The Blue Blur is no stranger to speeding across Nintendo’s consoles, and Sonic Racing CrossWorlds was no exception. Releasing on Nintendo Switch, alongside the other consoles at launch, it lacked many of the visual features that those consoles offered. That, alongside a lowered frame rate, made it subpar compared to the PlayStation and Xbox versions.
But just in time for the holidays, SEGA and Sonic Team released the Switch 2 Edition. Does this version offer the substantial visual upgrades that many Nintendo fans have been wanting? Or does this hedgehog slip on a banana peel? After spending multiple hours with this version of the game, I am excited to report one of the best Sonic ports to grace modern Nintendo consoles.
Publisher/Developer: SEGA, Sonic Team
Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: December 4th, 2025 (SW2), September 25th, 2025 (Other Platforms)
Price: $59.99 (SW1), $69.99 (Other Platforms), $9.99 for SW2 Upgrade
What is Sonic Racing CrossWorlds?
Sonic Racing CrossWorlds is SEGA’s latest attempt at bringing Sonic to the race track in style. Utilizing mechanics and elements from proper Sonic racing games, including the transforming mechanic from All Stars Racing Transformed and the Extreme Gear hoverboards from Sonic Riders, it’s a celebration of the Blue Blur’s impressive racing career.
In my review for the game on PlayStation 5, I say this about one of 2025’s best Racing games:
After playing many racers in the Sonic series, this is by far one of the best ones yet. Melding widely different racing styles together almost effortlessly, alongside adding its own innovations with the CrossWorld and Gadget mechanic, Sonic Racing CrossWorlds celebrates the Sonic franchise, and makes rival kart racers look for bananas in their tailpipes. Even some limitations with online play modes can’t slow down this high-speed race.
What was the Switch 1 Version Like?
Similar to other major Sonic releases on Switch 1, Sonic Racing CrossWorlds was released with many compromises. Many visual features are present on PlayStation 5 that aren’t on the original Switch. Graphical features like reflections and texture quality take a hit, alongside a lowered resolution (720p in TV Mode and 500p in Handheld Mode) and a capped 30 FPS frame rate.
Compared to other Switch 1 Sonic titles (Sonic Frontiers and Shadow Generations), it was a decent port to the console. However, it was noticeably lacking when compared to Switch 2 kart racers like Mario Kart World and Kirby Air Riders, which both offer beautiful visuals at 60 FPS.
The Upgrade – Switch 2 Edition Features & Improvements
Released on December 4th, SEGA and Sonic Team finally brought Racing CrossWorlds on par with other platforms for Nintendo Switch 2 owners.
The key features include a higher resolution (1440p in TV Mode, 1080p in Handheld Mode), a stable 60 FPS, and parity with the other consoles’ graphical features. After speeding through all of the game’s main tracks and CrossWorlds, I am happy to say that, for the most part, the Switch 2 edition matches the visual quality seen on PlayStation 5.
Sonic and friends look sharper than ever as well, adding some additional visual flair to the enjoyable Rival Interactions during Grand Prix races. The game does utilize dynamic resolutions, though, so some parts of the game lower the internal resolution for a short while before it returns to its native target.
Listening to the Community – Physical Release & Upgrade Path
It’s no secret that many Nintendo fans are upset about the Key Cards, which are physical releases where the game isn’t on the cartridge. It’s an access key that speaks to Nintendo’s servers to download the full game on your console. Being a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition release, SEGA decided to release Sonic Racing CrossWorlds: Switch 2 Edition on a proper cart.
So when it releases in Early 2026, Nintendo fans can proudly add it to their physical collections. SEGA was one of the many third parties that opted for Key Cards during the Switch 2 launch and continues to do so, with recent releases like Persona 3 Reload and Yakuza Kiwami 1 & 2.
Seeing one of their biggest franchises release on a full-physical cart is exciting news and a hopeful sign for future SEGA and Sonic releases on Nintendo Switch 2. In addition, Switch 1 owners can upgrade to the Switch 2 version via a $10 upgrade pack. This is an improvement over Sonic X Shadow Generations, where Switch 1 owners had to fully rebuy the game if they wanted substantial visual/performance upgrades.
Continuing the Race – Cross Progression and Cross Play Supported
A pleasant bonus to the Switch 2 Edition is that progress made on Switch 1 completely carries over. So Nintendo owners who raced through the CrossWorlds can continue their offline and online progress. However, while Online cross-play with other platforms is supported, cross-progression is not.
That means if you mainly made a lot of progress on another platform, you need to start over again when playing on Switch 2.
Cross Talking – Current State of CrossWorlds
Since the game’s release in September 2025, Sonic Racing CrossWorlds has received updates applicable to all platforms.
They include additional Gadgets to help with balancing, multiple free DLC characters (with the latest being the iconic NiGHTS), and two of the six paid DLC packs (that being Minecraft and SpongeBob). Various festivals have also taken place, with the NiGHTS one active from December 25th-28th.
And even more content is on the way, with Super Monkey Ball’s AiAi and Sonic IDW Comic’s Tangle and Whisper joining the roster early 2026. The Pac-Man DLC pack will also release in January 2026, and soon after that, the legendary Blue Bomber will join the race track in 2026.
Closing Thoughts on Sonic Racing CrossWorlds Switch 2 Edition
I loved my time playing CrossWorlds on PlayStation 5 and enjoyed playing multiple hours of the Switch 2 Edition. I’m happy to echo the similar phrase I gave the game originally.
It’s a fantastic kart racing experience that now proudly stands side by side with Nintendo’s best offerings on Switch 2, offering impressive visuals and performance, adding to a frantic arcade racing experience. If you love the world of Sonic and fantastic arcade-inspired racing, then Sonic Racing CrossWorlds: Switch 2 Edition is a must-play.
This game was reviewed on Nintendo Switch 2 with a code provided by the publisher.
Score: 9 out of 10
Pros:
- Major improvement over the Nintendo Switch 1 version
- Rock-solid 60 FPS and Great Image Quality
- Runs like a dream in both handheld and TV modes
- Full Feature Set Parity with Other Versions
- Proper Physical Release and a Paid Upgrade Path for Switch 1 Owners
- Can Carry Over Progress from Switch 1 Version
- Cross-Play Support
Cons:
- Very minor resolution drops when a lot is happening on screen, specifically in handheld mode
- No Cross-Progression
