Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, Sega’s latest mascot racer and a high-profile release for the Nintendo Switch and other platforms, has garnered notable acclaim among critics and players alike.
However, Sega’s recently published financial results highlight that, despite the game’s positive reception and strong ratings—including a Metascore above 80 and an “Overwhelmingly Positive” status on Steam—Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds has underperformed in terms of sales when measured against company expectations. The details emerged in Sega’s Q2 2024 financial report, where company director and senior executive vice president Koichi Fukazawa addressed both the milestones achieved and the gaps remaining for the title.
Fukazawa noted that while worldwide cumulative sales of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds have now surpassed one million units, this figure was below the initial projections for the game’s launch period.
He outlined the company’s renewed goal, stating, “We are targeting an additional one million copies sold within this fiscal year, supported by ongoing downloadable content and sustained engagement initiatives.” With Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds earning positive sentiment across review aggregators and the eShop, Sega attributes some of its lagging performance to a broader slowdown in its gaming division.
The first half of the current fiscal year saw lower-than-expected sales, as noted in Sega’s financial briefing.
This period was also marked by underwhelming results from Rovio’s entertainment segment, a subsidiary of Sega noted for mobile entertainment. In its presentation, Sega identified marquee titles such as Yakuza Kiwami 3 and the new title Dark Ties as major full-game releases for the year.
However, the company acknowledged the competitive and uncertain economic landscape impacting game sales industry-wide—from fluctuating consumer demand to pricing adjustments. To address these challenges and bolster Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds’ long-term prospects, Sega is focusing on a steady rollout of downloadable content and live-service updates designed to retain player interest and encourage new purchases, particularly on key platforms like Nintendo Switch and Steam.
The publisher’s strategy aims for sustained performance, citing the importance of keeping the player community engaged over time to drive additional sales beyond launch windows. As Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds continues to receive support from Sega, the title’s journey highlights the changing dynamics of the global gaming market, where critical success and strong reviews do not always translate immediately into commercial victory.
Sega’s transparent reporting and commitment to ongoing updates underscore its ambition to establish Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds as a long-term success on Nintendo Switch, Steam, and beyond.
However, Sega’s recently published financial results highlight that, despite the game’s positive reception and strong ratings—including a Metascore above 80 and an “Overwhelmingly Positive” status on Steam—Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds has underperformed in terms of sales when measured against company expectations. The details emerged in Sega’s Q2 2024 financial report, where company director and senior executive vice president Koichi Fukazawa addressed both the milestones achieved and the gaps remaining for the title.
Fukazawa noted that while worldwide cumulative sales of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds have now surpassed one million units, this figure was below the initial projections for the game’s launch period.
He outlined the company’s renewed goal, stating, “We are targeting an additional one million copies sold within this fiscal year, supported by ongoing downloadable content and sustained engagement initiatives.” With Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds earning positive sentiment across review aggregators and the eShop, Sega attributes some of its lagging performance to a broader slowdown in its gaming division.
The first half of the current fiscal year saw lower-than-expected sales, as noted in Sega’s financial briefing.
This period was also marked by underwhelming results from Rovio’s entertainment segment, a subsidiary of Sega noted for mobile entertainment. In its presentation, Sega identified marquee titles such as Yakuza Kiwami 3 and the new title Dark Ties as major full-game releases for the year.
However, the company acknowledged the competitive and uncertain economic landscape impacting game sales industry-wide—from fluctuating consumer demand to pricing adjustments. To address these challenges and bolster Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds’ long-term prospects, Sega is focusing on a steady rollout of downloadable content and live-service updates designed to retain player interest and encourage new purchases, particularly on key platforms like Nintendo Switch and Steam.
The publisher’s strategy aims for sustained performance, citing the importance of keeping the player community engaged over time to drive additional sales beyond launch windows. As Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds continues to receive support from Sega, the title’s journey highlights the changing dynamics of the global gaming market, where critical success and strong reviews do not always translate immediately into commercial victory.
Sega’s transparent reporting and commitment to ongoing updates underscore its ambition to establish Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds as a long-term success on Nintendo Switch, Steam, and beyond.
