Sega Adds Bayonetta as Free Racer to Sonic Racing CrossWorlds

Sega has announced that Bayonetta, the protagonist of its fantasy action franchise, will be the first free playable character added to Sonic Racing CrossWorlds in the game's second year of content updates. The announcement was made in a new trailer released on September 16, 2026, which showed the Umbra Witch racing alongside Sonic and other characters while riding her signature Butterfly Witch boost-type machine. The character will be available for free to all players, continuing the game's strategy of adding crossover characters at no cost. While a specific release date for Bayonetta has not been provided, Sega has scheduled an official Year Two Showcase livestream for October 9, 2026, where further details about her inclusion and other upcoming content are expected to be revealed. Bayonetta's addition marks a notable crossover, as the character is more commonly associated with Nintendo, which has published the recent mainline games in the series. However, the Bayonetta intellectual property is owned by Sega. Her appearance in Sonic Racing CrossWorlds also represents her first new appearance on Xbox platforms since 2013.