Sonic Racing CrossWorlds launches with portal-driven multi-stage races

Sonic Racing CrossWorlds launched this week, with Deluxe Edition owners getting early access and the full release arriving on September 25, 2025 for PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, and PC. Developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega, the kart racer opens with a central twist: CrossWorlds portals that warp racers into different courses mid-race, creating multi‑stage laps rather than repeated circuits.

The portal mechanic is central to how the game plays. Races typically comprise three base tracks, with a second lap routed through a portal into a different course before returning to a transformed final lap. The structure produces packed, fast runs and a final fourth race that stitches together one lap from each prior track. Reviewers and early players have highlighted the approach as keeping action continuous and varied compared with more open‑world kart designs from competitors.

Sega has outlined a broad postlaunch plan combining free monthly additions and paid season pass packs. At launch players can access Hatsune Miku as a free driver, and Sega intends to add a free guest character each month; Joker from Persona 5 and Ichiban Kasuga...