Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds’ Year Two update, version 2.0.0, is now available. The launch brings the Godzilla Pack as the first paid DLC of the year and adds Bayonetta as a free character. Sega’s update also introduces new race modes, Festival changes, rewards and a broad set of gameplay adjustments.
The headline addition is Duel mode, which supports offline and online one-on-one races. Offline Rival Duels pit players against CPU racers and offer rewards, with Bayonetta among the unlocks. Online Duel Matches let players race opponents worldwide, while a two-player Friend Match option is also available. Best-of-10 competitions are listed as coming soon, with Duel Medals available to exchange for rewards.
A new Super Slot adds a seventh Gadget slot, unlocked after racing at least 40 times to earn the Grand Master Plate. The update also adds 15 Gadgets, while Play Missions offer Donpa Tickets and Duel Medals for completing tasks before their deadlines. Those currencies can be spent in a new shop on items including auras, horns, decals, characters, titles and Jukebox tracks. Some previously distributed Festival-reward Gadgets are also available to buy with Donpa Tickets, subject to a Master Plate requirement.
World Match has been expanded with Free Matches that do not affect rank, and matchmaking now pairs players with Rivals of similar skill. Beating those Rivals awards bonus Donpa Tickets. The main menu has also been reorganized to provide separate options for World Match, Legend Competition, Ranked Match and Free Match.
Festivals will now run for 10 days rather than three. Rankings are based on win streaks, with a second-place finish no longer ending a streak. AI Rival teams can appear in matches and award extra Festival Points when defeated. Three crown rewards have also been added: Red Crowns for players on the winning team and top performers on the other teams, a Blue Crown for the winning team’s MVP, and a Gold Crown for players with a streak of at least five wins.
The patch makes extensive balance changes to Gadgets, Machines, items and courses. Rings respawn faster in applicable modes, while Acceleration Type Machines recover from damage more quickly. Ring-focused Gadgets have been rebalanced alongside the new slot, and several previously weaker Gadgets have been improved. Other adjustments affect online collisions, item behavior, CPU racers and course layouts; Frenzy events can now occur on the second lap of a Main Course, except in Time Trial.
The update’s Super Slot requires the Grand Master Plate, while access to some newly available Festival Gadgets requires a Master Plate. Play Missions require an internet connection. On Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, the two-player Duel mode can be played over Local Wireless. The update notes say that further Gadget and Machine adjustments may be made based on usage and win rates.
Sources: Nintendo Life.