Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Needed to Go Faster? SEGA Cart Racer Sales Didn’t Meet Expectations
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, SEGA’s ambitious kart racing spin-off released in September 2025, has crossed the 1 million sales mark globally but still missed the company’s internal targets. The game brings together characters from the Sonic universe and other SEGA franchises in high-speed races across dimensions, yet its initial market performance has prompted questions about the franchise’s pull in a crowded racing genre.
Here’s the TL;DR...
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds launched on September 25, 2025, for multiple platforms including PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.
It sold over 1 million units worldwide shortly after release, but SEGA executives noted this fell short of expectations.
Reviews praised its speed, customization, and tight gameplay, often comparing it favorably to Mario Kart World in specific areas.
SEGA aims to push sales to 2 million by the end of the fiscal year in March 2026 through DLC and ongoing support.
Previous entries like Team Sonic Racing eventually hit 3.5 million lifetime sales, setting a benchmark for long-term potential.
Did Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Sell Well Enough for SEGA?
SEGA revealed in its Q2 financial results that Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds surpassed 1 million units sold worldwide. Haruki Satomi, President and Group CEO of SEGA SAMMY HOLDINGS Inc., stated, “We recently announced that worldwide cumulative sales have surpassed 1 million units. However, initial performance did not meet our expectations, and we are aiming to sell approximately another 1 million units within this fiscal year.”
This admission came amid broader challenges in SEGA’s Entertainment Contents Business, where full game sales underperformed despite strong feedback for the title. The game hit shelves at a $70 price point, SEGA’s highest for a Sonic title yet, which may have influenced early adoption.
Analysts point out that while 1 million is a solid start, it pales next to rivals like Mario Kart World, which exceeded 9.5 million units by September 2025 in global sales.
What Do Reviews Say About Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Gameplay?
Critics have largely celebrated Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds for its focus on pure racing mechanics. Polygon described it as “a razor-sharp racing game that excels in areas where Mario Kart World is slightly off the pace: outright speed, customization, economy, and focus.”
Game Informer highlighted its streamlined approach, noting, “Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds delivers a trimmed-down arcade-style racing experience; there’s no open world or story mode, just a series of races and some peripheral events.” The game earned an average Metacritic score above 80 and “Overwhelmingly Positive” user reviews on Steam.
Unique features like Travel Rings, which warp players to new dimensions mid-race, add variety to the 24 tracks and 15 CrossWorlds environments. Players can race as Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, or guests from other SEGA series.
How Does Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Stack Up Against Mario Kart World?
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds arrived in a year dominated by Nintendo’s Mario Kart World, a Switch 2 launch title that set sales records. SEGA even poked fun at Nintendo on social media, reigniting the classic rivalry between the mascots.
While Mario Kart World offers expansive open-world elements and family-friendly appeal, CrossWorlds emphasizes speed and precision, appealing to core racing fans. Reddit discussions note that CrossWorlds fills a gap for “traditional kart racing” that some feel Mario Kart World lacks.
Sales-wise, Mario Kart World‘s 2 million units in Japan alone dwarf CrossWorlds’ figures, underscoring Nintendo’s market dominance.
Why Did Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Underperform in Initial Sales?
Several factors likely contributed to the slower start. The $70 launch price, higher than previous Sonic racers, may have deterred budget-conscious buyers, especially with frequent sales post-release.
Competition was fierce in 2025, with Mario Kart World and other kart racers like Kirby Air Ride vying for attention. SEGA’s broader gaming division faced headwinds, including underperformance from acquired companies like Rovio.
On X (formerly Twitter), fans speculated about marketing strategies, with some noting increased focus on characters like the Babylon Rogues to appeal to Japanese audiences. Others pointed to the game’s digital-first release on Switch 2, with physical copies arriving later.
What Are SEGA’s Future Plans for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds?
SEGA remains optimistic, planning to sustain sales through downloadable content. The Season Pass has already added characters and tracks, including crossovers like NiGHTS and Persona 5 elements.
Executives aim for long-term engagement, similar to how Team Sonic Racing grew to 3.5 million units over time. Community feedback on X highlights ongoing interest, with players praising post-launch support.
If sales rebound, it could signal a revival for SEGA’s racing spin-offs, potentially leading to experimental follow-ups beyond traditional kart formats.
How Does This Impact the Sonic Franchise Overall?
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds marks another chapter in SEGA’s efforts to expand the hedgehog’s appeal beyond platformers. While mainline games like Sonic Frontiers broke sales records, spin-offs face tougher scrutiny in a market led by Nintendo.
SEGA’s gaming business showed mixed results in Q2, with strengths in existing operations offset by acquisition costs. Looking ahead, sustained DLC and word-of-mouth could turn CrossWorlds into a sleeper hit, much like its predecessors.
In the end, SEGA’s push for 2 million sales reflects confidence in the game’s quality, even if the launch didn’t blaze past every checkpoint. For fans, it means more content on the horizon, keeping the rivalry with Mario alive in the kart racing lane.
Hat Tips
https://www.segasammy.co.jp/cms/wp-content/uploads/pdf/en/ir/20251107_q2_presentation_with_scripts_e.pdf (SEGA SAMMY Holdings Inc. Q2 FY2026 Financial Results Presentation / November 7, 2025)
https://mynintendonews.com/2026/02/02/sega-says-sonic-racing-crossworlds-failed-to-meet-sales-expectations (My Nintendo News / SEGA says Sonic Racing CrossWorlds failed to meet sales expectations / February 2, 2026)
https://www.polygon.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds-vs-mario-kart-world-review (Polygon / Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds goes hard enough to keep the Mario rivalry alive / September 25, 2025)
https://gameinformer.com/review/sonic-racing-crossworlds/a-new-dimension-of-kart-racing (Game Informer / Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Review - A New Dimension Of Kart Racing / September 18, 2025)
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2026/02/sonic-racing-crossworlds-fails-to-meets-segas-expectations (Nintendo Life / Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Fails To Meets Sega’s Expectations / February 2026)
https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/mustafa-mahmoud/sega-offers-updated-sales-stats-for-sonic-racing-crossworlds (KitGuru / SEGA offers updated sales stats for Sonic Racing Crossworlds / 2026)
https://www.eurogamer.net/sonic-racing-crossworlds-sales-cross-one-million-sega-aims-to-double (Eurogamer / Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds blasts past 1m copies sold, and Sega is expecting another million “within this fiscal year” / 2026)
https://www.resetera.com/threads/my-nintendo-news-sega-says-sonic-racing-crossworlds-failed-to-meet-sales-expectations.1422922 (ResetEra / [My Nintendo News] SEGA says Sonic Racing CrossWorlds failed to meet sales expectations / 2026)
https://nintendoeverything.com/sonic-racing-crossworlds-sales-performance (Nintendo Everything / SEGA talks Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds sales, says initial performance didn’t meet expectations / February 2, 2026)
Article compiled by Newsroom Staff on February 03, 2026 and was fact-checked by Editorial before publication.