SEGA has just announced some great news for physical collectors. Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is finally getting a proper physical release on the Nintendo Switch 2, with the full base game packed right on the cartridge.
After months of fans venting about Nintendo’s push for those cheap game-key cards, SEGA’s giving fans what they asked for: a proper, old-school cartridge. Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds’ physical release lands on March 26. Prices are estimated to be $69.99 in the US, £64.99 in the UK, the same as the digital version.
What’s The Game-Key Card Drama?
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People have been annoyed about Nintendo’s game-key cards since the first Switch 2 leaks. They’re flimsy, cheap plastic cards that download the game online instead of holding the base game like classic cartridges. Collectors hate that, if the servers go down, your game’s gone.
The whole idea felt like a half-baked attempt at forcing people to go digital. SEGA didn’t help at first, but has now confirmed on 13th January that the physical release will be a cartridge, not a game-key card. For those who value owning their games physically, this is a big win.
The game itself has been a hit, selling over a million copies in less than a month. Steam reviews rate it “Overwhelmingly Positive”, and this one has definitely made its own fanbase. People love the tight racing and that classic SEGA arcadey vibe from games like OutRun and Initial D. Since launch, SEGA has actively updated the game post-launch with DLC crossovers like Hatsune Miku, Ichiban Kasuga from Yakuza, SpongeBob, and Pac-Man. The roster alone is enough reason to try it out, and the roadmap details that more iconic characters are coming soon.
For collectors, having the full game on a cartridge is actually a huge win. It’s not just another box on a shelf that could disappear anyway if the server goes down. It’s something you can own, lend, trade, and replay years from now. SEGA sticking with a physical cartridge for CrossWorlds makes this Sonic spin-off feel like a long-term keeper for anyone building out their personal, physical Nintendo Switch 2 library.
