Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Collaborations Bring Yakuza’s Ichiban Kasuga and Hatsune Miku to Nintendo Switch

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Drives Collaborative Innovation on Nintendo Switch with Yakuza and Hatsune Miku Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, developed by SEGA, stands out as one of the year’s most dynamic racing titles, bolstered by a lineup of unique cross-franchise collaborations.

After launching on Nintendo Switch, the game has impressed both fans and critics—from its inventive tracks to its robust roster featuring not just Sonic but also iconic partners from across the Japanese entertainment industry.

A much-anticipated release for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 is also underway, promising improved performance and new features tailored to the next-generation hardware. One of the most intriguing partnerships in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds comes through the inclusion of Ichiban Kasuga, a beloved protagonist from the Yakuza franchise.

In a recent discussion with Famitsu, creative director Masaru Kobayakawa offered insight into how this collaboration came to fruition.

Kobayakawa explained that the Yakuza development team initially expressed reservations about the crossover, voicing concerns about the tone and audience fit.

“There was some hesitation when we first approached the Yakuza team,” Kobayakawa recounted.

“Because Sonic is globally recognized as a franchise appealing to children, they questioned whether their content was truly suitable.

We assured them that fans would respond positively, and when the collaboration was finally unveiled, the team felt a great sense of relief seeing the enthusiastic fan reaction.” Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is not just about serious street racers—another high-profile guest is Hatsune Miku, marking an inventive partnership with Crypton Future Media.

Kobayakawa shared additional details about working with the Crypton team, highlighting how they provided strong creative input across design and visual motifs.

“From conceptualizing Hatsune Miku’s appearance to selecting the right color palette, Crypton played a pivotal role,” he said.

In addition, the music project pj onsoku was instrumental during the early stages, proposing fast-paced tracks that would align with the franchise’s signature high-energy gameplay.

“By collaborating from the ground up—not just on visuals, but also on music selection—SEGA and Crypton achieved a crossover only possible through shared vision and teamwork.” Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is available now on Nintendo Switch and is set to expand its reach with enhanced features for the anticipated Nintendo Switch 2.

With these collaboration efforts and SEGA’s commitment to innovation, the title is positioned at the intersection of beloved gaming franchises and forward-thinking development.

Stay tuned for more updates on the Switch 2 version and future eShop promotions as Sonic and friends keep the race going strong across Nintendo platforms.

Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Switch Nintendo SEGA Switch 2 Switch Yakuza Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Sonic Hatsune Miku Ichiban Kasuga CrossWorlds Sonic Racing Crypton pj onsoku Famitsu Masaru Kobayakawa