In the 2025 Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Open Network Test, being out front could feel risky because several items were described as able to hit or target racers at the head of the pack. That “terrifying” reaction comes from a September 1 report by Sonic City, not a survey measuring what all players thought—and it should not be taken as a verdict on the final game’s balance.
Why did first place feel so dangerous?
Sonic City’s September 1, 2025 report described a set of items that could threaten racers near the front. It named weights that could fall on first and second place, King Boom Boo appearing at the front and targeting the leader, and Slicer targeting the car directly ahead. The report also pointed to Monster Truck transformations and boxing-glove items as hazards.
That description explains the feeling: leading did not necessarily mean being safe from the action behind you. But the report is a qualitative account, not an independently tested item guide. It does not establish how often each item appeared, how much damage it caused, or how many players shared the reaction. Read Sonic City’s report.
Which beta was the reaction about?
The discussion concerned SEGA’s Open Network Test, scheduled from August 29 to September 2, 2025, with the event beginning and ending at 13:00 Japan Standard Time. It was offered on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Epic Games. The test included offline Grand Prix and Time Trial content, online World Match during specified windows, and a limited Joker Festival event.
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- 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.
SEGA said the test build was for checking online match operation and identifying defects. It warned that problems—including the game stopping—could occur, and said test data would not carry over to the retail game. Those limits matter: player impressions from this development build do not by themselves describe the launch version or the game’s current balance. SEGA’s Open Network Test announcement has the event details.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Did SEGA change the items after the test?
SEGA’s September 22, 2025 Ver. 1.1.2 patch notes document multiple communication-related fixes based on verification during the Open Network Test, including a reduction in matchmaking communication errors. The notes do not say that SEGA changed item balance in response to complaints about leading, so they are evidence of post-test network fixes—not a confirmed adjustment to the items described in the report. See the Ver. 1.1.2 patch notes.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 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.
Rank #4
- Sonic Racing: Crossworlds /Switch
Rank #3
![Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51BAoZGwNIL._SL160_.jpg)
- 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.
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.
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