A special guest is arriving in Sonic Racing: Crossworlds today, as Super Monkey Ball icon AiAi takes the wheel. He’s joined by his own vehicle, appropriately named the Banana Cruiser. Both are available at no cost to all owners of the game.
As with previous additions, a dedicated event will also be held, with the Super Monkey Ball Festival kicking off in conjunction with AiAi’s arrival later today. This offers a unique opportunity for players to experience the recent driver and enjoy themed content.
The next characters slated to join the game are Tangle and Whisper, who originate from the Sonic universe but have not previously appeared in a video game, instead debuting in IDW’s official comic books. They have become fan favorites and are now making the leap to playable characters.
Further guest appearances are also planned for Sonic Racing: Crossworlds, including Mega Man and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, each bringing new tracks with them.
Sonic Racing: Crossworlds continues to receive post-launch support with a new update arriving on February 12, 2026. The headline addition is the inclusion of Super Monkey Ball’s AiAi as a playable character, along with the Banana Cruiser vehicle. This downloadable content is being offered to all players at no additional cost, according to Sega. The move underscores Sega’s commitment to expanding the game’s roster with popular guest characters.
AiAi’s arrival, initially planned for January, is accompanied by four new Super Monkey Ball-themed songs for the in-game jukebox: “Race,” “Menu Theme,” “Jingle from Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble,” and “Banana Farm.” Players can also unlock special emotes and sounds. Owners of both the Standard and Digital Deluxe editions of the game will automatically receive the update, provided they have installed the latest version.
Looking ahead, Tangle and Whisper from the Sonic comic books are the next free DLC characters confirmed for Sonic Racing: Crossworlds. Beyond those additions, premium DLC packs featuring Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Avatar are also in development, as reported by Push Square. The ongoing stream of content highlights the game’s potential as a platform for cross-franchise collaborations, a growing trend in the kart racing genre.
A gameplay video showcasing AiAi in Sonic Racing: Crossworlds is available on YouTube.
