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Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds

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This page details pre-release information and/or media for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds.

This article is a work in progress.
...Well, all the articles here are, in a way. But this one moreso, and the article may contain incomplete information and editor's notes.

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To do:

  • Check the prerelease footage of the game for any differences
  • Concept art

Development Timeline#

  • 2022
  • 2024
    • Dec. 12 - Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds was first announced with a cinematic teaser trailer during The Game Awards 2024. Due the announcement taking place during the "Fearless: Year of Shadow" event, the teaser only features Shadow, with Sonic not actually making an appearance.
  • 2025
    • Feb. 12 - A new trailer for the game was revealed during PlayStation's State of Play event, where it was announced that a closed network test would begin on February 21, 2025 exclusive to those who own a PS5 and a PlayStation Network account. The Digital Deluxe version — including an early access, a Season Pass, and playable characters from Sonic Prime — was also announced.
    • Feb. 21-23 - The closed network test for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds lasted for three days, from February 21 to February 23, 2025.
    • Jun. 6 - Another trailer for the game premiered during Summer Game Fest 2025, announcing Hatsune Miku, Joker from Persona 5, and Ichiban Kasuga from the Like a Dragon series as the first DLC characters to be added periodically as free updates, as well as Minecraft content for the Season Pass's first DLC Pack. Preorders for the game were now up for all major platforms except for Switch 2, which will be releasing digitally in Holiday 2025, and physically in early 2026.
    • Jun. 21 - A trailer for the Season Pass's second DLC Pass, featuring content from SpongeBob SquarePants, aired during Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards, as well as a teaser for two additional DLC packs based on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and Avatar Legends.
    • Aug. 14 - Sega announced that Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds will be appearing at Gamescom 2025.
    • Aug. 19 - As part of a cross promotion with Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac, a trailer for the Season Pass's third DLC Pack, which is based on the Pac-Man series, was released.
    • Aug. 20 - The "Competition Trailer" was released on the official YouTube channel, highlighting various game modes. It also announced the Open Network Test for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Steam, and Epic on August 29.
    • Aug. 26 - The Open Network Test was available to download on all platforms, minus PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The Open Network Test Primer trailer was also released on the official YouTube channel, giving some information about the event.
    • Aug. 29-Sept. 1 - The Open Network Test was available.
    • Sept. 2 - A permanent single-player demo was announced and stated it will be released in mid-September.
    • Sept. 17 - The single player demo was released.
    • Sept. 22 - Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, Hatsune Miku included, released for people who bought the Digital Deluxe Edition.
    • Sept. 24 - During the Tokyo Game Show, a trailer for the fourth DLC Pack for the Season Pass was released, revealing content based on the Mega Man series. At this point, all six DLC Packs have been revealed for the Season Pass.
    • Sept. 25 - Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, Hatsune Miku included, released for everyone.
    • Oct. 8 - Minecraft Pack DLC released.
    • Oct. 23 - Joker was released as a free playable character.
    • Nov. 5 - Ichiban Kasuga was released as a free playable character.
    • Nov. 6 - The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition was announced to be releasing on Dec. 4 digitally, and physically in Spring 2026.
    • Nov. 11 - Four upcoming free DLC characters are announced: NiGHTS from the NiGHTS series, AiAi from the Super Monkey Ball series, and Sonic characters Tangle and Whisper.
    • Nov. 19 - SpongeBob SquarePants Pack DLC released.
    • Nov. 26 - Six new gadgets are announced to release on Dec. 3 as part of the 1.2.0 patch.
    • Dec. 3 - The 1.2.0 patch released.
    • Dec. 4 - The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition released digitally.
    • Dec. 25 - NiGHTS was released as a free playable character.
  • 2026
    • Jan. 7 - PAC-MAN Pack DLC released.
    • Feb. 11 - AiAi was released as a free playable character.
    • Feb. 25 - Tangle and Whisper were released as free playable characters.
    • Mar. 16 - Three upcoming free DLC characters are announced: Red from the Angry Birds series, Goro Majima from the Like a Dragon series as he appears in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (billed in-game as "Goro Majima (Captain Majima)"), and Arle from the Puyo Puyo series.
    • Mar. 18 - The 1.3.1 patch released with eight new gadgets, with two of them being scrapped after the Closed Network Test. A Mega Man DLC teaser was also uploaded, with the DLC releasing on March 25.
    • Mar. 25 - Mega Man Pack DLC released.
    • Apr. 15 - Red was released as a free playable character.
    • Apr. 29 - Goro Majima (Captain Majima) was released as a free playable character.
    • May. 27 - Arle was released as a free playable character.
    • Jun. 5 - As part of the Summer Games Fest 2026, a video was released previewing Sonic's 35th anniversary offerings. Regarding CrossWorlds, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and Avatar Legends DLC packs are properly shown off, alongside the reveal of Season Pass 2, featuring DLC packs related to the Godzilla and Neon Genesis Evangelion series.
    • Jun. 23 - In celebration of Sonic's 35th anniversary, Classic Sonic was announced and shortly added into the game as a free playable character, alongside the announcement of the remaining free DLC characters: Axel from the Crazy Taxi series and Amigo from the Samba de Amigo series.
    • Jul. 29 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem Pack DLC released.

Concept Art#

Hatsune Miku#

While normally identical to her appearance in the final version, the concept art depicts her jacket without a label on the back.

Arsene Wing#

Dragon Brave#

Gamescom#

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds had an exclusive Gamescom demo at the event, featuring some unique elements. ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvcyecdnHxk&t=111s. If you want, here's some footage of someone playing it.])

Character Selection#

Available Tracks#

The available tracks in the Gamescom demo is the same as the Open Network Test.

Available Playable Characters#

The available playable characters in the Gamescom demo is the same as the Open Network Test.

End of Demo Screen#

After completing a grand prix, a special graphic would appear thanking the player for playing the demo.