Sega has released a brand new trailer for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, and it contains some not-so-subtle jabs at racing rival Mario Kart World, as well as Sega's general history of rivalry with Nintendo.
In the trailer (thanks, Automaton Media), we see a TV, on which a heavily pixelated kart racing game is being played. It's pretty obviously Mario Kart World, and the camera quickly pans to a much more sophisticated TV, on which Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds appears.
Quickly, the Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds TV is attached to a sleek, speedy racing car, while the Mario Kart World TV, as seemingly befits its low-tech status, is hitched to a juddering RV. Just in case you needed some extra help, the RV is pictured next to a tortoise.
The ad closes with an invitation to players to "come race on our level", and in the trailer's description, Sega recommends players "leave the open road behind", which seems to me to be a pretty obvious jab at Mario Kart World's open...well, world.
It seems that Sega is poking fun at the old rivalry between itself and Nintendo, which primarily existed throughout the fourth and fifth console generations (and, partially, the sixth, before the Dreamcast sank without a trace and the PS2 ascended into the heavens).
It's the beef that gave rise to the legendary "Genesis does what Nintendon't" slogan, and while there's nothing quite so direct on offer here, it's fun to see Sega back to its old prickly self, even if it is just for a few moments.
You can check out the playful and fun new Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds ad right here. Just don't write any hate mail to Sega about how Nintendo is clearly better (or vice versa) once you're done, OK?
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is due to launch for PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch on September 25th, and a release for Switch 2 is also planned for this year. Stay tuned for more.
