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  1. Games
  2. Platforming Games
  3. Sonic the Hedgehog
  4. Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds

Sega hands physical media a win amid Nintendo's push toward digital with Switch 2 game-key cards — Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is confirmed to have "the full base game on a 64GB cartridge"

News
By Jordan Gerblick published 16 July 2025

No game-key cards here

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Jet The Hawk, Shadow The Hedgehog, Sonic The Hedgehog, Knuckles The Echidna, Eggman, and Tails The Fox race towards us on a variety of vehicles in Sonic Racing CrossWorlds, emerging from ring portals depicting various levels from Sonic history
(Image credit: Sega)
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Sega has confirmed that the physical version of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds on Switch 2 will be a normal old 64GB cartridge like the good old days.

There's been some question as to whether Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds' physical Switch 2 copy would come with one of those lame game-key cards that don't actually have the game data on them, but instead a "key" to download the game onto your system via the internet. Basically, it's akin to buying the physical version of a game, opening the case, and seeing a slip of paper with a key to redeem online. Something of a hybrid of digital and physical media, essentially.

Anyway, game-key cards have been controversial from the day they were revealed, but that hasn't stopped major publishers like Square Enix, Warner Bros. Games, and yes, Sega, from opting for game-key cards instead of traditional physical media. This trend, coupled with seemingly misleading messaging from Sega customer support a few weeks back, has led to a whole lot of speculation that the Switch 2 version of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds will ship on a game-key card.

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Not so! In an FAQ on Sega's website, it's confirmed in no uncertain terms: "The physical version will feature the full base game on a 64GB cartridge."

Sega also confirmed that the digital Switch 2 version is launching in Holiday 2025, while the physical version is due out "early 2026." There will be a standard version for $70 and the Digital Deluxe Edition for $90 that'll come with the season pass, a bunch of DLC, and 72 hours of early access.

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Veteran Sonic producer says Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds team completely removed items from the game if they were too "stressful" or let players "win all the time"

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TOPICS
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Jordan Gerblick
Jordan Gerblick
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After earning an English degree from ASU, I worked as a corporate copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. I got my big break here in 2019 with a freelance news gig, and I was hired on as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer in 2021. That means I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my home office, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.

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