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No verified evidence shows that Sonic fans hacked their way into the Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Open Network Test before it opened. An August 26, 2025 community post claimed that some players skipped the intro and reached solo play early, but it did not establish an online exploit or a confirmed method. SEGA’s four-day test ran from August 29 to September 2, 2025, and has ended.
What was claimed about early access?
A community post dated August 26, 2025 said some players had skipped the intro and entered solo play before the Open Network Test began. That is an anecdotal claim, not independently confirmed reporting. The post does not explain a verified procedure, show that players reached the online test, or establish how many people did so. It therefore does not support describing the incident as a confirmed hack.
| # | 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 |
There is also no reliable count of players who accessed the game before the test opened. A comparison to another game in the community post is not a verified statistic.
When did SEGA’s Open Network Test run?
SEGA scheduled the Open Network Test for August 29 through September 2, 2025. The official Japanese-region notice gave the window as August 29 at 13:00 to September 2 at 13:00 JST (SEGA’s Japanese-region announcement). SEGA’s Asia-region announcement listed August 29 at 12:00 PM through September 2 at 12:00 PM UTC+8 (SEGA’s Asia-region announcement).
#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.
The test was meant to check online functionality and identify problems. It is over; buying the full game does not reopen the test or grant access to it.
Which platforms and regions could participate?
SEGA listed PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Epic Games for the Japanese-region test. Store access was not universal across console regions. In its Asia announcement, SEGA named Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia for PS5, and Hong Kong and Singapore for Xbox Series X|S; Steam and Epic Games were also listed. Participants were instructed to download the test from a participating platform store and start it after the scheduled opening. The store and region details are in SEGA’s Asia-region notice.
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.
How was the open test different from the earlier closed test?
The Open Network Test was not the same event as SEGA’s invitation-based closed test. The earlier test, announced in February 2025, gave selected applicants early access to online World Match mode so SEGA could test online functionality (SEGA’s closed-test announcement).
| Event | Eligibility | Purpose | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closed Network Test | Selected applicants | Test online functionality, including World Match access | Announced in February 2025 |
| Open Network Test | Participation through eligible platforms, with console-store availability varying by region | Check online functionality and identify problems | August 29–September 2, 2025 |
SEGA’s sources do not establish a separate, official route for playing before the open test’s scheduled start.
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.
How can you play Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds now?
SEGA announced the full game for September 25, 2025. It is separate from the expired test; anyone looking to play now should check the current listing for their platform and region rather than look for the beta. SEGA posted a Ver. 1.4.3 update notice on October 8, 2026, confirming the full game was still receiving updates on that date (SEGA’s update notice).
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- UK PSN account may be required for any online features
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