It seems some eager retailers couldn’t wait, as physical copies of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds have started appearing on shelves ahead of schedule. And what a reveal they contain! Inside, a leaflet has reportedly confirmed a major surprise for fans: Mega Man is joining the game as an upcoming DLC character.
Sega had already promised an expansive roster for CrossWorlds, featuring beloved characters from the Sonic universe like Sonic, Dr. Eggman, Knuckles, Shadow, and Tails. They also previously announced exciting collaborations, bringing characters such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Avatar, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles into the kart racing mix.
However, the inclusion of Mega Man in the Season Pass was a complete surprise, confirmed by images shared across social media from these early game copies. While the leaflet doesn’t specify a release date, only stating “coming soon,” fans are speculating. Considering other announced DLCs like Minecraft (October) and SpongeBob (November) are on a monthly schedule, a January release for Mega Man, ahead of TMNT and Avatar Legends, seems plausible.
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is set to ignite an old-school rivalry as it directly competes with Nintendo Switch 2’s exclusive kart racer, Mario Kart World. Nintendo has historically kept its guest characters within its own franchises, making Sega’s diverse crossover approach a bold move. Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds will be available on both the original Switch and the upcoming Switch 2, bringing the classic Sonic vs. Mario battle to a new generation.
Sega recently fueled this rivalry with a fiery trailer for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, openly mocking Mario Kart World’s open-world design. It was also confirmed that the physical Nintendo Switch version of the game will include the “full base game” on a generous 64GB cartridge.
Adding to the leaks, Sonic Stadium reported that NiGHTS, from Sonic Team’s 1996 Sega Saturn classic Nights into Dreams, might also be a character in the game, based on an image found on the back of the Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds game box.
Our own review of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds awarded it an impressive 9/10, praising it as ‘Amazing.’ We highlighted its fantastic roster, excellent courses, and extensive customization options, affirming that the game ‘fires on all cylinders.’