DriversRecommendedOutdated drivers can make a good PC feel brokenScan driver issues before chasing fixes manually.Scan NowOctober DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsClean PCRecommendedOne scan can reveal what keeps slowing WindowsLook for cleanup and repair opportunities.Run Scan×
Skip to content
VGSources
Blog

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Multiplayer and Cross-Platform Play Explained

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds has online cross-play across supported platforms. World Match supports up to 12 online players, while local split-screen and wireless play are separate options.
Length4 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Yes. Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds supports online cross-play between supported platforms, so a player on one platform can race online with friends on another. Online play is a separate thing from local play, though. The online mode is called World Match and holds up to 12 players, while split-screen and local wireless play require players to be on the same system or in the same room. The details below cover which platforms are included, what each mode allows, and what you should check before buying.

Which platforms support cross-play

SEGA announced the game on June 9, 2025, naming PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Steam, and Epic Games Store for a September 25, 2025 launch, with Nintendo Switch 2 planned for later. SEGA Support now lists December 4, 2025 as the Switch 2 release date. The table below uses the platform list from SEGA’s October 2025 product-information PDF, which adds Switch 2 to the earlier list.

Platform Release or availability as stated by SEGA Source
PlayStation 5 Named for the September 25, 2025 launch SEGA announcement, June 9, 2025
PlayStation 4 Named for the September 25, 2025 launch SEGA announcement, June 9, 2025
Xbox Series X|S Named for the September 25, 2025 launch SEGA announcement, June 9, 2025
Xbox One Named for the September 25, 2025 launch SEGA announcement, June 9, 2025
Nintendo Switch Named for the September 25, 2025 launch SEGA announcement, June 9, 2025
Nintendo Switch 2 December 4, 2025 SEGA Support overview
PC (Steam and Epic Games Store) Named for the September 25, 2025 launch SEGA announcement, June 9, 2025

Cross-play is tied to these supported platforms. The sources do not provide a complete pairing matrix, so the fact that two platforms appear on this list does not confirm every combination or every region. Check the store page for your platform before you plan a session with a particular group.

What cross-play means in practice

In this game, cross-play refers to online multiplayer. It does not mean that a Switch 2 player and a PlayStation 5 player can share one screen. SEGA announced cross-play across different supported platforms, and the development team later said the barriers between platforms were removed. In the Epic Online Services developer Q&A published March 19, 2026, the team put it this way:

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Amazon Exclusive Edition - Nintendo Switch
  • 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.

“As for crossplay, the barriers between platforms were removed, and we were able to provide an environment where players can play across varying platforms.”

The same Q&A reports that 26% of measured two-player squads included players on different platforms. That figure comes from the developer’s own analytics, and it describes only the two-player squads they measured, not the whole player base.

Online play: World Match

World Match is the named online mode. Nintendo’s Switch product listing says it supports up to 12 online players, and SEGA’s product information states that World Match can only be played online. If you want to race against people who are not in the room with you, this is the mode to look for.

Rank #2
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Standard Edition - Nintendo Switch
  • 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.

Grand Prix and Race Park are the other modes SEGA says can be enjoyed both locally and online. Nintendo describes split-screen play in those modes. Treat the online versions as a separate experience from same-screen play: the sources establish that both exist, but they do not describe online Grand Prix or Race Park as a split-screen arrangement.

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Local play options

Local play is a separate set of options from online cross-play, and each one has its own player count.

  • One system (split-screen): Nintendo lists 1–4 players on one system in Grand Prix and Race Park.
  • Local wireless on Switch: Nintendo lists 2–8 players over local wireless. SEGA’s October 2025 product PDF says Nintendo Switch wireless local play supports up to eight.
  • Switch 2 local play: SEGA Support lists local multiplayer for up to four players. The support page does not spell out every local connection arrangement, so check the Switch 2 instructions if you plan a multi-console setup.
Play type Player count stated Source What it is not
World Match Up to 12 online Nintendo Switch listing; SEGA product information Not a local mode; online only
Grand Prix and Race Park (local) Split-screen on one system, 1–4 players Nintendo Switch listing Not the same as online cross-play
Local wireless (Switch) 2–8 players Nintendo Switch listing; SEGA product PDF Not a cross-platform online session
Local play (Switch 2) Up to 4 players SEGA Support overview Connection details not fully specified

Subscription and online requirements

Nintendo’s US listing says Nintendo Switch Online membership is needed for online play on Nintendo Switch. The sources reviewed for this article do not confirm the subscription or account requirements for PlayStation, Xbox, PC, other territories, or specific editions. Do not assume the Nintendo requirement applies elsewhere. Check the current store or platform support page for your system and region before you buy.

Rank #3
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds (Playstation 5)
  • 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.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What the network tests reported

SEGA says it used Epic Online Services for cross-platform networking and tested from internal and office sessions through to customer network tests. The development team reported these figures in the March 19, 2026 Q&A:

  • Closed Network Test: 43,000 downloads and one million online play sessions.
  • Closed Network Test survey: 95% of questionnaire respondents said the network was stable.
  • Open Network Test: one million downloads and 10 million play sessions within four days.

These are historical, developer-reported numbers from test periods. They are not current player counts, and they do not guarantee how any individual connection will perform. The Closed Network Test figures also came from test conditions that were not the same as the released game.

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Source: Epic Online Services developer Q&A, March 19, 2026.

Rank #4
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds - P4
  • UK PSN account may be required for any online features

Before you buy: a short checklist

  • Confirm your platform is on the supported list above and that you have the version you intend to play.
  • If you are on Switch, check whether a Nintendo Switch Online membership is required for the online modes you want.
  • If you need a local game with friends, decide whether you want one-system split-screen (up to four) or local wireless (two to eight on Switch).
  • If your group is spread across platforms, ask each player to check their own platform’s online requirements, since the sources do not give one universal rule.

What this article does not establish

The available official sources confirm the broad cross-play structure and the mode and player-count listings above. They do not provide a complete current platform-pairing matrix, territory-by-territory matchmaking rules, or a full subscription breakdown. Nothing here measures latency, matchmaking quality, or how many people are playing now.

Sources: Nintendo Switch product listing; SEGA Sammy product-information PDF, October 2025.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 4
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds - P4
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds - P4
UK PSN account may be required for any online features
$59.95

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.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More quests from Patch Notes

  1. 5 Best Pixelmon Server Hosting Providers for 2026, ComparedBlog8min
  2. 3 Best RAGE:MP Server Hosts for GTA V in 2026Blog8min
  3. 6 Best RLCraft Server Hosting Providers in 2026 (Ranked)Blog8min
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.