Sonic's Speedy Comeback: New Game Debuts Amid Rivalry with Mario Kart

Tue Oct 21 2025 04:00:15 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog speeds back onto the track with 'Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds', aiming to attract new players while playfully challenging the iconic Mario Kart.

Sega has launched 'Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds', a new racing game that echoes its 90s rivalry with Nintendo. Head of Sonic Team, Takashi Iizuka, emphasizes a focus on fresh content and new players, while hinting at a playful competition with Mario Kart. This shift aims to keep Sonic relevant in an industry dominated by 'live service' games that continuously offer new content.

'Sega does what Nintendon't' - a classic slogan from the 90s - resurfaces as the rivalry between Sega and Nintendo is reignited with the launch of 'Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds'. The latest installment features Sonic racing against an array of characters across multiple platforms.

Sonic Team's Takashi Iizuka remains coy about direct competition, stating, 'I didn't call out any specific title,' even though many see his comments as a deliberate jab at Nintendo's Mario Kart.

Analysts suggest Sega is playing into the nostalgia while also attempting to leverage Mario's popularity. However, they point out that this campaign might just be for fun as much of the sales for 'CrossWorlds' will likely occur on the Nintendo Switch.

The game's integration of a 'season pass' system aims to keep content fresh and attached to a 'live service' model prevalent in modern gaming, providing fans with incentives to return each month.

Despite pressure to lean towards remakes of beloved classics, Iizuka emphasizes the importance of creating new experiences instead of revisiting the past, suggesting Sonic's evolution remains at the forefront of their development strategy.