Sonic Racing Cross Worlds Preview & Interview. The "Initial D" team is working hard. Customization and player skill blend together for a tense game

 

A new racing game "Sonic Racing Cross World" in which many characters from the "Sonic" series appear and compete for speed on stages full of gimmicks』。 The release date has also been set for September 25, 2025, and the game was exhibited at the "Summer Game Fest 2025" held in Los Angeles, USA, and was a hot topic.

The game has been improved to make it easier to play by utilizing the knowledge gained from the closed network test conducted in February 2025, but this time we will deliver a trial play report in the form of a close-up focus on the "customization function" that is said to be particularly particular about it. An interview with the game's development team that took place on the same day will also be postedable of contents

Custom Practice! The ever-changing operating sensation is fun.

Intuitive operation allows even beginners to immerse themselves in it immediately.

First of all, we decided to play the "Grand Prix" in which we ran four courses and competed for the overall ranking. In this mode, a rival character is set, and conversations with that character occur between races.

This time, when I chose Sonic, the face of the series, Shadow appeared as a rival. We were provoked early in the season, and we were suddenly motivated.

By the way, each character and car in this game has its own "type", with "Speed" for high top speed, "Handling" for small turns, and "Power" for pushing you when you collide with other characters and not dropping the ring...... (Sonic is a speed type).

You can also combine the same type of character and machine to further enhance the characteristics. You can also balance it with a combination of different types. It's a bit confusing, but here I chose a combination of speed × speed in order to enjoy a speedier ride. I immediately participated in the race.

The controls are the same as in general action racing games.

• accelerator
• brake
• drift
• Using Items

If you have played a game of the same genre, you can get used to it immediately even at first sight.

The controls were so simple that even those who had never played the game could understand it after one lap of the course, and the reporter managed to catch up with the leading layer, and even the first time he played the game, he could understand it immediately.

Performance & appearance drastically changed! Extensive customization functions

Next, I decided to challenge the setting, which is the main purpose of this play. There are two arrangement elements in this game, "Machine Customization" and "Gadget Custom", and by doing these, the operability of the machine changes dramatically. While the operability is simple, this one can be carefully kneaded.

In car customization, various parameters (speed, acceleration, handling, power, dash) can be customized by combining various body and tire parts.

Even for the same power type, there are a wide variety of parts, from those with "slightly higher power but average parameters" to those with "peaky performance specialized in power", and it seems that you can immerse yourself just by thinking about these combinations.

I would like to compare them one by one and carefully examine the difference in performance, but this time I chose the power type machine that seems to have the most difference in operability from the speed type I played first. There is no change in the performance itself, but there are plenty of functions to arrange the machine more coolly, such as changing the color and attaching stickers, so I decided to play around with this a little.

In addition to simply changing the color, the same black can be completely changed by changing the texture, such as metallic, solid, matte, gloss, etc. In addition, in addition to being able to specify the color in detail for each part, it is also possible to change the color of the horn and the aura worn by the machine. These custom parts can be purchased with the prize money from the race.

Gadget Custom allows you to set up a variety of kits (gadgets) that will give you special abilities during the race. There are a variety of effects that can be obtained, from simply improving the parameters of the machine, to increasing the number of items that can be stocked, to increasing the appearance rate of certain items, and increasing the damage of offensive items, and it is fun to customize them to suit your own play style.

Although up to six gadgets can be mounted, each has a different size, and the more powerful the gadget, the more frames are required. You can equip 6 gadgets with smaller effects (1 equipment slot) or 2 high-performance gadgets (3 equipment slots)...... So, I'm very confused, but this time I chose the latter combination in order to feel the effect of gadget custom more clearly.

I set the "Item Lots Kit" that allows you to stock up on three items and the "Acceleration Item Probability Increase" to compensate for the weakness of the Power Type, acceleration, and decided to challenge the Grand Prix again.

Challenge the Grand Prix again with a custom machine!

The character is a combination of Sonic (speed type) and the car is a power type, and the race starts. The combination of gadgets worked, and I was able to get more and more acceleration items, so I didn't feel the dullness that I was worried about at all, and I was able to compete with speed-type machines at speed.

Moreover, with the strength of the power type, you can push even if you collide with other characters, so it feels good to move up the rankings while smashing your competitors.

The only drawback of this machine was that the drift performance was very low. Even if you try to drift in a sharp turn, the car body will slip and you will not be able to control the direction of the machine at all. Therefore, when I was overtaken in the corner, I managed to close the gap in the straight line...... It often developed like this.

However, by the end of the first course, you have a rough idea of the car's habits, and you can drift at deep angles in short intervals...... We succeeded in reducing slippage by running method. As a result, I was no longer able to make a difference in cornering, and I was able to enjoy a more heated race.

Through this series of plays, I was able to experience the fun of the highly flexible customization function, but at the same time, in order to make the most of the performance of gadgets and machines, it is necessary to recognize these habits and develop your own driving techniques...... I was also able to realize that.

This time, we only used a limited number of parts, but there will be many more gadgets and cars in the full version, so we can't wait to experiment with combinations, hone our techniques, and compete with players from all over the world.

The competition in which 12 players compete with their own customizations is a masterpiece

Next, we will introduce excerpts from the developer interviews conducted after the trial game and comments on the customization features.

Ryuichi Taki

Producer of Sonic Racing: Cross Worlds

Ken Kobayakawa

Sonic Racing: Cross Worlds Creative Director

Ryuichi Taki (left), Ken Kobayakawa (right)

――As a development team, I think you have managed to balance the game so that even people who are not very good at games can enjoy it while maintaining the competitiveness, but I would like to hear your specific opinions on the game design.

Taki: 

When it comes to basic driving, it's very easy to control. The assist function is also quite excellent. So, even if you have small children or are playing action racing games for the first time, you can turn on the assist and enjoy the race to the fullest.

However, if you make it like that, it will be shallow as a game, won't it? So, where should we bring out the depth? I think these concerns will come up, but this game explores the depth of gameplay by enhancing the customization capabilities of the gadgets.

In other words, depending on the gadget you set, not only the feel of the operation but also the strategy itself will change greatly, so you can find a car model or gadget that suits your play style, and then find your own way to attack the course and compete with other players. By doing so, I think we are able to reconcile the two contradictory elements of "low threshold but deep gameplay...... That's the perception.

Kobayakawa 

Another point is that the high quality of the game as a fighting game is also a point that we would like to appeal to compared to the titles of the same genre that have been released so far.

Gadgets in this game are elements that allow you to control the game system itself by customizing them. This can be felt when playing alone, but when it comes to online matches with up to 12 players, each player brings a customization that condenses the "gameplay experience they have cultivated so far" to compete...... You can enjoy a quaint match. This kind of feeling of play can be said to be an experience unique to this game.

The development team for this game includes a lot of people who have been working on the arcade game "Initial D" and have been making competitive card games on the network for a long time.

In racing games, we have realized "the comfort of being able to turn and move as the player wants to turn" and have pursued the fun of pvp battles. Since it is packed with such know-how, you can enjoy the fun of not only racing but also clashing each person's customized strategy.

――This game features a variety of customization elements such as machines, characters, and gadgets, and is characterized by a high level of strategy. Is it particularly important for players to choose the right combinations beforehand? Also, is it possible for players to make up for the disadvantages of customization by their own judgment and skills?

Taki

: 

In this game, customization features and player skills are closely related. By doing both well, you will be able to enjoy it more deeply.

To a certain extent, it becomes an element after enjoying the race, but as you gain experience, you will be able to see the characteristics of the car model that you think is the best, the way it runs, and the combination of gadgets. "Let's go with this next" will be understood even before you go out on the course.

It would be better to actually drive and drift early on the curves here...... You have to find the best way to run along each course, but when it comes to competition, the strategies of other players are also reflected in it, so it is difficult to run the way you want.

So, during the race, I had to judge the situation on the spot. Whether it works or not, I think the biggest feature of this game is that the player's own skills are honed through the accumulation of such experiences. There is no optimal solution that says, "I've made perfect customization, so I can definitely win with this!", so you can always enjoy exploring new running methods and combinations.

Kobayakawa 

The 

strategy of the customization function is one of the highlights, but this is a game that has a very large impact on the action game, so the basic gameplay is just the same. Gadgets work where you can have a variety of extensibility...... I think it's good for you to recognize that.

Also, in fact, the influence of this game and items is quite large. Prior strategy and player skill, combined with the maneuvering of the 12 race participants and the effects of the items, create an unpredictable battle. Of course, preparation in advance is important, but not only that, but the ability to respond flexibly on the spot is also required, which I think is unique and interesting in this game, and I hope you will enjoy it.

Other works such as "Ryu Ga Gotoku", "Persona 5 The Royal", and "Minecraft" will also participate!

By the way, information on downloadable content for this game has already been announced. Starting with Nine, Rusty, and Dredd from the anime "Sonic Prime" distributed on Netflix, Hatsune Miku and Kasuga Ichiban from the "Ryu ga Gotoku" series, "Persona 5Joker and even Minecraft characters will participate as racers. Cars and courses that take advantage of the world settings of each title will also be added...... So, I'm curious about these follow-up news!

In response to the information on participation from a fairly wide range of titles, Hikaru Katada, an editor at Famitsu .com who was present at the interview, said, "Like 'Sonic & All-Star Racing TRANSFORMED' (released in 2014)I wonder if Ryo Bazuki from Shenmue will also appear!" Hope may be slim.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

• Title: Sonic Racing Cross World
• Manufacturer: SEGA
• Release date: September 25, 2025
• Platform: Switch, PS5, PS4, XSX| S、Xbox One、PC（Steam、Epic）