Sega dropped the trailer for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds during Summer Game Fest 2025. The game had been rumored for a while, but this was the first real look at what they’re building. It’s fast. It’s chaotic. And it’s pulling Sonic and friends into a multiverse racing format that’s different from anything Sega has tried before.
The trailer went live on YouTube right after the show and quickly climbed in views. Fans are excited, confused, and in some cases skeptical. All of that makes sense. This isn’t just another kart racer with Sonic slapped on the box. Sega looks like it’s swinging harder this time.
Let’s break down what’s in the trailer, how it compares to older Sonic racers, and what people are saying about it.
The Trailer Hits Fast
The trailer starts with what looks like a fractured world. Sonic speeds through pieces of different zones floating in space. You see a track that looks like a warped version of Green Hill Zone. Then it cuts to a futuristic city, then to a lava-covered wasteland. The camera keeps shifting, like the game wants you to feel thrown between dimensions.
Sonic’s car isn’t just a kart. It looks like it transforms depending on where he is. It has wheels one second, then it hovers the next. Tails and Knuckles are in too, in vehicles that shift the same way. Blaze the Cat gets a spotlight shot, drifting through a cyberpunk level with glowing billboards.
The whole thing feels less grounded than previous games. And that’s probably the point. This is supposed to be a multiverse. Anything goes.
What’s New This Time?
The big feature is the “CrossWorlds Rift System.” That’s Sega’s name for how tracks change in real time. In one scene, the road splits apart mid-race and everyone drops into a new environment. It’s not a lap-by-lap switch. It happens while you’re driving.
That means you have to react on the fly. Your vehicle shifts too. You’re not locked into one type anymore. You can build out a land-based kart, a hover vehicle, or a hybrid that adapts. Sega hinted at custom loadouts stuff like better grip for sand tracks or shields that help in lava zones.
Characters aren’t limited to Sonic regulars either. The trailer showed Beat from Jet Set Radio in the background. That raised a lot of eyebrows. People are now expecting crossover characters from other Sega franchises.
Game modes weren’t detailed much, but there were hints of more than basic racing. One clip showed a player dodging huge hazards alone, which could mean a challenge or PvE mode. Another clip looked like team-based racing with shared power-ups.
How It Stacks Up to Older Sonic Racers
This isn’t Sega’s first run at a Sonic racing game. They’ve tried a few ideas before.
Team Sonic Racing in 2019 focused on teamwork. You raced in squads and shared boosts. It wasn’t bad, but it lacked variety. It cut out the flying and boating elements from Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, which was better received. That 2012 game had changing vehicles and pulled in characters from across Sega’s lineup.
CrossWorlds feels closer to Transformed, but with more control. Instead of tracks forcing you into a car or a plane, now you decide when to shift. That opens up strategy. You can prep a vehicle that fits your style, not just react to terrain changes.
The multiverse idea also gives Sega freedom to mix level themes. They’re not stuck making tracks that fit one game. They can pull from anything.
That could be great, or it could get messy if the designs clash or feel rushed. It all depends on how much polish each world gets.
What Players Are Saying
Early reaction online is mostly positive.
YouTube comments are full of people pointing out cameos, comparing visuals to Spider-Verse, and praising the track design. One of the most liked comments reads, “This looks like the chaos Sonic racing always needed.”
On Reddit, fans are already speculating about which Sega characters might show up next. Some are hoping for Yakuza or Persona cameos. Others want classics like NiGHTS or Alex Kidd.
But there are concerns too. A few players pointed out that if vehicle builds aren’t balanced, the whole system could fall apart. If one setup always wins, what’s the point of customizing?
Some also want to know if there’s going to be a solid single-player mode. Team Sonic Racing had one, but it felt like filler. People want more than just online leaderboards.
And then there’s always the question of monetization. Will there be paid DLC? Season passes? Unlockables locked behind microtransactions?
Sega hasn’t said.
Where Sega Might Be Headed
This game looks like more than a one-off.
If Sega keeps the multiverse idea going, they have room to expand. They could add new characters and tracks without needing a sequel. They could build a long-term racer that pulls in players the way Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has.
Sega has a deep catalog. They’ve been sitting on tons of IPs for years. CrossWorlds gives them a way to bring those characters back in a way that feels fun instead of forced.
But for that to work, the core game has to be solid. It has to feel good to play, not just look good in trailers. People are already watching for signs of frame rate issues or clunky controls. One mistake could tank the whole project.
So, Should You Be Excited?
That depends on what you want from a racing game.
If you want tight controls, shifting strategies, and chaotic tracks, CrossWorlds looks promising. The multiverse format gives Sega freedom to try new things. The visuals pop. The vehicles look faster and more flexible than ever.
If you want deep single-player content, balanced online modes, or fair progression, you might want to wait and see. Sega hasn’t answered those questions yet.
But the trailer did its job. People are talking again about Sonic racing. That hasn’t happened in a while.
If Sega follows through, this could be the one that sticks. If not, it’ll be another “what could’ve been” on a long list.
Either way, it’s worth keeping an eye on.
