release, the game received "generally favorable" reviews according to [[Metacritic]], while [[OpenCritic]] reported that 95 percent of critics recommended it.[ref name="MC_PS5"][cite_web url="https://www.metacritic.com/game/sonic-racing-crossworlds/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds PS5 reviews" website="[[Metacritic]]" access-date="September 30, 2025" archive-date="September 30, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250930194618/https://www.metacritic.com/game/sonic-racing-crossworlds/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5|url-status=live"][/ref][ref name="MC_XS"][cite_web url="https://www.metacritic.com/game/sonic-racing-crossworlds/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-series-x" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Xbox Series X reviews" website="[[Metacritic]]" access-date="September 30, 2025" archive-date="October 2, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20251002235517/https://www.metacritic.com/game/sonic-racing-crossworlds/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-series-x" url-status="live"][/ref][ref name="OC"][cite_web title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Reviews" website="OpenCritic" date="September 18, 2025" url="https://opencritic.com/game/18727/sonic-racing-crossworlds" access-date="September 18, 2025" archive-date="September 18, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250918183841/https://opencritic.com/game/18727/sonic-racing-crossworlds" url-status="live"][/ref] In Japan, [[Famitsu]] scored it 33 out of 40.[ref name="famitsu"][cite_web last="Romano" first="Sal" date="October 1, 2025" url="https://www.gematsu.com/2025/10/famitsu-review-scores-issue-1917" title="Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1917" website="Gematsu" access-date="October 1, 2025" archive-date="October 1, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20251001110722/https://www.gematsu.com/2025/10/famitsu-review-scores-issue-1917" url-status="live"][/ref] Critics were especially positive about the core racing, vehicle feel, and customization systems. [[IGN]] praised the fast, intuitive handling and said the rival system gave the game more personality,[ref name="IGNRev" /] while [[Game Informer]] called it "the most well-rounded kart racer of the year", even as it criticized the Grand Prix structure for making players revisit earlier courses in each cup's final event.[ref name="GIRev"][cite_magazine url="https://gameinformer.com/review/sonic-racing-crossworlds/a-new-dimension-of-kart-racing" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Review" last="Shea" first="Brian" date="September 18, 2025" magazine="[[Game Informer]]" access-date="September 18, 2025"][/ref] [[Anime News Network]] went further, calling it not only the best racing game in the Sonic series, but one of the strongest racing games released in recent years.[cite_web last="Bolts" url="https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/game/pc/sonic-racing/crossworlds/.229465"|title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Game Review" publisher="[[Anime News Network]]" date="October 12, 2025" access-date="October 12, 2025" archive-date="November 23, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20251123084335/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/game/pc/sonic-racing/crossworlds/.229465" url-status="live"]

A recurring point in reviews was the way CrossWorlds positioned itself against [[Mario Kart World]]. Chris Scullion of [[Video Games Chronicle]] argued that, by sticking with a traditional Grand Prix format and straightforward three-lap races, Sega had turned the game into a viable alternative for players uninterested in Nintendo's newer direction.[ref name="VGCRev" /] Steve Watts of [[GameSpot]] likewise contrasted the two, writing that although Mario Kart World benefited from simplicity, CrossWorlds rewarded experimentation through its deeper customization systems.[ref name="GSRev"][cite_web url="https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/sonic-racing-crossworlds-review-an-arcade-kart-racer-for-gearheads/1900-6418408/" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Review -- An Arcade Kart Racer For Gearheads" last="Watts" first="Steve" date="September 18, 2025" website="[[GameSpot]]" access-date="September 18, 2025"][/ref]

More critical responses tended to focus on progression and post-launch content. [[Push Square]] described the game as a strong kart racer but criticized its unlock structure as grind-heavy,[ref name="PSQRev"][cite_web url="https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps5/sonic-racing-crossworlds" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Review (PS5)" last="Tailby" first="Stephen" date="September 18, 2025" website="[[Push Square]]" access-date="September 18, 2025"][/ref] and [[GamesRadar+]] similarly felt that repeated runs through Grand Prix mode could become samey over time.[ref name="GRRev"][cite_web url="https://www.gamesradar.com/games/racing/sonic-racing-crossworlds-review/" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds review: &#quot;Even more frantic than Mario Kart World, this has the mileage to be a karting favorite&#quot;" last="Towell" first="Justin" date="September 18, 2025" website="[[GamesRadar+]]" access-date="September 18, 2025"][/ref] The game's downloadable content also drew criticism. [[Eurogamer]] was disappointed that Sega-themed crossover packs did not include tracks based on the guest franchises,[ref name="EGRev"/] while [[Kotaku]] criticized the guest racers' lack of rival dialogue and general voice acting, arguing that they felt more like decorative additions than fully integrated characters.[cite_web title="Sonic Racing Crossworlds Still Manages To Be A Great Kart Racer In The Face Of Crossover Slop" url="https://kotaku.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds-crossover-review-hatsune-miku-2000626583" website="[[Kotaku]]" last="Shepard" first="Kenneth" date="September 18, 2025" access-date="September 26, 2025" url-status="live" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20251002085655/https://kotaku.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds-crossover-review-hatsune-miku-2000626583" archive-date="October 2, 2025"]

More critical responses tended to focus on progression and post-launch content. [[Push Square]] described the game as a strong kart racer but criticized its unlock structure as grind-heavy,[ref name="PSQRev"][cite_web url="https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps5/sonic-racing-crossworlds" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Review (PS5)" last="Tailby" first="Stephen" date="September 18, 2025" website="[[Push Square]]" access-date="September 18, 2025"][/ref] and [[GamesRadar+]] similarly felt that repeated runs through Grand Prix mode could become samey over time.[ref name="GRRev"][cite_web url="https://www.gamesradar.com/games/racing/sonic-racing-crossworlds-review/" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds review: &#quot;Even more frantic than Mario Kart World, this has the mileage to be a karting favorite&#quot;" last="Towell" first="Justin" date="September 18, 2025" website="[[GamesRadar+]]" access-date="September 18, 2025"][/ref] The game's downloadable content also drew criticism. [[Eurogamer]] was disappointed that Sega-themed crossover packs did not include tracks based on the guest franchises,[ref name="EGRev"][cite_news last1="Orry" first1="Tom" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds review - an exquisite handling model saves an overly disruptive karting offering" url="https://www.eurogamer.net/sonic-racing-crossworlds-review" access-date="September 26, 2025" work="Eurogamer.net" date="September 25, 2025" language="en" archive-date="September 25, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250925095824/https://www.eurogamer.net/sonic-racing-crossworlds-review" url-status="live"][/ref] while [[Kotaku]] criticized the guest racers' lack of rival dialogue and general voice acting, arguing that they felt more like decorative additions than fully integrated characters.[cite_web title="Sonic Racing Crossworlds Still Manages To Be A Great Kart Racer In The Face Of Crossover Slop" url="https://kotaku.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds-crossover-review-hatsune-miku-2000626583" website="[[Kotaku]]" last="Shepard" first="Kenneth" date="September 18, 2025" access-date="September 26, 2025" url-status="live" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20251002085655/https://kotaku.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds-crossover-review-hatsune-miku-2000626583" archive-date="October 2, 2025"]

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">References</h2>

[reflist]

 Unchanged: <!-- wp:paragraph -->
 Unchanged: <p>[nihongo_foot lead="yes" group="lower-alpha"]<strong><em>Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds</em></strong>||ソニックレーシングクロスワールド||<em>Sonikku Reshingu Kurosu Warudo</em>[/nihongo_foot] is a 2025 [[kart racing game]] developed by [[Sonic Team]] and published by [[Sega]]. A [[Spinoff (media)|spin-off]] in the <em>[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]</em> series, it draws on characters and ideas from earlier <em>Sonic</em> racing titles while introducing the "CrossWorld" mechanic, which sends racers through [[Travel Ring]]s into different worlds in the middle of a race. The roster is centered on characters from the <em>Sonic</em> universe, with additional racers from other Sega properties and outside franchises added through [[downloadable content]].[ref name="PlaystationBlog"][cite_web first="Thalia" last="Piedra" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds gameplay revealed, new mechanics detailed" url="https://blog.playstation.com/2025/02/12/sonic-racing-crossworlds-gameplay-revealed-new-mechanics-detailed/" work="PlayStation.Blog" date="12 February 2025" accessdate="18 February 2025"][/ref][ref name="Cosmocover"][cite_web title="SEGA® Fully Unveils Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds™" url="https://www.cosmocover.com/newsroom/sega-fully-unveils-sonic-racing-crossworlds/" work="Cosmocover" date="13 February 2025" accessdate="18 February 2025"][/ref][ref]<a href="https://asia.sega.com/SonicRacingCrossWorlds/en/news/20250607minecraft.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://asia.sega.com/SonicRacingCrossWorlds/en/news/20250607minecraft.html</a>[/ref]</p>
 Unchanged: <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 Unchanged: <!-- wp:paragraph -->
 Unchanged: <p>The game was first announced at The Game Awards 2024 on December 12, 2024. A [[Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Closed Network Test|Closed Network Test]] for [[PlayStation 5]] followed on February 22, 2025, and a [[Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Open Network Test|Open Network Test]] for multiple platforms was later held from August 29 to September 1, 2025.[cite_web url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250212232045/https://blog.playstation.com/2025/02/12/sonic-racing-crossworlds-gameplay-revealed-new-mechanics-detailed/" title="Archived PlayStation Blog page"][cite_web url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250826164745/https://asia.sega.com/SonicRacingCrossWorlds/en/news/open-network-test.html" title="Archived SEGA Asia page"][cite_web url="https://ghostarchive.org/archive/2Fs0q" title="Ghostarchive snapshot" quote="Original post: https://x.com/SonicOfficialJP/status/1889799999204294869?mx=2"]</p>
 Unchanged: <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 Unchanged: <!-- wp:paragraph -->
 Unchanged: <p><em>Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds</em> launched worldwide for [[Nintendo Switch]], [[PlayStation 4]], [[PlayStation 5]], [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[Xbox One]], and [[Xbox Series X/S]] on September 25, 2025, followed by a [[Nintendo Switch 2]] version on December 4, 2025; a physical Switch 2 release followed on March 26, 2026, or April 10, 2026 in Japan.[ref name="Steam"][cite_web title="Sonic Racing: Crosswords - on Steam" url="https://store.steampowered.com/app/2486820/Sonic_Racing_CrossWorlds/" work="[[Steam]]" accessdate="18 February 2025"][/ref][ref]<a href="https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicRacingCrossWorlds/news/20260113sw2.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicRacingCrossWorlds/news/20260113sw2.html</a>[/ref] An [[Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds - The Animation|animated short]] promoting the game was released on August 29, 2025, and a tie-in [[Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds One-shot|one-shot comic]] published by [[IDW Publishing]] followed on March 4, 2026.[ref name="Steam" /]</p>
 Unchanged: <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 Unchanged: <!-- wp:paragraph -->
 Unchanged: <p><em>CrossWorlds</em> received positive reviews from critics, with particular praise going to its gameplay and customization features, although some reviews were more critical of its single-player content and the presentation of its downloadable characters.</p>
 Unchanged: <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 Unchanged: <!-- wp:heading -->
 Unchanged: <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Gameplay</h2>
 Unchanged: <!-- /wp:heading -->
 Unchanged: <!-- wp:paragraph -->
 Unchanged: <p><em>Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds</em> is a [[kart racing game]] similar to <em>[[Team Sonic Racing]]</em> (2019), though it does not retain that game's cooperative team racing mechanic in normal gameplay.[ref name="eurogamer-reveal"][cite_web last="Nightingale" first="Ed" date="2025-02-12" title="Sega reveals Sonic Racing: Crossworlds, follow up to Team Sonic Racing" url="https://www.eurogamer.net/sega-reveals-sonic-racing-crossworlds-follow-up-to-team-sonic-racing" access-date="2025-02-13" website="Eurogamer.net" language="en" archive-date="February 12, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250212232850/https://www.eurogamer.net/sega-reveals-sonic-racing-crossworlds-follow-up-to-team-sonic-racing" url-status="live"][/ref][ref name="ign-preview"][cite_web last="Griffin" first="Jada" date="2025-02-13" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds: The First Preview" url="https://www.ign.com/articles/sonic-racing-crossworlds-the-first-preview" access-date="2025-02-14" website="[[IGN]]" language="en" archive-date="February 14, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250214034647/https://www.ign.com/articles/sonic-racing-crossworlds-the-first-preview" url-status="live"][/ref] Players race against up to 11 opponents in three-lap races, collecting [[Ring]]s to raise their top speed, using items from [[Item Box]]es, and building speed through [[Drifting (motorsport)|drifting]] and mid-air tricks.[ref name="ign-preview" /][ref name="rings"][cite_web last="Alexander" first="Cristina" title="Sonic Racing: Crossworlds is already giving Mario Kart a run for its money" website="Digital Trends" date="2025-02-27" url="https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/sonic-racing-crossworlds-hands-on-preview/" access-date="2025-08-30" archive-date="March 2, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250302224046/https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/sonic-racing-crossworlds-hands-on-preview/" url-status="live"][/ref] Four speed options are available, which also act as the race difficulty settings: Normal Speed, High Speed, Sonic Speed, and Super Sonic Speed.[ref name="VGCRev"][cite_web url="https://www.videogameschronicle.com/review/sonic-racingcrossworlds/" title="Sonic Racing CrossWorlds review: A great alternative to Mario Kart's new open-world focus" last="Scullion" first="Chris" date="September 18, 2025" website="[[Video Games Chronicle]]" access-date="September 18, 2025"][/ref]</p>
 Unchanged: <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 Unchanged: <!-- wp:paragraph -->
 Unchanged: <p>Players can choose between standard race cars, which transform into boat and air forms at different points in a course, or [[Extreme Gear]] hoverboards from the <em>[[Sonic Riders]]</em> series.[ref name="SI"][cite_web last="Cunliffe" first="Thomas" date="2025-02-12" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Features Extreme Gear, Transforming, and Cream the Rabbit" url="https://www.siliconera.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds-features-extreme-gear-transforming-and-cream-the-rabbit/" access-date="2025-02-13" website="Siliconera" language="en-US" archive-date="February 13, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250213142530/https://www.siliconera.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds-features-extreme-gear-transforming-and-cream-the-rabbit/" url-status="live"][/ref] Air forms can drift like land vehicles, while boat forms perform Charge Jumps that can be chained into additional tricks. Unlike earlier <em>Sonic</em> racing titles, characters are not restricted to their own signature vehicles, and machines can be selected across five stat types: Speed, Acceleration, Handling, Power, and Boost, with the Boost type reserved for Extreme Gear.[ref name="ign-preview" /] Vehicles can also be customized by mixing front and rear parts and applying paint jobs, decals, horns, and auras, while performance can be further adjusted with over 70 unlockable [[Gadget]]s placed on a Gadget Plate that expands from two to six slots.[ref name="ign-preview" /][ref name="Switch2FAQ"][cite_web last="Romano" first="Sal" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds for Switch 2 launches this holiday, 'Customization and Gadgets' trailer" website="Gematsu" date="July 16, 2025" url="https://www.gematsu.com/2025/07/sonic-racing-crossworlds-for-switch-2-launches-this-holiday-customization-and-gadgets-trailer" access-date="July 16, 2025" archive-date="July 16, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250716192707/https://www.gematsu.com/2025/07/sonic-racing-crossworlds-for-switch-2-launches-this-holiday-customization-and-gadgets-trailer" url-status="live"][/ref]</p>
 Unchanged: <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 Unchanged: <!-- wp:paragraph -->
 Unchanged: <p>The game's main mechanic is the use of [[Travel Ring]]s, which appear near the end of the first lap and send racers into alternate courses known as [[CrossWorld]]s.[ref name="eurogamer-reveal" /] The leading racer chooses between two Travel Rings, one tied to a visible destination and the other to a random route, after which the entire field enters the selected CrossWorld for the second lap before returning to the original course for an altered final lap.[ref name="IGNRev"][cite_web url="https://www.ign.com/articles/sonic-racing-crossworlds-review" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Review" last="Griffin" first="Jada" date="September 18, 2025" website="[[IGN]]" access-date="September 18, 2025"][/ref] The game features 24 tracks divided into eight Grands Prix, while 15 separate CrossWorlds can appear during races.[ref name="IGNRev" /] The returning main track is modified for the last lap with new routes, hazards, [[Dash Panel]] placements, [[Shortcut Ring]]s, and item layouts, and after clearing the Egg Grand Prix, standard tracks can also begin appearing as random CrossWorld destinations.</p>
 Unchanged: <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 Unchanged: <!-- wp:paragraph -->
 Unchanged: <p>Some Travel Rings can trigger Frenzy events, which temporarily change the selected CrossWorld by adding effects such as extra Dash Gates or Dash Panels, reusable [[White Wisp|Boost]]s, faster drift charge, higher-level drift boosts, or additional Item Boxes and bonus Rings. [[Transformation Gate]]s also return from <em>[[Sonic &amp; All-Stars Racing Transformed]]</em>, allowing vehicles to shift between land, water, and air travel. In addition to standard races, the game includes Grand Prix play, local multiplayer, split-screen support, and online multiplayer for up to 12 players.</p>
 Unchanged: <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 Unchanged: <!-- wp:heading -->
 Unchanged: <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Characters</h2>
 Unchanged: <!-- /wp:heading -->
 Unchanged: <!-- wp:paragraph -->
 Unchanged: <p>The playable roster in <em>Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds</em> is the largest in a <em>Sonic</em> racing game to date, with the final lineup planned to exceed 50 characters once all [[downloadable content]] is included.[cite_web last="Romano" first="Sal" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds debut trailer, screenshots" website="Gematsu" date="February 12, 2025" url="https://www.gematsu.com/2025/02/sonic-racing-crossworlds-debut-trailer-screenshots" access-date="September 9, 2025" archive-date="April 6, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250406142531/https://www.gematsu.com/2025/02/sonic-racing-crossworlds-debut-trailer-screenshots" url-status="live"][ref name="50char"][cite_web last="Tailby" first="Stephen" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Free and Paid DLC Adds Guests from Minecraft, Like a Dragon, More" website="Push Square" date="June 7, 2025" url="https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2025/06/sonic-racing-crossworlds-free-and-paid-dlc-adds-guests-from-minecraft-like-a-dragon-more" access-date="June 16, 2025" archive-date="July 12, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250712134117/https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2025/06/sonic-racing-crossworlds-free-and-paid-dlc-adds-guests-from-minecraft-like-a-dragon-more" url-status="live"][/ref][ref name=NLifeChar][cite_web last="Doolan" first="Liam" date="2025-02-14" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds: Full Character Roster - Every Racer Confirmed So Far" url="https://www.nintendolife.com/guides/sonic-racing-crossworlds-full-character-roster-every-racer-confirmed-so-far1" access-date="2025-02-14" website="[[Nintendo Life]]" language="en-GB" archive-date="February 14, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250214071116/https://www.nintendolife.com/guides/sonic-racing-crossworlds-full-character-roster-every-racer-confirmed-so-far1" url-status="live"][/ref] The game launched with 24 playable racers, although only 23 are available at the start; [[Super Sonic]] must be unlocked and can only be used in Grand Prix mode.[ref name="IGNRev"/][ref name=Super][cite_web last="Givens" first="Billy" title="How to unlock all Sonic Racing Crossworlds characters and tracks" website="PCGamesN" date="September 25, 2025" url="https://www.pcgamesn.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds/characters-tracks" access-date="October 16, 2025"][/ref] The base roster draws from across the <em>[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]</em> series and includes characters such as [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]], [[Miles "Tails" Prower|Tails]], [[Knuckles the Echidna|Knuckles]], [[Amy Rose|Amy]], [[Cream the Rabbit|Cream]] and [[Cheese]], [[Big the Cat|Big]], [[Silver the Hedgehog|Silver]], [[Blaze the Cat|Blaze]], [[Shadow the Hedgehog|Shadow]], [[Rouge the Bat|Rouge]], [[E-123 Omega]], the [[Chaotix]] members [[Vector the Crocodile|Vector]], [[Espio the Chameleon|Espio]], and [[Charmy Bee]], the [[Babylon Rogues]] members [[Jet the Hawk|Jet]], [[Wave the Swallow|Wave]], and [[Storm the Albatross|Storm]], as well as [[Dr. Eggman]], [[Metal Sonic]], [[Egg Pawn]], [[Sage (Sonic the Hedgehog)|Sage]], [[Zavok]], and [[Zazz]].[ref name="eurogamer-reveal" ][Cite_web last="Nightingale" first="Ed" date="2025-02-12" title="Sega reveals Sonic Racing: Crossworlds, follow up to Team Sonic Racing" url="https://www.eurogamer.net/sega-reveals-sonic-racing-crossworlds-follow-up-to-team-sonic-racing" access-date="2025-02-13" website="Eurogamer.net" language="en" archive-date="February 12, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250212232850/https://www.eurogamer.net/sega-reveals-sonic-racing-crossworlds-follow-up-to-team-sonic-racing" url-status="live"][/ref][ref name="NLifeChar"][cite_web last="Doolan" first="Liam" date="2025-02-14" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds: Full Character Roster - Every Racer Confirmed So Far" url="https://www.nintendolife.com/guides/sonic-racing-crossworlds-full-character-roster-every-racer-confirmed-so-far1" access-date="2025-02-14" website="[[Nintendo Life]]" language="en-GB" archive-date="February 14, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250214071116/https://www.nintendolife.com/guides/sonic-racing-crossworlds-full-character-roster-every-racer-confirmed-so-far1" url-status="live"][/ref]</p>
 Unchanged: <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
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 Unchanged: <p>The roster expanded further through post-launch content. A premium [[Season pass (video games)|Season Pass]] adds 15 guest characters from external properties across six waves, while also including the <em>[[Sonic Prime]]</em> Character Pack with [[Tails Nine]], [[Knuckles the Dread]], and [[Rusty Rose]]. [[Werehog]] from <em>[[Sonic Unleashed]]</em> was also offered as a pre-order bonus.[ref name=NS2][cite_web last="Hesse" first="Brendan" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorld Preorders Are Live On Console And PC" website="GameSpot" date="June 6, 2025" url="https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sonic-racing-crossworld-preorders-are-live-on-console-and-pc/1100-6532225/" access-date="June 16, 2025" archive-date="June 8, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250608074958/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sonic-racing-crossworld-preorders-are-live-on-console-and-pc/1100-6532225/" url-status="live"][/ref][ref name="VGCint"][cite_web last="Scullion" first="Chris" title="Interview: Sonic Team head talks CrossRoads, competing with Mario Kart World and leak culture" website="VGC" date="June 8, 2025" url="https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/interviews/interview-sonic-team-head-talks-crossroads-competing-with-mario-kart-world-and-leak-culture/" access-date="June 8, 2025" archive-date="June 9, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250609141850/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/interviews/interview-sonic-team-head-talks-crossroads-competing-with-mario-kart-world-and-leak-culture/" url-status="live"][/ref][ref name="SGF"][cite_web last="McCrae" first="Scott" title="Sonic's Takashi Iizuka dunks on Mario Kart World as Sonic Racing Crossworlds unveils Hatsune Miku, Persona 5, and Minecraft Steve" website="GamesRadar+" date="June 6, 2025" url="https://www.gamesradar.com/games/racing/sonics-takashi-iizuka-dunks-on-mario-kart-world-as-sonic-racing-crossworlds-unveils-hatsune-miku-persona-5-and-minecraft-steve/" access-date="June 6, 2025" archive-date="June 7, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250607005424/https://www.gamesradar.com/games/racing/sonics-takashi-iizuka-dunks-on-mario-kart-world-as-sonic-racing-crossworlds-unveils-hatsune-miku-persona-5-and-minecraft-steve/" url-status="live"][/ref][ref name="Spongebob"][cite_web last="Doolan" first="Liam" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Officially Reveals Nickelodeon Collaboration" website="Nintendo Life" date="June 22, 2025" url="https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/06/sonic-racing-crossworlds-officially-reveals-nickelodeon-collaboration" access-date="June 22, 2025" archive-date="June 22, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250622032140/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/06/sonic-racing-crossworlds-officially-reveals-nickelodeon-collaboration" url-status="live"][/ref][ref name="PacMan"][cite_web last="Scullion" first="Chris" title="Sonic and Pac-Man's next games will have crossover DLC featuring each other" website="[[Video Games Chronicle]]" date="August 19, 2025" url="https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sonic-and-pac-mans-next-games-will-have-crossover-dlc-featuring-each-other/" access-date="August 19, 2025" archive-date="August 28, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250828225615/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sonic-and-pac-mans-next-games-will-have-crossover-dlc-featuring-each-other/" url-status="live"][/ref][ref name="MegaMan"][cite_web last="Scullion" first="Chris" title="Mega Man has officially been confirmed as a Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds DLC character" website="VGC" date="September 24, 2025" url="https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/mega-man-has-officially-been-confirmed-as-a-sonic-racing-crossworlds-dlc-character/" access-date="September 24, 2025" archive-date="September 25, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250925053652/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/mega-man-has-officially-been-confirmed-as-a-sonic-racing-crossworlds-dlc-character/" url-status="live"][/ref] Paid guest racers released for the game include characters from <em>[[Minecraft]]</em>, <em>[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]</em>, <em>[[Pac-Man]]</em>, and <em>[[Mega Man]]</em>, while Sega also committed to free monthly character updates through the end of 2026.[ref name="SGF"/][ref name="VGCint"/][cite_web last="Serin" first="Kaan" title="Persona 5 and Hatsune Miku aren't enough – Sega confirms Mario Kart World rival Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds will get new characters every month" website="GamesRadar+" date="June 12, 2025" url="https://www.gamesradar.com/games/sonic-the-hedgehog/persona-5-and-hatsune-miku-arent-enough-sega-confirms-mario-kart-world-rival-sonic-racing-crossworlds-will-get-new-characters-every-month/" access-date="June 16, 2025" archive-date="June 13, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250613164725/https://www.gamesradar.com/games/sonic-the-hedgehog/persona-5-and-hatsune-miku-arent-enough-sega-confirms-mario-kart-world-rival-sonic-racing-crossworlds-will-get-new-characters-every-month/" url-status="live"][/ref]</p>
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 Unchanged: <p>Free post-launch additions include [[Hatsune Miku]], Joker from <em>[[Persona 5]]</em>, Ichiban Kasuga, [[NiGHTS]], AiAi, [[Tangle the Lemur]], [[Whisper the Wolf]], Red from <em>Angry Birds</em>, Goro Majima, and Arle.[ref name=IDWChar][cite_web last="Romano" first="Sal" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds DLC 'SpongeBob SquarePants Pack' launches in November; free character updates NiGHTS, AiAi, Tangle, and Whisper to follow" website="Gematsu" date="November 11, 2025" url="https://www.gematsu.com/2025/11/sonic-racing-crossworlds-dlc-spongebob-squarepants-pack-launches-in-november-free-character-updates-nights-aiai-tangle-and-whisper-to-follow" access-date="November 11, 2025" archive-date="November 12, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20251112101546/https://www.gematsu.com/2025/11/sonic-racing-crossworlds-dlc-spongebob-squarepants-pack-launches-in-november-free-character-updates-nights-aiai-tangle-and-whisper-to-follow" | url-status="live"][/ref][ref name=AprilMay][cite_web last="Romano" first="Sal" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds free character updates Red, Goro Majima, and Arle announced" website="Gematsu" date="March 16, 2026" url="https://www.gematsu.com/2026/03/sonic-racing-crossworlds-free-character-updates-red-goro-majima-and-arle-announced" access-date="March 16, 2026"][/ref] [as_of year="2026" month="3" day="29" df="US"], the game features 44 playable characters. Beyond the playable lineup, the game also includes numerous non-playable cameos from across the <em>Sonic</em> franchise and its crossover properties through track set dressing, hazards, stickers, and other cosmetic elements.</p>
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 Unchanged: <p>Sonic Team began developing <em>Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds</em> in 2022, with members of the development staff behind the <em>[[Initial D (video game series)|Initial D]]</em> arcade racing games also contributing to the project.[ref name="GlobalAppeal"][cite_web last="Chik" first="Kalai" title="Sonic Team Studio Head Takashi Iizuka's Bid to Appeal to Japanese and Global Audiences Through Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds" website="Anime News Network" date="June 12, 2025" url="https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2025-06-12/sonic-team-studio-head-takashi-iizuka-bid-to-appeal-to-japanese-and-global-audiences-through-sonic-/.225415" access-date="July 7, 2025" archive-date="July 8, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250708011114/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2025-06-12/sonic-team-studio-head-takashi-iizuka-bid-to-appeal-to-japanese-and-global-audiences-through-sonic-/.225415" url-status="live"][/ref][ref name="initial d"][cite_web last="V" first="Amber" date="2025-02-14" title="Initial D arcade developers involved in Sega's new Sonic racing game" url="https://automaton-media.com/en/news/initial-d-arcade-developers-involved-in-segas-new-sonic-racing-game/" access-date="2025-02-15" website="AUTOMATON WEST" language="en-US"][/ref] The developers approached the game as a broad celebration of the series' racing history, combining ideas from earlier titles by bringing back both transforming vehicles and [[Extreme Gear]] hoverboards.[ref name="ExG"][cite_web last="Doolan" first="Liam" date="February 13, 2025" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Confirms SEGA Characters, Extreme Gear, And Much More" url="https://www.purexbox.com/news/2025/02/sonic-racing-crossworlds-confirms-sega-characters-extreme-gear-and-much-more" access-date="February 16, 2025" website="Pure Xbox" archive-date="February 14, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250214113939/https://www.purexbox.com/news/2025/02/sonic-racing-crossworlds-confirms-sega-characters-extreme-gear-and-much-more" url-status="live"][/ref]</p>
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 Unchanged: <p>The game's central [[Travel Ring]] mechanic was inspired partly by the use of rings as portals in the [[Sonic the Hedgehog (film series)|<em>Sonic the Hedgehog</em> film series]], as well as producer Ryuichi Taki's childhood memories of driving through long tunnels and emerging into completely different surroundings.[ref name="4Gint"][cite_web last="Inamoto" first="Tetsuya" title="［インタビュー］セガのアーケードゲーム開発チームが手がける「ソニックレーシング クロスワールド」は，ワクワクと驚きが満載のレースゲームだ" trans-title="&amp;#91;Interview&amp;#93; &amp;quot;Sonic Racing Cross Worlds,&amp;quot; created by Sega's arcade game development team, is a racing game full of excitement and surprises." website="4Gamer" url="https://www.4gamer.net/games/882/G088214/20250606039/" language="ja" access-date="June 7, 2025" archive-date="June 8, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250608085329/https://www.4gamer.net/games/882/G088214/20250606039/" url-status="live"][/ref] Sega's arcade racing background also shaped the structure of the courses, with the team aiming to make each lap feel distinct in order to keep races dynamic from start to finish.[ref name="4Gint" /] Taki noted that Extreme Gear proved particularly difficult to implement because it required the creation of a separate gameplay system to make it function properly alongside the standard vehicles.[ref name="4Gint" /]</p>
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 Unchanged: <p>During development, the team focused first on the basic feel of racing and course layout before introducing items, and removed items they felt were too frustrating or too dominant in play.[cite_web last="Jones" first="Ali" title="Veteran Sonic producer says Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds team completely removed items from the game if they were too &amp;quot;stressful&amp;quot; or let players &amp;quot;win all the time&amp;quot;" website="GamesRadar+" date="June 22, 2025" url="https://www.gamesradar.com/games/sonic-the-hedgehog/veteran-sonic-producer-says-sonic-racing-crossworlds-team-completely-removed-items-from-the-game-if-they-were-too-stressful-or-let-players-win-all-the-time/" access-date="August 30, 2025"] Creative director Masaru Kobayakawa also drew on his experience with arcade card games when balancing the [[Gadget]] system, aiming to give loadout choices enough edge to support a meaningful [[metagame]].[ref name="4Gint" /] According to Taki, the balance of the power-ups was adjusted heavily after feedback from the closed beta test.[ref name="4Gint" /]</p>
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 Unchanged: <p>[[Takashi Iizuka (game designer)|Takashi Iizuka]] said the project was conceived first and foremost as a <em>Sonic</em> racing game, but that fan disappointment over the lack of crossover material in <em>[[Team Sonic Racing]]</em> influenced the decision to add more guest content through downloadable content.[ref name="VGCint"][cite_web last="Scullion" first="Chris" title="Interview: Sonic Team head talks CrossRoads, competing with Mario Kart World and leak culture" website="VGC" date="June 8, 2025" url="https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/interviews/interview-sonic-team-head-talks-crossroads-competing-with-mario-kart-world-and-leak-culture/" access-date="June 8, 2025" archive-date="June 9, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250609141850/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/interviews/interview-sonic-team-head-talks-crossroads-competing-with-mario-kart-world-and-leak-culture/" url-status="live"][/ref] He also stated that because the <em>Sonic</em> series has historically performed most strongly in western markets, some guest selections were chosen with Japanese appeal in mind.[ref name="GlobalAppeal" /] The downloadable guest characters do not feature voice acting, which Iizuka attributed to the lengthy approval process involved when working with external licensors.[cite_web last1="Duwe" first1="Scott" last2="Newell" first2="Adam" title="Iizuka explains how Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds DLC guest characters were chosen and why they don't have voices" website="Destructoid" date="August 26, 2025" url="https://www.destructoid.com/iizuka-explains-how-sonic-racing-crossworlds-dlc-guest-characters-were-chosen-and-why-they-dont-have-voices/" access-date="August 26, 2025" archive-date="August 26, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250826093854/https://www.destructoid.com/iizuka-explains-how-sonic-racing-crossworlds-dlc-guest-characters-were-chosen-and-why-they-dont-have-voices/" url-status="live"]</p>
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 Unchanged: <p>Takahiro Kai served as sound director and lead composer for <em>Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds</em>, and also composed the main theme, "[[Sonic Racing - Cross the Worlds]]", which features lyrics and vocals by [[James Bourne]] of [[Busted (band)|Busted]].[cite_web last1="Hagues" first1="Alana" title="Wait, 'Busted' Member Is The Singer Of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds' Opening?" url="https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/07/wait-busted-member-is-the-singer-of-sonic-racing-crossworlds-opening" website="[[Nintendo Life]]" date="July 3, 2025" accessdate="July 3, 2025" archive-date="July 3, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250703182723/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/07/wait-busted-member-is-the-singer-of-sonic-racing-crossworlds-opening" url-status="live"] The song was first publicly revealed on 3 July 2025. The credits also feature "Get Higher" by [[Creepy Nuts]].[cite_web last="Rago" first="Luca" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds" website="IGN Italia" date="September 18, 2025" url="https://it.ign.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds/220861/review/sonic-racing-crossworlds-la-recensione" language="it" access-date="September 18, 2025" archive-date="October 30, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20251030042210/https://it.ign.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds/220861/review/sonic-racing-crossworlds-la-recensione" url-status="live"]</p>
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 Unchanged: <p>Other contributors to the soundtrack include Sega composers [[Tomoya Ohtani]], Tae Fujimoto, [[Jun Senoue]], Kanon Oguni, Iona Takashima, Satoshi Okamura, Hidekuni Horita, and Makoto Tokuyama, alongside guest musicians Riot, [[Giga (musician)|Giga]], [[Tee Lopes]], [[Zardonic]], [[Camellia (musician)|Camellia]], TORIENA, Nanobii, [[:ja:Aiobahn|Aiobahn]], and Laur.[cite_tweet author="Sonic the Hedgehog" author-link="Sonic the Hedgehog" user="Sonic_Hedgehog" number="1956023006112694660" date="August 14, 2025" title="Slip into cruise control with this special Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds DJ Mix created by @Ohtanitter! Enjoy remixes from @GigaMozuku, @cametek, @toriena, @TeeLopes, @nanobii, ZARDONIC, &amp; Jun Senoue of @crush40!" access-date="August 30, 2025"][cite_press_release title="SEGA Shares Latest OST Video for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds" website="Games Press" date="August 29, 2025" url="https://www.gamespress.com/en-GB/SEGA-Shares-Latest-OST-Video-for-Sonic-Racing-CrossWorlds" access-date="August 30, 2025" archive-date="September 7, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250907184256/https://www.gamespress.com/en-GB/SEGA-Shares-Latest-OST-Video-for-Sonic-Racing-CrossWorlds" url-status="live"] A set of five songs by [[Vocaloid]] musicians [[Kairiki Bear]], cosMo@Bousou-P, Yunosuke, Ponchi♪, and Camellia also appears in the game as part of the "Project Onsoku" collaboration with [[Hatsune Miku]].[cite_web last="Stenbuck" first="Kite" title="Project ONSOKU Stars Hatsune Miku and Sonic the Hedgehog" website="Siliconera" date="August 28, 2025" url="https://www.siliconera.com/project-onsoku-stars-hatsune-miku-and-sonic-the-hedgehog/" access-date="August 30, 2025" archive-date="August 29, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250829140722/https://www.siliconera.com/project-onsoku-stars-hatsune-miku-and-sonic-the-hedgehog/" url-status="live"] Additional songs were later added through free updates and paid downloadable content.</p>
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 Unchanged: <p>The official soundtrack album, [[Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Original Soundtrack - Echoes of Dimensions]], was announced for pre-order on 14 October 2025 and released on 26 November 2025. It contains 208 tracks, including jingles, across four CDs. Music from the game's [[Minecraft World]] content was later released separately in December 2025, alongside a teaser for the Overworld lap and final lap themes.</p>
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 Unchanged: <p>The game also features a Jukebox containing music from <em>Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds</em> and selections from earlier games in the <em>[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]</em> series. Each track has a regular version and a "Final Lap ver.", with the latter generally starting from a later section of the music.</p>
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 Unchanged: <p><em>Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds</em> was first announced with a [[teaser trailer]] at [[The Game Awards 2024]] on December 12, 2024.[cite_web last="Yin-Poole" first="Wesley" date="2024-12-13" title="The Next Big Sonic Game Is Sonic Racing CrossWorlds - The Game Awards 2024" url="https://www.ign.com/articles/the-next-big-sonic-game-is-sonic-racing-crossworlds-the-game-awards-2024" access-date="2025-02-13" website="IGN" language="en" archive-date="February 5, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250205022631/https://www.ign.com/articles/the-next-big-sonic-game-is-sonic-racing-crossworlds-the-game-awards-2024" url-status="live"] Its first gameplay trailer followed during [[Sony Interactive Entertainment]]'s [[State of Play (livestream event)|State of Play]] on February 12, 2025.[cite_news last="Prescott" first="Shaun" date="2025-02-12" title="Sonic Racing CrossWorlds looks like a return to the over-the-top arcade fun of All-Star Racing Transformed, and we'll get to play it this month" url="https://www.pcgamer.com/games/racing/sonic-racing-crossworlds-looks-like-a-return-to-the-over-the-top-arcade-fun-of-all-star-racing-transformed-and-well-get-to-play-it-this-month/" access-date="2025-02-13" work="PC Gamer" language="en" archive-date="February 13, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250213114954/https://www.pcgamer.com/games/racing/sonic-racing-crossworlds-looks-like-a-return-to-the-over-the-top-arcade-fun-of-all-star-racing-transformed-and-well-get-to-play-it-this-month/" url-status="live"][cite_web last="Makar" first="Connor" date="2025-02-12" title="Sonic Racing: Crossworlds gets it first gameplay trailer at the Sony State of Play, as well as a network test later this month" url="https://www.vg247.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds-gameplay-trailer" access-date="2025-02-13" website="VG247" language="en" archive-date="February 13, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250213115212/https://www.vg247.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds-gameplay-trailer" url-status="live"] A closed beta test for the [[PlayStation 5]] version was held from February 21 to 23, 2025, and an open beta for [[PlayStation 5]], [[Xbox Series X/S]], [[Nintendo Switch]], and [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] followed from August 29 to September 1, 2025.[cite_web last="Watts" first="Steve" title="Sonic Racing CrossWorlds Closed Beta: How To Sign Up" website="GameSpot" date="February 13, 2025" url="https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sonic-racing-crossworlds-getting-closed-beta-test-this-month/1100-6529457/" access-date="September 9, 2025" archive-date="March 16, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250316091009/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sonic-racing-crossworlds-getting-closed-beta-test-this-month/1100-6529457/" url-status="live"][cite_web last="Lennox" first="Jesse" title="How to join the Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds closed test" website="Digital Trends" date="February 13, 2025" url="https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/how-to-join-sonic-racing-crossworlds-test/" access-date="September 9, 2025" archive-date="July 8, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250708190502/https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/how-to-join-sonic-racing-crossworlds-test/" url-status="live"][cite_web last="Orry" first="Tom" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Open Network Test to begin on 29th August" website="[[Eurogamer]]" date="August 20, 2025" url="https://www.eurogamer.net/sonic-racing-crossworlds-open-network-test-to-begin-on-29th-august" access-date="August 21, 2025"] A single-player demo was released on September 17, 2025.[cite_web last="Romano" first="Sal" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds single-player demo launches September 17 for PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC" website="Gematsu" date="September 10, 2025" url="https://www.gematsu.com/2025/09/sonic-racing-crossworlds-single-player-demo-launches-september-17-for-ps5-xbox-series-switch-and-pc" access-date="September 10, 2025" archive-date="September 12, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250912101112/https://www.gematsu.com/2025/09/sonic-racing-crossworlds-single-player-demo-launches-september-17-for-ps5-xbox-series-switch-and-pc" url-status="live"]</p>
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 Unchanged: <p>In June 2025, leaked concept art and footage from an early build revealed several planned guest characters from non-Sega properties.[cite_web last="Zwiezen" first="Zack" title="Sonic's Upcoming Kart Racer Will Include Minecraft And SpongeBob Characters" website="Kotaku" date="June 4, 2025" url="https://kotaku.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds-leak-mario-kart-spongebob-1851783558" access-date="June 9, 2025" archive-date="June 7, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250607014231/https://kotaku.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds-leak-mario-kart-spongebob-1851783558" url-status="live"] Their inclusion was officially confirmed at [[Summer Game Fest]] on June 6, 2025, when Sega also announced the final release date of September 25, 2025.[cite_web last="Romano" first="Sal" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds adds Switch 2 version, launches September 25" website="Gematsu" date="June 6, 2025" url="https://www.gematsu.com/2025/06/sonic-racing-crossworlds-adds-switch-2-version-launches-september-25" access-date="August 21, 2025" archive-date="August 19, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250819030926/https://www.gematsu.com/2025/06/sonic-racing-crossworlds-adds-switch-2-version-launches-september-25" url-status="live"] [[Takashi Iizuka (game designer)|Takashi Iizuka]] later said he was disappointed by the leak, feeling it had spoiled planned surprises for fans.[cite_web last="Scullion" first="Chris" title="Interview: Sonic Team head talks CrossRoads, competing with Mario Kart World and leak culture" website="VGC" date="June 8, 2025" url="https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/interviews/interview-sonic-team-head-talks-crossroads-competing-with-mario-kart-world-and-leak-culture/" access-date="June 8, 2025" archive-date="June 9, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250609141850/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/interviews/interview-sonic-team-head-talks-crossroads-competing-with-mario-kart-world-and-leak-culture/" url-status="live"] The game launched worldwide for [[PlayStation 5]], [[PlayStation 4]], [[Xbox Series X and Series S|Xbox Series X and S]], [[Xbox One]], [[Nintendo Switch]], and [[PC]] on September 25, 2025.[ref name="Steam"][cite_web title="Sonic Racing: Crosswords - on Steam" url="https://store.steampowered.com/app/2486820/Sonic_Racing_CrossWorlds/" work="[[Steam]]" accessdate="18 February 2025"][ref]https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicRacingCrossWorlds/news/20260113sw2.html[/ref] A [[Nintendo Switch 2]] version was announced alongside the June release date reveal, then released digitally on December 4, 2025, with a paid upgrade path for owners of the original Switch version that carries over save data. A physical Switch 2 edition followed on March 26, 2026, or April 10, 2026 in Japan.[ref]https://www.sega.com/news/sonic-racing-crossworlds-nintendo-switch-2-faq[/ref][ref]https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicRacingCrossWorlds/news/20260113sw2.html[/ref][cite_web last="Doolan" first="Liam" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Switch 2 Version Announced Alongside "Paid Upgrade" For Switch" website="Nintendo Life" date="June 7, 2025" url="https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/06/sonic-racing-crossworlds-switch-2-version-announced-alongside-paid-upgrade-for-switch" access-date="June 16, 2025" archive-date="June 22, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250622074523/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/06/sonic-racing-crossworlds-switch-2-version-announced-alongside-paid-upgrade-for-switch" url-status="live"]</p>
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 Unchanged: <p>Alongside the standard release, Sega offered a Digital Deluxe Edition that granted three days of early access on all non-Nintendo platforms and included the game's [[season pass]].[cite_web last="Hesse" first="Brendan" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorld Preorders Are Live On Console And PC" website="GameSpot" date="June 6, 2025" url="https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sonic-racing-crossworld-preorders-are-live-on-console-and-pc/1100-6532225/" access-date="June 16, 2025" archive-date="June 8, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250608074958/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sonic-racing-crossworld-preorders-are-live-on-console-and-pc/1100-6532225/" url-status="live"] The pass is scheduled to roll out in six waves over the year after launch, adding characters, tracks, vehicles, emotes, and music themed around franchises including <em>[[Minecraft (franchise)|Minecraft]]</em>, <em>[[SpongeBob SquarePants (franchise)|SpongeBob SquarePants]]</em>, <em>[[List of Pac-Man video games|Pac-Man]]</em>, <em>[[Mega Man]]</em>, <em>[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem]]</em>, and <em>[[Avatar Legends]]</em>, in addition to a <em>[[Sonic Prime]]</em> character pack.[cite_web last="Hesse" first="Brendan" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorld Preorders Are Live On Console And PC" website="GameSpot" date="June 6, 2025" url="https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sonic-racing-crossworld-preorders-are-live-on-console-and-pc/1100-6532225/" access-date="June 16, 2025" archive-date="June 8, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250608074958/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sonic-racing-crossworld-preorders-are-live-on-console-and-pc/1100-6532225/" url-status="live"][cite_web last="Scullion" first="Chris" title="Interview: Sonic Team head talks CrossRoads, competing with Mario Kart World and leak culture" website="VGC" date="June 8, 2025" url="https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/interviews/interview-sonic-team-head-talks-crossroads-competing-with-mario-kart-world-and-leak-culture/" access-date="June 8, 2025" archive-date="June 9, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250609141850/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/interviews/interview-sonic-team-head-talks-crossroads-competing-with-mario-kart-world-and-leak-culture/" url-status="live"] Sega Account holders could also redeem a code for the "Blue Star" Extreme Gear, which was later released more widely as downloadable content.[cite_web last="Mäki" first="Jonas" title="Claim a free cosmetic item for Sonic Racing: Crossworlds" website="Gamereactor UK" date="September 22, 2025" url="https://www.gamereactor.eu/claim-a-free-cosmetic-item-for-sonic-racing-crossworlds-1605073/" access-date="January 15, 2026" archive-date="September 22, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250922025122/https://www.gamereactor.eu/claim-a-free-cosmetic-item-for-sonic-racing-crossworlds-1605073/" url-status="live"] [[Limited Run Games]] also offered a Collector's Edition with additional physical items, available to order during June 2025 only.[cite_web last="Romano" first="Sal" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds adds Switch 2 version, launches September 25" website="Gematsu" date="June 6, 2025" url="https://www.gematsu.com/2025/06/sonic-racing-crossworlds-adds-switch-2-version-launches-september-25" access-date="August 21, 2025" archive-date="August 19, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250819030926/https://www.gematsu.com/2025/06/sonic-racing-crossworlds-adds-switch-2-version-launches-september-25" url-status="live"]</p>
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 Unchanged: <p>In pre-release coverage, <em>Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds</em> drew a positive response from critics and players. In a preview for <em>[[IGN]]</em>, Jada Griffin praised the game's broad customization options and the novelty of the CrossWorld mechanic.[ref name="ign-preview" /] Coverage of the closed beta in <em>[[Digital Trends]]</em>, <em>[[ComicBook.com]]</em>, and roundups of fan reactions similarly highlighted the presentation, gameplay, track variety, and large playable roster, with the races' chaotic pace often described as entertaining. At the same time, some preview impressions found that chaos excessive and argued that several combat-focused power-ups felt unbalanced, an issue producer Ryuichi Taki later said was heavily adjusted following feedback from the test.[cite_web last="Alexander" first="Cristina" title="Sonic Racing: Crossworlds is already giving Mario Kart a run for its money" website="Digital Trends" date="February 27, 2025" url="https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/sonic-racing-crossworlds-hands-on-preview/" access-date="September 9, 2025" archive-date="July 13, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250713220347/https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/sonic-racing-crossworlds-hands-on-preview/" url-status="live"][cite_web last="Murphy" first="Michael" date="2025-02-28" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Feels Like Sega's Mario Kart (But With More Chaos)" url="https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/sonic-racing-crossworlds-preview/" access-date="2025-03-01" website="ComicBook.com" language="en-US" archive-date="March 1, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250301100154/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/sonic-racing-crossworlds-preview/" url-status="live"][cite_web last="Doolan" first="Liam" date="2025-02-23" title="Round Up: The First Impressions Of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds 'Closed Network Test' Are In" url="https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/02/round-up-the-first-impressions-of-sonic-racing-crossworlds-closed-network-test-are-in" access-date="2025-03-01" website="Nintendo Life" language="en-GB" archive-date="March 2, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250302225454/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/02/round-up-the-first-impressions-of-sonic-racing-crossworlds-closed-network-test-are-in" url-status="live"][ref name="4Gint"/]</p>
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 Unchanged: <p>Upon release, the game received "generally favorable" reviews according to [[Metacritic]], while [[OpenCritic]] reported that 95 percent of critics recommended it.[ref name="MC_PS5"][cite_web url="https://www.metacritic.com/game/sonic-racing-crossworlds/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds PS5 reviews" website="[[Metacritic]]" access-date="September 30, 2025" archive-date="September 30, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250930194618/https://www.metacritic.com/game/sonic-racing-crossworlds/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5|url-status=live"][/ref][ref name="MC_XS"][cite_web url="https://www.metacritic.com/game/sonic-racing-crossworlds/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-series-x" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Xbox Series X reviews" website="[[Metacritic]]" access-date="September 30, 2025" archive-date="October 2, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20251002235517/https://www.metacritic.com/game/sonic-racing-crossworlds/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-series-x" url-status="live"][/ref][ref name="OC"][cite_web title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Reviews" website="OpenCritic" date="September 18, 2025" url="https://opencritic.com/game/18727/sonic-racing-crossworlds" access-date="September 18, 2025" archive-date="September 18, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250918183841/https://opencritic.com/game/18727/sonic-racing-crossworlds" url-status="live"][/ref] In Japan, <em>[[Famitsu]]</em> scored it 33 out of 40.[ref name="famitsu"][cite_web last="Romano" first="Sal" date="October 1, 2025" url="https://www.gematsu.com/2025/10/famitsu-review-scores-issue-1917" title="<em>Famitsu</em> Review Scores: Issue 1917" website="Gematsu" access-date="October 1, 2025" archive-date="October 1, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20251001110722/https://www.gematsu.com/2025/10/famitsu-review-scores-issue-1917" url-status="live"][/ref] Critics were especially positive about the core racing, vehicle feel, and customization systems. <em>[[IGN]]</em> praised the fast, intuitive handling and said the rival system gave the game more personality,[ref name="IGNRev" /] while <em>[[Game Informer]]</em> called it "the most well-rounded kart racer of the year", even as it criticized the Grand Prix structure for making players revisit earlier courses in each cup's final event.[ref name="GIRev"][cite_magazine url="https://gameinformer.com/review/sonic-racing-crossworlds/a-new-dimension-of-kart-racing" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Review" last="Shea" first="Brian" date="September 18, 2025" magazine="[[Game Informer]]" access-date="September 18, 2025"][/ref] <em>[[Anime News Network]]</em> went further, calling it not only the best racing game in the <em>Sonic</em> series, but one of the strongest racing games released in recent years.[cite_web last="Bolts" url="https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/game/pc/sonic-racing/crossworlds/.229465"|title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Game Review" publisher="[[Anime News Network]]" date="October 12, 2025" access-date="October 12, 2025" archive-date="November 23, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20251123084335/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/game/pc/sonic-racing/crossworlds/.229465" url-status="live"] </p>
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 Unchanged: <p>A recurring point in reviews was the way <em>CrossWorlds</em> positioned itself against <em>[[Mario Kart World]]</em>. Chris Scullion of <em>[[Video Games Chronicle]]</em> argued that, by sticking with a traditional Grand Prix format and straightforward three-lap races, Sega had turned the game into a viable alternative for players uninterested in Nintendo's newer direction.[ref name="VGCRev" /] Steve Watts of <em>[[GameSpot]]</em> likewise contrasted the two, writing that although <em>Mario Kart World</em> benefited from simplicity, <em>CrossWorlds</em> rewarded experimentation through its deeper customization systems.[ref name="GSRev"][cite_web url="https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/sonic-racing-crossworlds-review-an-arcade-kart-racer-for-gearheads/1900-6418408/" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Review -- An Arcade Kart Racer For Gearheads" last="Watts" first="Steve" date="September 18, 2025" website="[[GameSpot]]" access-date="September 18, 2025"][/ref] </p>
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-Deleted: <p>More critical responses tended to focus on progression and post-launch content. <em>[[Push Square]]</em> described the game as a strong kart racer but criticized its unlock structure as grind-heavy,[ref name="PSQRev"][cite_web url="https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps5/sonic-racing-crossworlds" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Review (PS5)" last="Tailby" first="Stephen" date="September 18, 2025" website="[[Push Square]]" access-date="September 18, 2025"][/ref] and <em>[[GamesRadar+]]</em> similarly felt that repeated runs through Grand Prix mode could become samey over time.[ref name="GRRev"][cite_web url="https://www.gamesradar.com/games/racing/sonic-racing-crossworlds-review/" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds review: &amp;#quot;Even more frantic than Mario Kart World, this has the mileage to be a karting favorite&amp;#quot;" last="Towell" first="Justin" date="September 18, 2025" website="[[GamesRadar+]]" access-date="September 18, 2025"][/ref] The game's downloadable content also drew criticism. <em>[[Eurogamer]]</em> was disappointed that Sega-themed crossover packs did not include tracks based on the guest franchises,[ref name="EGRev"/] while <em>[[Kotaku]]</em> criticized the guest racers' lack of rival dialogue and general voice acting, arguing that they felt more like decorative additions than fully integrated characters.[cite_web title="Sonic Racing Crossworlds Still Manages To Be A Great Kart Racer In The Face Of Crossover Slop" url="https://kotaku.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds-crossover-review-hatsune-miku-2000626583" website="[[Kotaku]]" last="Shepard" first="Kenneth" date="September 18, 2025" access-date="September 26, 2025" url-status="live" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20251002085655/https://kotaku.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds-crossover-review-hatsune-miku-2000626583" archive-date="October 2, 2025"]</p>
+Added: <p>More critical responses tended to focus on progression and post-launch content. <em>[[Push Square]]</em> described the game as a strong kart racer but criticized its unlock structure as grind-heavy,[ref name="PSQRev"][cite_web url="https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps5/sonic-racing-crossworlds" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Review (PS5)" last="Tailby" first="Stephen" date="September 18, 2025" website="[[Push Square]]" access-date="September 18, 2025"][/ref] and <em>[[GamesRadar+]]</em> similarly felt that repeated runs through Grand Prix mode could become samey over time.[ref name="GRRev"][cite_web url="https://www.gamesradar.com/games/racing/sonic-racing-crossworlds-review/" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds review: &amp;#quot;Even more frantic than Mario Kart World, this has the mileage to be a karting favorite&amp;#quot;" last="Towell" first="Justin" date="September 18, 2025" website="[[GamesRadar+]]" access-date="September 18, 2025"][/ref] The game's downloadable content also drew criticism. <em>[[Eurogamer]]</em> was disappointed that Sega-themed crossover packs did not include tracks based on the guest franchises,[ref name="EGRev"][cite_news last1="Orry" first1="Tom" title="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds review - an exquisite handling model saves an overly disruptive karting offering" url="https://www.eurogamer.net/sonic-racing-crossworlds-review" access-date="September 26, 2025" work="Eurogamer.net" date="September 25, 2025" language="en" archive-date="September 25, 2025" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20250925095824/https://www.eurogamer.net/sonic-racing-crossworlds-review" url-status="live"][/ref] while <em>[[Kotaku]]</em> criticized the guest racers' lack of rival dialogue and general voice acting, arguing that they felt more like decorative additions than fully integrated characters.[cite_web title="Sonic Racing Crossworlds Still Manages To Be A Great Kart Racer In The Face Of Crossover Slop" url="https://kotaku.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds-crossover-review-hatsune-miku-2000626583" website="[[Kotaku]]" last="Shepard" first="Kenneth" date="September 18, 2025" access-date="September 26, 2025" url-status="live" archive-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20251002085655/https://kotaku.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds-crossover-review-hatsune-miku-2000626583" archive-date="October 2, 2025"]</p>
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