Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Details at IGN Live 2025

Sonic Team's Takashi Iizuka joined us at IGN Live with thrilling details about Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, explaining why this ambitious crossover kart racer deserves your attention. The game's Summer Game Fest showcase stunned fans with surprise appearances from Hatsune Miku, Like a Dragon's Ichiban Kasuga, Persona 5's Joker, and Minecraft's Steve/Alex duo alongside their explosive Creeper companion.

Behind the Crossovers: Crafting the Ultimate Roster

Following the star-studded character reveal, Iizuka opened up about the careful selection process for guest racers. "We needed that second lap to deliver genuine shock value," Iizuka explained. "While Sega's IPs were obvious choices, we wanted to push boundaries with unexpected additions. That's when we realized Minecraft's blocky universe would create this fantastic contrast against our colorful racing worlds."

Revolutionary Track Design: The Three-Lap Formula

The game introduces a groundbreaking racing structure where the first-placed driver selects the second lap's universe through mysterious Travel Rings. "Traditional three-lap races get reinvented here," Iizuka revealed. "We're not just changing scenery - we're transforming gameplay rules and physics between laps. And wait till you see what we've prepared for the final stretch!"

Power-Up Pandemonium

The developers are blending classic Sonic racing elements with innovative mechanics. Iizuka's personal favorite? "That monster truck transformation completely changes race dynamics - nothing beats plowing through the competition with oversized wheels!" The game preserves beloved items like Rocket Punch while introducing fresh surprises.

More Than Just Karts

Beyond the standard vehicles, CrossWorlds resurrects Sonic Riders' hoverboards and removes character restrictions - imagine Hatsune Miku piloting a Creeper-shaped kart! The September 25, 2025 release will support 12-player online matches with full cross-platform compatibility across PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Nintendo Switch. Switch 2 owners won't miss out either, with optimized versions coming later.

For deeper dives into the game's mechanics and additional IGN Live coverage, check out our exclusive previews.