Nickelodeon Crossover Adds SpongeBob, Avatar to Sonic Racing

Earlier this month, Sega unveiled surprise guest characters for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, including Hatsune Miku, Ichiban Kasuga from Yakuza, Joker from Persona 5, and even Steve, Alex, and a Creeper from Minecraft. But the guest roster doesn't end there. Sega has now announced a Nickelodeon collaboration, bringing SpongeBob SquarePants to the starting grid — and teasing future appearances from Avatar and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is a kart racer celebrating Sega's legacy, packed with the company's iconic characters. High-profile guest stars are further expanding the driver lineup. Players who purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition will receive a Season Pass, which includes the Nickelodeon content, the recently revealed Minecraft characters, vehicles, and tracks, racers from the Netflix series Sonic Prime, and two additional, unannounced collaborations.

The new trailer showcases SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star racing in the Patty Wagon—a vehicle shaped like a Krabby Patty—across the Bikini Bottom track, the primary setting of the SpongeBob SquarePants series.

According to Sega, CrossWorlds will boast an enormous roster of over playable characters when downloadable content is included. Mainstays like Sonic, Dr. Eggman, Knuckles, Shadow, and Tails are all present, but now they can be joined by the likes of SpongeBob SquarePants.

CrossWorlds is poised to challenge the Switch 2 exclusive Mario Kart World, which has so far avoided incorporating guest characters from outside Nintendo's universe. Set for release on both Switch and Switch 2, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds will reignite the classic Mario vs. Sonic rivalry when it launches this September.

IGN recently had a hands-on session with Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds and was impressed. "It has a distinctive, enjoyable vibe," we noted, "and it's an experience I look forward to drifting through."