Sega takes aim at Nintendo as Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds trailer references Mario Kart
Photo: Nintendo/SEGA
Sega has reignited its long-running rivalry with Nintendo through the latest trailer for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, which takes direct aim at Mario Kart.
The trailer begins with a retro-style, grainy shot designed to resemble Mario Kart World. A narrator introduces the sequence with: “We all know that kart racing game, it’s great, we don’t need to show it to you, but what if you can blast through and race on a whole other level?”
The scene then shifts to Sonic racing across vibrant circuits, highlighting vehicle customisation and cross-play features, before cutting to footage of a real race car on track.
Another sequence extends the parody further, with a camper van playing Mario Kart World on a TV mounted to the back. Outside, a tortoise slowly crosses the road, before the van sputters out smoke.
Sega’s voiceover adds: “What if you want to roam around in the open road?” The moment concludes with a sports car speeding past, leaving the camper behind.
Fans responded enthusiastically online, with comments noting the bold approach. One viewer wrote: “Sega didn’t come to throw shade, they threw the whole tree,” while another remarked: “So that’s why CrossWorlds wasn’t in the Nintendo Direct.”
The game’s roster also strengthens its competitive stance, with crossover characters such as Hatsune Miku and Persona’s Joker joining the lineup. By incorporating a wide range of icons and emphasising features that differentiate it from its rival, Sega appears keen to establish Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds as more than just another kart racer.
With direct references to Mario Kart and a showcase of new features, the trailer not only promotes Sega’s upcoming release but also signals a revival of the historic console rivalry between the two companies.