To get Bayonetta in Sonic Racing CrossWorlds, you’ll need the Year Two update on November 3, 2026 and the new Rival Duel mode. Sega has confirmed that Bayonetta is a free character unlocked through head-to-head matches against CPU rivals.
That makes her different from a paid Season Pass Two character and different from a racer automatically added to your roster. Here is the announced unlock route and the information Sega hasn’t published yet, so you don’t waste time hunting for an imaginary code or shop purchase.
Step 1: Install the November 3 Year Two update
Year Two starts November 3, 2026, adding free Duel Mode, 15 gadgets and an upgraded gadget plate. Bayonetta is part of the same free character rollout. You need the game itself and its update, not Season Pass Two. If the character isn’t visible before November 3, there isn’t a secret workaround: her Year Two content hasn’t launched yet. To get Bayonetta, focus on the Rival Duel reward path Sega has named, not the online Friend Match option.
Step 2: Enter Rival Duel
Rival Duel is the offline, single-opponent option inside the new Duel Mode. You challenge a CPU rival, race head-to-head and collect rewards after wins. Sega says Bayonetta is unlocked through this mode. That is the key instruction for anyone trying to get Bayonetta, rather than heading to the DLC store or searching for a Festival purchase. You won’t get Bayonetta simply by buying Season Pass Two, because the announced character is free content.
Step 3: Win races and check the rewards
Work through the CPU Rival Duel matches and watch which rewards you receive. Rival Duel contains various unlockables, including a special machine for defeating rivals. Sega has not specified how many wins unlock Bayonetta, or precisely which opponent triggers her reward, in the published preview. Until the update is live, a guide claiming an exact three-, ten- or twenty-four-win character requirement would be pretending to know something Sega hasn’t confirmed. Once you get Bayonetta, her Butterfly Witch machine is the obvious matching vehicle to inspect.
Step 4: Select Bayonetta and Butterfly Witch
Once your Rival Duel rewards show Bayonetta unlocked, return to character selection. Butterfly Witch is the dedicated machine shown with the free racer announcement. Select it from your available machines when you’ve received the content. The machine’s final gameplay stats and any extra customisation behaviour are better checked after the update rather than guessed from an image. If you’re trying to get Bayonetta before November 3, the unlock cannot be completed before the update is released.
Is Bayonetta free or paid?
She’s free. Sega describes her as a Year Two free character, separate from the Godzilla, Evangelion, Sanrio, SEGALAND, Midgar and Persona packs in Season Pass Two. Those six premium collaborations cost money; Bayonetta isn’t part of their ownership gate. Don’t buy the pass just because the Bayonetta character hasn’t appeared in your game before the scheduled update.
What if Bayonetta isn’t unlocking?
Start by confirming you’ve installed the November 3 version and you’re actually racing in Rival Duel rather than an ordinary Grand Prix or online Free Match. Look for a reward confirmation after each win and check the roster once the relevant achievement appears. If the mode works but the reward still isn’t available, consult Sega’s release-day notices before resetting save data or buying any DLC. We don’t yet have evidence of a known Bayonetta unlock bug.
How Duel matches differ from normal races
Duel Mode is one-on-one. You can see your opponent’s items, gadgets and race position, which gives every item use more tactical weight than in a crowded twelve-player lobby. The Duel Boost gauge fills naturally and faster with item usage; spending it at the right time can create a decisive speed advantage. These mechanics are relevant while you earn your Rival Duel rewards, rather than just background changes.
What other free racers are coming?
After Bayonetta, Sega has announced Sonic with a McLaren Racing look and Speed-type vehicle later in November, followed by Persona 3’s Aigis and Palladion Dressy machine in early 2027. Their exact unlock requirements aren’t stated in the same level of detail. Bayonetta is the first of those three with a specific November 3 release date.
The get bayonetta information above comes from Sega’s October showcase, so check the difference between announced dates and later release windows before planning around any of these additions.
For get bayonetta, remember that free content and Season Pass Two rewards may release on the same day without sharing an unlock requirement.
When checking get bayonetta in the game, use the actual reward and update screens instead of assuming every preview feature is already available.
Related Guides
Official source: SEGA’s October 10 Season Pass Two roadmap announcement.
Our Year Two roadmap covers the newly announced paid collaborations and the difference between those DLC packs and Bayonetta’s free Rival Duel unlock.
