Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds kicks off Year Two on 3 November, and the headline isn't a paid pack. It's a free one-on-one Duel Mode, a new gadget plate and a free Bayonetta, all landing with a major title update, version 2.0.0, Nintendo Life reports.
Sega's own Steam listing for the Year Two Digital Deluxe Edition confirms the date: it says Duel Mode, a Gadget Plate Expansion and other game updates go live on 3 November 2026.
What's in version 2.0.0
According to Nintendo Life, Sonic Global Community Director Aaron Webber outlined the update ahead of its rollout. Here's the short version of what he listed, as Nintendo Life reports it.
- Duel Mode. Race a single opponent using a new Duel Boost mechanic. It comes in four flavours: Rival Duel, a free Duel Match, a best-of-10 Duel Match and Friend Match.
- Gadgets. A new Grand Master Plate adds a seventh super slot for one-slot gadgets, and 15 new gadgets are coming with it.
- World Match. A free match option with no ranking changes, for casual play, plus Rivals that award extra Donpa tickets when you beat them, and a reworked main menu.
- Play Missions. Daily objectives that pay out tickets and medals.
- Festivals. These now run for 10 days.
- Online tweaks. Rings reappear faster, in online mode only, alongside balance changes and bug fixes.
Nintendo Life's preview doesn't spell out which platforms get 2.0.0 on day one.
Bayonetta is free, and she's first
Bayonetta is the first free character of Year Two. VGC reported in October that she arrives on 3 November and is unlocked through the new Rival Duel mode, so Duel Mode is also how you get her. Nintendo Life says a McLaren Racing Sonic follows later this month, with Aigis in early 2027.
The paid side of Year Two
The free update arrives alongside Season Pass Two. Per the Steam listing, the season pass covers six content packs, starting with the Godzilla Pack on 3 November, then the EVANGELION Pack in January 2027, the Virtual Sanrio Puroland Pack in Q2 2027, the SEGALAND Pack and the Midgar Pack (a working title) in Q3 2027, and the Reload Revival Royal Pack in Q4 2027. The listing also includes a SEGA Consoles Pack of three machines dated 3 November.
VGC reported that the Godzilla Pack adds a track where Godzilla attacks Sonic Adventure 2's City Escape, plus vehicles based on Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah. It also reported that Year Two's paid DLC is sold individually or in a US$29.99 season pass, and that Sega permanently cut the Standard Edition from US$70 to US$40 when it announced Year Two.
If you already own the original Digital Deluxe Edition, read the Steam page before you click buy: it advises those owners to purchase only Season Pass Two, because the Year Two Digital Deluxe bundle includes the base game and would count as a duplicate.
Jax's take: The smart bit here is that the best stuff today costs nothing. Duel Mode plus a free Bayonetta gives lapsed players a proper reason to boot it back up, and a ten-day Festival window is friendlier for anyone who can't play every night. Grab the free update first and see if Duel Mode hooks you before you go near the season pass.
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