Sega has officially confirmed that the second significant free update for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is set to launch on October 22, introducing Persona’s Joker as a new character along with a special limited-time festival. Such free updates typically feature guest characters from various franchises in Sega’s kart racing universe.

Prior to this announcement, the game recently included Hatsune Miku as a guest racer through a festival, which engaged fans with team-based gameplay and challenges for exclusive rewards.

Upcoming Festival Details

• Joker Character Addition Date: October 22, 2025
• Joker Festival Start Date: October 23, 2025, at 8:00 PM ET
• Joker Festival End Date: October 26, 2025, at 7:59 PM ET

This festival is not the first time players encountered Joker; a test version was available during the beta. Following Joker’s introduction, another character, Kasuga Ichiban from the Like a Dragon series, is anticipated to join soon.

While many fans are thrilled with Joker’s addition, there are concerns about Sega’s festival strategy, notably the temporary lock on World Match which some players find disruptive. Sega has expressed a willingness to consider player feedback regarding future events. Recently, series producer Takashi Iizuka highlighted their openness to suggestions for new DLC character additions.