Sega has announced that the second major free update for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds will arrive on October 22, adding Persona's Joker to the roster along with a limited-time festival. Free updates in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds typically introduce guest characters, bringing crossover racers from other franchises into Sega's kart racing world.
Before the upcoming event's announcement, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds added guest racer Hatsune Miku through a festival. It allowed fans to take part in various team-based modes and complete challenges to unlock themed rewards and collect tickets. Now, fresh from that event, CrossWorlds is set to run its second major festival since launch, this time featuring a popular character from another major Sega franchise, Persona.
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Persona's Joker Is Coming to Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
Fans hoping to see Persona's Joker added to Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds' expanding roster should mark October 22 on their calendars. The following day, October 23, the game will launch Joker's themed festival, giving players a chance to earn limited-time rewards. The festival will run until October 26 and, as with previous events, will temporarily lock players out of World Match.
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Joker Festival Details
- Joker Character Addition Date: Wednesday, October 22
- Joker Festival Start Date: Thursday, October 23 at 8:00 PM ET
- Joker Festival End Date: Sunday, October 26 at 7:59 PM ET
This isn't the first time Joker has appeared in the game. During SonicRacing: CrossWorlds' beta, some players were able to try a test version of the Joker festival, though the character was later removed to be included in the final release. Once Joker arrives in CrossWorlds, the next character from a Sega franchise to join the roster is expected to be Kasuga Ichiban from the Like a Dragon series. The exact release date for Ichiban is unclear, but based on the timing of previous festivals, the wait likely won't be long.
While many fans are excited to see a popular character like Persona's Joker added to the game, others are critical of how Sega is handling festivals. Some argue it's unfair to lock players out of World Match, forcing them to participate in a limited-time event, which can disrupt their main progress. Others feel that Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds events are happening so quickly that players have little time to focus on other aspects of the game. Many also believe that taking over so many weekends just to push festival matches could ultimately do more harm than good.
It remains to be seen whether Sega will take player feedback on festival timing into account or stick to the current schedule. Recently, series producer Takashi Iizuka told Polygon that Sega is open to hearing from Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds fans and encouraged them to suggest ideas for future DLC characters. This indicates the company may be receptive to feedback, though many still feel the developer is overly focused on adding new characters and less concerned with what the fan base actually wants.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
- Released
- September 25, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone / Mild Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Sonic Team
- Publisher(s)
- Sega
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Action
