Sonic Racing’s Feud With Mario Kart World Raises Questions for Another Nintendo Franchise

At The Game Awards 2024, Shadow the Hedgehog — not Sonic — appeared on the stage’s screen, hopping in his signature car before driving into what would be known as a Travel Ring to announce Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds. The ambitious kart racer shared a full reveal trailer before Nintendo formally unveiled the Switch 2’s June launch date in a Nintendo Direct also announcing Mario Kart World. While the initial trailer for Mario’s kart racer impressed fans, the $80 price tag did not, and Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds was quick to brag about its debatable better price and value. From here, the stage was set for Sonic and Mario’s rivalry to begin anew.

This has made the press cycle for 2025 rather interesting as Sonic and Sega have only stirred the pot since. Takashi Iizuka, the head of Sonic Team, took time during a presentation at Summer Game Fest to say that unlike “another kart racing game,” Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds would have cross-platform play. There’s even a commercial for CrossWorlds that pulls punches straight from the ’90s, blurring out Mario Kart, outright dissing Mario Kart World‘s Free Roam gimmick. This leaves fans to wonder whether this attitude might cost Sonic his place in Smash.

Sonic’s History in Super Smash Bros. Has Been Rocky From the Very Beginning

Sonic the Hedgehog has been a reoccurring fighter in Smash since Super Smash Bros. Brawl. He’s been in four Smash titles over the years, if one counts Wii U and 3DS as separate entries. The idea of having Sonic in Smash Bros. was desired by many fans as far back as Super Smash Bros. Melee, where Sonic and Tails were rumored to be unlockable characters as part of an April Fools’ Joke published by Electronic Gaming Monthly.

Sakurai has been open about the fact that Sonic was a last-minute addition to Super Smash Bros. Brawl, so getting the Blue Blur in Smash wasn’t exactly easy despite Sega’s open support for Nintendo at that time. After all, Sega’s support for Nintendo has been clear ever since the Dreamcast failed and Sonic’s games became multiplatform. Tensions have been cooling between Nintendo and Sega for a while, resulting in many Nintendo-exclusive Sonic titles in the time since. This likely plays a part as to why Sonic is actually the most reoccurring third-party character out of all of Smash Bros. so far.

The Truth Behind Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds’ Recent Friendly-ish Fire

As fun as it is that Sonic’s showing his famous ‘tude to Mario again, it’s likely only to match Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds‘ theme of competition and rivalry, and it’s truthfully out of respect. Sega has publicly stated that it wants to have the Sonic series surpass Mario someday, with the exact quote being “because we respect Mario, we want to catch up to and surpass him.” Therefore, all this hot air is to simply goat Mario on, and from fan reaction, it seems to be working.

It’s hard to see Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds‘ smack talk leading to any real consequences as CrossWorlds has been planned to come to the Nintendo Switch from the very beginning. Coincidentally, Sonic-racing Switch players have had the roughest time with the game, from difficulties joining and staying in games in the open network test, trouble distributing the demo in the Americas, lack of early access, and a late after-launch Switch 2 edition. Despite these issues and all the disses to Mario Kart World, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds will release on Switch with all the other versions just fine.

Mario and Sonic Fans Should Have Nothing to Worry About

If Sega was kicking up any real bad blood with its marketing, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds wouldn’t be on the Switch at all, which means hurting any relations with The Big N with these comments is highly unlikely. There are years of great collaborations between Sega and Nintendo that go beyond a few snide remarks, and one Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games news cycle had commercials full of those between the mascots themselves already. A few comments for the sake of competition are likely not going to burn a bridge that’s been built for years, so Mario and Sonic fans can likely look forward to settling the score themselves in the next Smash Bros. without any problems.

Released

September 25, 2025

ESRB

Everyone / Mild Fantasy Violence