The battle for console supremacy may have evolved beyond processing power, but Sega is still engaging in some playful competition.
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The year is 2025, and promotional activities for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds are keen to remind gamers that Sega is delivering experiences others aren’t. A recently released commercial showcases what appears to be deliberately pixelated gameplay footage reminiscent of Mario Kart World. The implication? That Nintendo’s iteration of the kart racer genre perhaps doesn’t fully capitalize on the potential of an open-world environment.
“We’re all familiar with that well-regarded kart racing title; no need for a demonstration,” the advertisement begins. “But what if the racing experience could transcend to another dimension?” Subsequently, the commercial highlights key elements within CrossWorlds, encompassing extensive vehicle customization options alongside cross-platform multiplayer functionality.
“Or, perhaps, the desire exists to simply cruise around on the open road?” the narrator quips with a hint of skepticism.
While not the inaugural instance of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds developers referencing Mario Kart World, this instance signifies a more direct acknowledgement of the competitive relationship between the two games. Furthermore, the advert harkens back to a vintage Sega Genesis commercial, touting the console’s “blast processing” capabilities. The original commercial emphasized Sega’s hardware advantage via a speeding race car. It juxtaposed the Super Nintendo to an outdated RV where Super Mario Kart was played via a CRT television tenuously attached to the back.
CrossWorlds launches next week, on September 25th, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. Early access is granted to pre-order customers… except those on Nintendo Switch. How unfortunate!