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The Season Pass is not required to play the base game of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, but Sonic Team’s head says the pass is how the studio secured the money to keep adding content. Takashi Iizuka, speaking in an AUTOMATON interview, said the team could only secure additional development funding through the Season Pass model, and he described that as a lesson learned. Below is what he said, how SEGA’s listings divide the base game from the pass, and what to check before you buy.
What Takashi Iizuka said about the Season Pass
In the AUTOMATON interview, Iizuka explained that the goal behind CrossWorlds was to keep people playing for a long time. The team believed that required frequent new content, and that development costs had to be recouped. He said the pass idea grew out of that need:
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
“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.”
He also reflected on the trade-off. “In the end, the fact that we could only secure additional development funding through the Season Pass model is something we also see as a lesson learned.” He added that the team had planned the game from the fans’ perspective and ended up putting profits second, and that he would like the company to find the right 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.
Was CrossWorlds designed as a games-as-a-service title?
Iizuka said no, at least not from the start. In his words, the game “started from the question of how we could make people keep playing for a long time,” and it was “different from the framework of a conventional GaaS title from its inception.” He said the team began without thinking much about how it would make money from the game. The pass therefore came later, as a response to the need for funding, rather than as the founding business plan.
Is the Season Pass necessary?
The answer depends on what “necessary” means. Iizuka’s statement is about how Sonic Team funds further development. It is not a statement that a player needs the pass to enjoy the game. SEGA’s purchase guide lists the base game separately from the Season Pass, and the physical Standard Edition is described without any mention of the pass.
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.
The available sources support some conclusions and not others:
- Established: the pass was the route Sonic Team used to secure additional development funding, according to Iizuka.
- Established: the pass unlocks crossover characters, courses and machines as they are released.
- Not established: that buying one player’s pass guarantees future support for the game.
- Not established: that the pass is the only business model the game could have used.
- Not established: any sales figure, Season Pass revenue, development cost or player retention number. Iizuka’s interview does not supply one, and this article does not claim that sales slowed.
Editions and what each includes
SEGA’s purchase guide identifies several editions. The table below covers only what the official material states.
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.
| Edition | Base game | Season Pass included | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Deluxe Edition | Included | Included (first Season Pass) | Pass content unlocks as it is released. |
| Physical Standard Edition | Included (physical disc or cartridge, per platform) | Not stated in SEGA’s guide | Listed separately from the Digital Deluxe Edition. Check the box or store listing before purchase. |
If a store listing does not say the pass is included, assume it is not, and check the listing for a separate pass purchase.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Post-launch content so far
SEGA’s June 9, 2025 launch announcement said the game would receive content through both free updates and Season Pass DLC. The distinction matters: not all post-launch content is paid.
Rank #4
- UK PSN account may be required for any online features
Free updates and the first paid wave
The launch announcement named Hatsune Miku, Joker and Ichiban Kasuga as racers coming through free updates. The first paid wave was a Minecraft pack.
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Season Pass Two
SEGA’s June 6, 2026 announcement said Season Pass Two was planned for fall 2026. It named Godzilla and EVANGELION as crossover packs and said four other packs had not yet been revealed. This is a planned timeline and lineup, not confirmation of current availability or final content. Check SEGA’s store pages for the current release status before buying.
Platforms and availability
SEGA’s launch announcement listed PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Steam and the Epic Games Store. It said a Nintendo Switch 2 version would follow later. The purchase guide notes that a Switch-to-Switch 2 upgrade pass was in the works, with no date given.
Store availability and edition details vary by region, so confirm them in your territory’s store before buying.
Quick Recap
Before you buy
- Decide whether you want only the base game, the paid crossover content, or both.
- Open the SEGA purchase guide or your platform store page and confirm the edition contents for your region.
- If you choose a physical copy, verify that the listing does not include the Season Pass unless it says so.
- For Season Pass Two, confirm the release status, included content and store pricing on the day you buy.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
