Short answer: Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka said the Season Pass became the way to fund additional development and frequent new content for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds. That does not mean players need the pass to play the base game, or that buying it guarantees a particular amount of future support. SEGA sells the base game separately and distinguishes paid pass content from free updates.
Why did Sonic Team introduce a Season Pass?
In an interview with AUTOMATON, Takashi Iizuka said the team wanted people to keep playing for a long time. It believed that frequent new content would help achieve that, but developing additional content costs money that must be recouped.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
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Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Amazon Exclusive Edition - Nintendo Switch | $36.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Standard Edition - Nintendo Switch | $34.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds (Playstation 5) | $34.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds - P4 | $59.95 | Buy on Amazon |
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“So, how do you keep adding content frequently? Development budgets aren’t unlimited, so you need to recoup those costs. From there, the idea of charging for additional content through a Season Pass came about. The current business model essentially grew out of what we initially wanted to achieve,” Iizuka said.
He described the pass as a funding route that emerged from the goal of continued engagement—not as proof that the game was conceived from the start as a conventional games-as-a-service title. Iizuka said the team initially focused more on the fan perspective than on profits, and called the fact that it “could only secure additional development funding through the Season Pass model” a lesson learned. He said he wanted the team to find a better balance going forward.
#1 Best Overall
- READY, SET, WARP! Race across 24 tracks and warp to 15 CrossWorlds with Travel Rings, a unique gameplay mechanic that transports the iconic characters from the Sonic and SEGA universes into new dimensions. Use unpredictability to your advantage as you change the landscape of each race!
- RACE WITH THE BEST! Choose from 23 iconic Sonic characters, the largest roster of any Sonic racing game!
- MAKE IT YOURS: Mix and match between 45 unique original vehicles and 70 different gadgets to trick out your ride, level up your kart, and create the ultimate machine to match your racing style.
- GAIN THE ADVANTAGE WITH POWERFUL ITEMS! Dominate your opponents with 23 different items including returning favorites and all-new items like the Monster Truck!
- MULTIPLE WAYS TO PLAY: Gather with friends and play local split-screen in Grand Prix and the new party mode Race Park, compete against a community of players from around the world with up to 12 players online in World Match, or test your driving skills in Time Trials.
Is the Season Pass necessary to play the game?
No. SEGA’s purchase guide lists the base game separately from the Digital Deluxe Edition, which includes both the base game and the Season Pass. Iizuka’s comments concern how Sonic Team secured funding for additional development; they do not say that an individual player must buy the pass to access the base game.
Nor do they establish that buying a pass guarantees a specific amount of future support. The statement is about the funding model, not a promise of a particular release schedule or number of updates.
Rank #2
- READY, SET, WARP! Race across 24 tracks and warp to 15 CrossWorlds with Travel Rings, a unique gameplay mechanic that transports the iconic characters from the Sonic and SEGA universes into new dimensions. Use unpredictability to your advantage as you change the landscape of each race!
- RACE WITH THE BEST! Choose from 23 iconic Sonic characters, the largest roster of any Sonic racing game!
- MAKE IT YOURS: Mix and match between 45 unique original vehicles and 70 different gadgets to trick out your ride, level up your kart, and create the ultimate machine to match your racing style.
- GAIN THE ADVANTAGE WITH POWERFUL ITEMS! Dominate your opponents with 23 different items including returning favorites and all-new items like the Monster Truck!
- MULTIPLE WAYS TO PLAY: Gather with friends and play local split-screen in Grand Prix and the new party mode Race Park, compete against a community of players from around the world with up to 12 players online in World Match, or test your driving skills in Time Trials.
What is paid, and what has been free?
Post-launch content is not all described as Season Pass content. SEGA’s June 9, 2025 announcement said the game would receive both free updates and paid Season Pass DLC. It named Hatsune Miku, Joker, and Ichiban Kasuga as racers arriving through free updates, and identified the Minecraft pack as the first paid wave.
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SEGA’s June 6, 2026 announcement said Season Pass Two was planned for fall 2026. It named Godzilla and EVANGELION and said four other crossover packs had not yet been revealed in that announcement. That is an announced plan and lineup, not confirmation that the pass or every pack is currently available. Check the relevant platform store for current release status and included content.
Rank #3
- Pre-order Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds and receive the playable character Werehog, the Werehog vehicle "Beast Spike", and the Werehog Decal!
- Race across land, sea, air, space, and time in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds! Warp through Travel Rings into new dimensions where something new awaits around every twist and turn.
- Speed to victory solo or as a team in a variety of offline and online modes and compete against players from around the world. Build the ultimate vehicle to match your racing style, unlock gadgets to gain the upper hand, and unleash power-up items to bring home the win!
- Gain the Advantage with Powerful Items! Dominate your opponents with 23 different items including returning favorites and all-new items like the Monster Truck!
- Make It Yours Mix and match between 45 unique original vehicles and 70 different gadgets to trick out your ride, level up your kart, and create the ultimate machine to match your racing style.
Which edition includes the Season Pass?
SEGA’s purchase guide distinguishes the Digital Deluxe Edition from the physical Standard Edition. The Digital Deluxe Edition includes the base game and Season Pass; the guide does not say that the physical Standard Edition includes the pass.
| Edition or content | What SEGA’s guide says |
|---|---|
| Digital Deluxe Edition | Includes the base game and Season Pass. |
| Physical Standard Edition | Listed separately; the guide does not say it includes the Season Pass. |
| Season Pass | Unlocks crossover characters, courses, and machines as they are released. |
Edition names, storefront listings, and availability can vary by region and platform. Confirm the contents on the store where you plan to buy rather than assuming that a physical copy includes digital add-ons.
Rank #4
- UK PSN account may be required for any online features
What platforms and future versions should buyers check?
SEGA’s launch announcement listed PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Steam, and Epic Games Store. It said a Nintendo Switch 2 version would follow later. SEGA’s purchase guide also noted that a Switch-to-Switch 2 upgrade pass was in the works, with its date not yet announced. Because availability and edition details are region-specific and can change, check SEGA’s current purchase guide and your platform’s local store before purchasing.
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