Sonic Team Prioritizes Skill and Fair Play in Racing Design

This piece delves into the fundamental principles guiding the design upcoming racing title from Sonic Team, which aims to emphasize fair competition and skill-based play over unpredictable item effects.

The game’s approach places a strong emphasis on racing mechanics, steering away from relying solely on items to influence the outcome. Many have experienced the frustration of leading a race only to have momentum abruptly shifted by sudden, disruptive elements, a hallmark of classic kart racing that can sometimes feel unfair despite its excitement.

Sega has chosen to build Sonic Racing: Crossworlds with a clear foundation: ensuring that pure racing remains both fair and enjoyable. The development process began by focusing on strong, competitive racing dynamics without the influence of additional game modifiers. The goal was to deliver an experience where consistent performance on the track naturally rewards the best driver.

Once the fundamental mechanics were established, the team incorporated various items through extensive testing. They deliberately removed aspects that created too much stress for players or constantly enabled dramatic comebacks, ensuring that the outcome is more reflective of genuine racing skill rather than chance.