"Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Unveils Characters, Tracks for Closed Test"

Dive into the exhilarating world of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, the latest kart racing game from Sega and the Sonic Team. This upcoming title promises to be a thrilling addition to the Sonic The Hedgehog series, featuring an expansive roster and innovative gameplay mechanics. Discover what awaits in the game and how you can participate in the upcoming closed network test.

Largest Roster From The Series Ever

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is set to launch with an impressive lineup of characters, the largest in the series to date. As shared by Thalia Piedra, Associate PR Manager at Sega of America, in a PlayStation.blog post on February 12, 2025, the game will feature "iconic characters from the Sonic and Sega universes." While the trailer focuses solely on the Sonic franchise, the official website confirms a launch roster of 23 characters, with more to be added post-launch.

The revealed characters include mainstays such as Sonic, Knuckles, Tails, and Amy, alongside Sonic Riders favorites Jet, Wave, and Storm. The Deadly Six's Zavok and Zazz make an appearance, as do Team Dark members Shadow, Rouge, and E-123 Omega. Dr. Eggman, his creations Egg Pawn and Metal Sonic, and the Chaotix team of Vector, Charmy, and Espio round out the group, with Blaze, Silver, Cream, and Big completing the lineup.

Travel Rings Will Transport Characters To Different CrossWorlds

A standout feature of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is the introduction of Travel Rings, a mechanic that transports racers to different worlds in real-time during races. This innovative system, as described by Piedra, will "bring dramatic changes to races, transporting players from one world to a completely new location." Each CrossWorld offers a theme park-like experience with surprises such as large monsters, engaging obstacles, and tracks filled with stunning scenery.

The game also introduces dynamic tracks inspired by Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, ensuring each race is a fresh and transformative experience. With 24 main tracks and 15 CrossWorlds to explore, players will have plenty of variety to keep the excitement going.

Customization, Extreme Gear, Gadgets, and More!

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds offers the most extensive vehicle customization in the series. A Twitter (X) post from the game's official account on February 17, 2025, showcased options for customizing the front and rear parts of vehicles, wheels, deep color customization for the body, tires, cockpit, and overall glow, among others.

Players can also equip their characters with Gadgets to tailor their play style, with 23 different power-up items available. The game features 45 unique original vehicles, including the return of Extreme Gear from Sonic Riders, allowing players to ride flying hoverboards for a boost-based racing experience.

Takashi Iizuka, Sonic Creative Officer, praised the game as "a great culmination of all the Sonic Racing series games to date," highlighting its comprehensive features and mechanics.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Closed Network Test Announced

Closed Network Test Registration Now Open

Get ready for a sneak peek at Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds with its upcoming closed network test. Registration opened on February 12, 2025, and will close on February 19, 2025. The playtest will run from February 21, 2025, to February 24, 2025, exclusively on PlayStation 5.

• PST: 02/21/2025 (Fri) 04:00 PM - 02/23/2025 (Sun) 04:00 PM
• EST: 02/21/2025 (Fri) 07:00 PM - 02/23/2025 (Sun) 07:00 PM
• GMT: 02/22/2025 (Sat) 00:00 AM - 02/24/2025 (Mon) 00:00 AM
• JST: 02/22/2025 (Sat) 09:00 AM - 02/24/2025 (Mon) 09:00 AM

Participants who complete the post-test survey will receive an exclusive in-game sticker and title. Don't miss your chance to experience Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds before its official release!