Sonic Racing: New Characters and Tracks Unveiled for Closed Test

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is set to revolutionize the kart racing genre with its expansive roster and innovative gameplay features. Dive in to discover the new mechanics and what awaits in the upcoming closed network test.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds New Features and Mechanics Revealed

Largest Roster From The Series Ever

Sega and Sonic Team are collaborating to bring fans the latest installment in the Sonic The Hedgehog series, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds. This game promises the largest character roster yet, as teased in the reveal trailer and confirmed by various reports. On February 12, 2025, Thalia Piedra, Associate PR Manager at Sega of America, shared insights into the game's new mechanics and features via a PlayStation.blog post.

Piedra highlighted that the game will feature "iconic characters from the Sonic and Sega universes." While the trailer showcased characters primarily from the Sonic franchise, the official website promises a launch roster of 23 characters, with more to be added post-launch. The trailer featured mainstays like Sonic, Knuckles, Tails, and Amy, alongside Sonic Riders' Jet, Wave, and Storm. The Deadly Six's Zavok and Zazz made appearances, as did Team Dark members Shadow, Rouge, and E-123 Omega, with Dr. Eggman and his creations, Egg Pawn and Metal Sonic. The Chaotix trio of Vector, Charmy, and Espio were also seen, rounding out the roster with Blaze, Silver, Cream, and Big.

Travel Rings Will Transport Characters To Different CrossWorlds

The reveal trailer and accompanying PlayStation.blog post introduced groundbreaking gameplay mechanics that promise to deliver a fresh and engaging experience for both long-time fans and newcomers to the Sonic universe. A standout feature is the Travel Rings, which allow characters to seamlessly transition between different worlds, dubbed CrossWorlds, during races.

According to Piedra, these CrossWorlds will "bring dramatic changes to races, transporting players from one world to a completely new location." Each CrossWorld offers a theme park-like experience filled with surprises such as "large monsters, engaging obstacles, and tracks filled with beautiful scenery." The game also introduces dynamic tracks that evolve with each lap, inspired by previous titles like Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed. With 24 main tracks and 15 CrossWorlds, players will have a vast and varied racing environment to explore.

Customization, Extreme Gear, Gadgets, and More!

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is set to offer the most extensive vehicle customization in the series to date. A preview of the customization options was shared on Twitter (X) by the game's official account on February 17, 2025. Players can modify the front and rear parts of their vehicles, wheels, and dive deep into color customization for the body, tires, cockpit, and overall glow.

Additionally, players can equip their characters with Gadgets, which can be tailored to suit individual play styles. There are 23 different power-up items available, alongside 45 unique original vehicles. The return of Extreme Gear from Sonic Riders allows players to race on flying hoverboards, adding a boost-based racing style to the mix. Sonic Creative Officer Takashi Iizuka described the game as "a great culmination of all the Sonic Racing series games to date."

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Closed Network Test Announced

Closed Network Test Registration Now Open

Fans eager to get a taste of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds can participate in the 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, and will be available worldwide on the following schedule:

• 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

The closed network test will be exclusively available on the PlayStation 5. Participants who complete the post-test survey will be rewarded with an exclusive in-game sticker and title.