It’s been so much fun covering Sonic Racing CrossWorlds for Lords of Gaming. As a huge fan of the Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing series, I find the game evolving into the frantic crossroads it’s become impressive. Especially with collaborations coming to the racer.
But with a second year of content planned for the game, how will Racing CrossWorlds evolve? After Lord Cognito and I went hands-on with content from the Year 2 Season Pass and more, this race of ages will continue into 2027.
Revving Up the Spin Dash – Overview of Sonic Racing CrossWorlds Year 2
The preview event kicked off with a short ten-minute video breaking down all the content coming to Sonic Racing CrossWorlds for Year 2 over the next couple of months. Alongside the already revealed Godzilla and Evangelion, the following two DLC packs will cover classic SEGA games and the Hello Kitty series.
Interestingly, so far the paid DLC will feature characters alongside the track & cars/extreme gear for Hello Kitty and Evangelion. Meanwhile, the Godzilla and SEGA Arcade pack will only include the track and cars. In addition to the Season 2 DLC pass, more free characters are coming to Sonic Racing CrossWorlds!
Wiping All Out – Free DLC Wave 1
Bayonetta joins Persona 3 Reload’s Aigis, alongside a costume for Sonic based on an iconic F1 Racer (McFaren) coming to the game too. This is a very interesting change, adding costumes for existing racers in CrossWorlds. I’m hopeful this opens the door for costumes for Sonic and friends based on the Sonic Movie series and other game titles.
Racing as both the stylish witch and S.E.E.S. shadow slayer was a delight, with the latter including both of P3 Reload’s main battle themes as music options in the Jukebox. Bayonetta has several tracks from Bayonetta 1, but to access them, you must play through one of Racing CrossWorld’s biggest new additions: Dual Mode.
Bumper to Bumper – Dual Mode
The biggest addition in the 2.0 update, this puts two racers against one another. Seeing where each other is on the screen, alongside rivals’ Gadget and Item loadouts, turns Racing CrossWorlds into something closer to a 1v1 fighter.
I loved the tension of this mode, playing several races laser-focused on overcoming my rival at every turn. Like the Grand Prix, you can make Dual Races as easy or challenging as you want. Completing these unlocks Dual Coins, a new currency.
They can buy emotes, stickers, car auras, and even music tracks for SEGA/Sonic-themed collaboration racers. When the 2.0 update launches, players can use these tokens to buy several songs from Bayonetta 1, for example. And I was assured that this will happen for other upcoming free racers.
Escape from the City – Godzilla, Avatar Legends & Evangelion Tracks
Alongside Dual Mode, the 2.0 update will also support both Years 1 and 2 of Sonic Racing CrossWorlds’ paid tracks. Closing out Year 1 of the DLC is the Avatar Legends’ Lion Turtle Island, allowing racers to chart their own path by bending the elements to create different routes on the track. Passing elemental gates triggers track transformations, giving players agency.
As a fan of the original Avatar series, the franchise being honored like this in a Sonic project rocks. And as a fan of the series, racing as Avatar Aang was a personal delight, and him sporting his Air Glider for his Extreme Gear is a welcome touch.
Kicking off Year 2 is Godzilla. Instead of a track inspired by the source material, the Racing CrossWorlds team has Godzilla invade Sonic Adventure 2’s iconic City Escape level. Tearing up the track while racers drive downhill and through memorable moments from Sonic Generations’ iteration of the stage put the biggest grin on my face.
The course stands out for its outstanding remix of Escape from the City, combining the tension of Sonic 06’s Crisis City and the original track’s upbeat melody and nostalgic vocals. Out of the three new tracks I had access to, I replayed this one the most. Godzilla really tears the city apart, even destroying the Travel Ring during the final lap and making you race through a different part of the course.
Lastly, there is the Evangelion course, which features exciting land and sea racing. Dynamic elements come from one of the Eva mechs actively defending racers from incoming massive threats as the race progresses. As someone largely unfamiliar with the source material, I still enjoyed the references and overall track design.
Gearing Up – Super Gadgets
Alongside the new tracks, Year Two adds the Master Plate to the Gadget Menu. This grants players the ability to equip a ‘Super Gadget’, boosting the effects of the entire plate.
On the surface, it’s a small feature, but for competitive racers, you can make your Gadget loadout that much more powerful. Dabbling with some pre-made builds, I noticed powerful perks, like temporary invincibility, after collecting enough rings.
Saving Those Rings – New Price Points and Pre-Order Bonuses
The most exciting news for people waiting to jump into the race is a new price point. Across all platforms, the standard version of Sonic Racing CrossWorlds is now $39.99, with a special Year One Edition launching at $59.99.
The Year 2 Season Pass costs $29.99, and pre-order bonuses are three cars inspired by SEGA’s consoles. If you own both the Year One and Year Two passes, racers unlock Super Shadow and his Super Dark Rider car.
Closing Thoughts on Sonic Racing CrossWorlds Year 2
Spending several hours on PS5 and Switch 2, I’m beyond excited to see what the future of Sonic Racing CrossWorlds has to offer.
Between amazing new race tracks to speed across, major game modes to liven up online play, and exciting Super Gadgets to add new wrinkles to the racing experience, Year Two of Sonic Racing CrossWorlds is the perfect time to give the game a spin if you haven’t already!
Stay tuned for coverage of Sonic Racing and all things SEGA!
