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The Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Open Network Test has ended. It ran from August 29 to September 2, 2025, with times varying by region. Players could join for free on PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Epic Games, but the test is no longer available to download or play.
When was the Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Open Network Test?
SEGA scheduled the test for August 29, 2025 at 12:00 PM through September 2, 2025 at 12:00 PM (UTC+8). The event is over; these times are useful only as a record of its schedule.
| # | 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 |
| Region and time zone | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| United States (PST) | August 28, 2025, 9:00 PM | September 1, 2025, 9:00 PM |
| United Kingdom (UTC) | August 29, 2025, 4:00 AM | September 2, 2025, 4:00 AM |
| Japan (JST) | August 29, 2025, 1:00 PM | September 2, 2025, 1:00 PM |
These regional windows were listed by Nintendo. The schedule was a limited event, not an ongoing demo.
Which platforms had the test?
SEGA announced the test for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Epic Games. The Switch version could also be played on Nintendo Switch 2; there was no separate Switch 2 test version.
#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.
Participation was free and required an internet connection, including for the test’s single-player content. SEGA said a PlayStation Plus or Nintendo Switch Online subscription was not needed just to participate. However, Switch players needed Nintendo Switch Online to use online modes such as World Match and Festival.
What modes and schedules were included?
Players first had to complete a four-race Grand Prix to unlock World Match and the other modes. The test offered two offline modes and two online modes:
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.
- Donpa Grand Prix: offline racing.
- Time Trial: offline time-attack racing.
- World Match: online races, open during two windows in UTC+8: August 29 at noon through August 31 at noon, then September 1 at noon through September 2 at noon.
- Joker Festival: an online event running August 31 at noon through September 1 at noon (UTC+8).
Local split-screen was not supported in the test. Squads of up to four players could race online with friends, but SEGA noted that a match could not consist only of those four squad members. Crossplay let players on different platforms race together.
Could players still download or join the test?
No. The event has ended, so its test download and participation instructions no longer provide a way to access the game. During the event, SEGA gave PlayStation players a workaround for a store search result that showed the Closed Network Test: select the full product banner, choose “Open Network Test” from the menu, then select Download. That was specific to the test period.
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Did test progress or participation rewards carry over?
Test save data and progress did not transfer to the full game. Event items and Festival points also did not carry over. Participants could receive a title and two decals after the full game launched; to claim them, they had to start the full version with the same account and on the same platform used for the test, with internet access.
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.
What should participants have done about freezes or connection problems?
SEGA warned that crashes and other issues could occur because the game was still in development. Its event-period troubleshooting advice was to reboot the game if it froze for more than a minute or stopped responding to controls. For an unstable connection, SEGA suggested restarting the modem, router, or other network device; switching from wireless to wired internet if possible; and checking that the console or PC date and time were accurate. Those steps applied while the test was running.
What can you play instead now?
The full game, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, is separate from the ended free test. SEGA’s Japanese product announcement listed PlayStation 5 and 4, Xbox Series X|S and One, Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch, Steam, and Epic Games Store, with console releases planned for September 25, 2025 and PC for September 26, 2025. Availability can vary by region and platform; check the relevant storefront for current access details.
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Rank #4
- UK PSN account may be required for any online features
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