Sonic Racing’s New Ad Takes a Direct Shot at Mario Kart — Pixelated Footage and a ‘Blast Processing’ Throwback
Sega released a new commercial for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds that directly references Nintendo’s kart racer and points to differences in design and features. The ad uses pixelated footage that appears to be from Mario Kart World, calls out the rival by implication, and highlights CrossWorlds’ open-road and customization features ahead of the game’s September release.
What the commercial shows
The spot opens with the line, “We all know that kart racing game, it’s great, we don’t need to show it to you,” and then shows what looks like pixelated footage of Mario Kart World. After that, the announcer asks, “Or, uh, what if you want to roam around on the open road?” which sets up the ad’s main claim: that CrossWorlds uses its open-world elements differently.
Additionally, the commercial recreates the feel of an old Sega Genesis ad and makes a playful nod to the console-era rivalry by referencing Sega’s old “blast processing” claims.
Features CrossWorlds highlights
The ad points to several concrete features of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds. First, it shows vehicle customization options, suggesting players can change or upgrade their cars. Second, it mentions cross-platform multiplayer support, meaning players on different systems can race together. Third, the commercial emphasizes roaming and open-road gameplay as a contrast to how the rival kart game uses its open-world design.
Specific claims and presentation
Beyond features, the ad leans on presentation choices: pixelated footage to imply a comparison, on-screen examples of customization, and a voiceover that frames CrossWorlds as an alternative. The commercial is more explicit about the rivalry than previous marketing for the game.
Release date and pre-order details
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is set to launch on September 25, 2025. The game will be available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
According to the announcement, players who pre-order can access the game early — however, that early access does not apply to the Nintendo Switch version.
