Ichiban Kasuga Joins Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds—Here’s Everything Sega Just Dropped For Free

Ichiban Kasuga, the unforgettable lead from Like a Dragon, is officially in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds. Sega just pushed the free DLC live, and it’s one of the most all-out crossovers the game has seen yet. Don’t wait. If you update the game right now, Kasuga and his new cosmetics are ready to use.

This is more than a quick skin swap. Players get the Dragon Brave vehicle, two Like a Dragon tracks in the jukebox, fresh emotes, new sounds, and a dedicated event. If you’re a fan of Sega’s crossover surprises, this one’s stacked with extras. Here’s exactly what you get, and why this weekend is the best time to jump in.

Everything You Unlock With the Kasuga Update

Once the update lands, you’ll see Ichiban Kasuga as a fully playable character. He’s not alone; his Dragon Brave vehicle channels that signature Yakuza flair, and two Like a Dragon soundtrack bangers have been dropped into the game’s jukebox.

The extras go deeper: special emotes and unique sound effects let you bring a bit of Kamurocho energy to every finish line. If you love tweaking your kart’s cosmetics, this is your jackpot.

Sega isn’t just dropping a character and calling it a day. There’s a full-blown Kasuga-themed Festival Event, and it’s time-limited. You’ve got from 00:01 am UTC/GMT on November 7 until 11:59 pm UTC/GMT on November 10 to rack up rewards by racing online.

Festival Points pile up as you race, and every milestone unlocked gets you exclusive Like a Dragon swag. Rewards include:

• The Dragon’s Heir player title
• New Comeback Kit gadget
• Six custom decals for your vehicles
• A Like a Dragon-themed horn

Once the event wraps, those exclusive items could be gone for good. If you want to show off Kasuga on the track, this is the weekend to do it.

The Sega Crossover Parade: What’s Next for Sonic Racing?

Ichiban Kasuga is the third major free crossover to zoom into Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds. Sega built up to this: Hatsune Miku was in at launch, Joker from Persona followed for October, and now Kasuga is locked in for November. Every month brings a new crossover, and Sega’s been secretive about the next one. All eyes are on the game’s box art, which features Nights, that’s a strong hint for the December drop, but there’s no official word yet.

Beyond the free events, there’s a paid Season Pass in play featuring six crossover packs. The first, a Minecraft-themed pack, is out now, with three blocky new racers, a fresh vehicle, a new track, and extra jukebox songs. That’s just the start. SpongeBob SquarePants is up next this month. After that, you’re getting packs for Pac-Man, Mega Man, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, and Avatar Legends.

Sega isn’t letting up on content. This constant pace of free and paid updates is making CrossWorlds a real contender in the karting space and staking Sega’s claim as the studio for wild, fan-pleasing crossovers. Players have enough to keep them busy for months if Sega stays on this cadence.

Critical reception backs it up. As highlighted by VGC, “CrossWorlds is a brilliant karting game with satisfying handling, a fun portal mechanic and useful customisation options.” The review calls it “a great alternative to Mario Kart’s new open-world focus” and makes it clear: if you’re still chasing old-school, no-nonsense kart action, Sega’s latest is the best of the bunch. The weapons could be punchier, and there are questions about long-term retention, but this free DLC surge is the answer to anyone looking for that classic kart fix.

With Ichiban Kasuga now behind the wheel, the crossover party isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Fans of Sonic, Yakuza, or just great karting games, your weekend plans are set.