If you saw the pack fronts that we released yesterday morning, you probably noticed something different about the Xbox 360 pack. That’s right — Banjo-Kazooie are featured exclusively in that version of the game!

What you may not have noticed is that there are even more new characters — your avatars! This is really exciting, because Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing will be the first racing game for Xbox 360 to feature fully playable avatars. Sonic, AiAi, and Ryo are all cool, but sometimes you just want to be yourself. Now, you’ll be able to pass up all your favorite characters on the racetrack as you zoom around! When you play as your avatar, you’ll be in the Avacar, which is a vehicle exclusively for avatar use. You’ll also have an avatar-exclusive All-Star Move to execute if you start slipping behind. And if that wasn’t cool enough, you’ll see your Xbox Live friends in the crowd cheering you on!

To go with this great announcement, we also have a trailer for you.

And here is the full press release.

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BANJO-KAZOOIE & PLAYABLE AVATARS CONFIRMED FOR SONIC & SEGA ALL-STARS RACING

SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON (December 18, 2009) – SEGA® of America, Inc., SEGA® Europe Ltd., and Microsoft today announced an exciting new partnership for Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing™.  For the first time ever in a racing game for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, players will be able to jump in the game as their Avatar and race against the most popular Sonic & SEGA characters.  Exclusive to Xbox 360, gamers will also be able to play as the infamous Banjo and Kazooie who make a welcome return to the console and take to the starting grid in their Bolt Bucket all-terrain vehicle!

Working closely with the Rare Studio to bring the popular characters to life, Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing sees Banjo and Kazooie taking their place alongside classic SEGA characters such as Sonic, AiAi, Amy, Knuckles and Ryo Hazuki.  While mastering the drift system to get the best out of the tracks and picking up  weapons such as Sonic speed boots and homing rockets, Banjo and his faithful sidekick Kazooie will be able to unleash their own unique All-Star move in a bid to cross the finish line in pole position. Players can take advantage of the All-Star move in the addictive 8-player online multiplayer mode as well as the single player and offline co-op modes.

Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing will also be the first racing game for Xbox 360 to feature fully playable Avatars.  Players can watch themselves speeding around the lush green hills of Sonic’s Seaside Hill Zone or rolling around the levels of Super Monkey Ball.   The game will allow Avatars to hop in to the All-Stars Racing “Avacar” and master stunning tracks from the visually rich and varied universes of Sonic and SEGA. When it looks like they are falling behind, gamers can take advantage of the Avatar All-Star move – a move exclusive to the Avacar. Recognizable faces from the Xbox LIVE® online entertainment network Friends List will offer a cheering hand in the crowd.

“We’re very excited to see Banjo and Kazooie back on the screen racing against these great SEGA characters” said Shintaro Kanaoya, Head of Business Strategy and Development at Rare.  “We’re also very proud to see Xbox 360 Avatars, which were conceived of and developed at Rare, incorporated into the game and allowing players to put themselves in the driving seat.  The project has been an excellent collaboration between Rare and SEGA, and we’re looking forward to tearing around the tracks and the game’s retail release!”

Christina DeRosa, GM for Xbox LIVE Business, says “We are excited to be bringing our avatar characters to life in this title as avatar characters are rapidly becoming a huge part of gaming for Xbox 360 owners. We are especially excited to launch this activity as Banjo & Kazooie return on the scene.”

“We are so excited to feature Banjo and Kazooie in the Xbox 360 version of Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing” said Sean Ratcliffe Vice-President of Marketing, SEGA of America.  “Not only are we thrilled to be able to work so closely with Microsoft and Rare, but we recognize that Banjo and Kazooie – like Sonic – are some of the video game industry’s most loved characters. Between them and the Avatars, we are really happy to offer gamers the racing game we know they have been waiting for.”

Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing featuring Banjo Kazooie will be in stores Feb 2010.  For more information please visit www.sega.com/sonicracing or for press assets please visit http://segapr.segaamerica.com/.

About SEGA® Europe Ltd.:
SEGA® Europe Ltd. is the European Distribution arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA® Corporation, and a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. SEGA Europe’s web site is located at www.sega.com.

About SEGA® of America Inc.:
SEGA® of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA® Corporation, a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home.  The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.  SEGA of America’s Web site is located at www.sega.com.

About Xbox 360:
Xbox (http://www.xbox.com) is the video game system from Microsoft that brings people together for the most exhilarating game and entertainment experiences. Xbox delivers an expansive collection of breakthrough games, powerful hardware and the unified Xbox LIVE online service. The tag line, “Jump In,” captures the spirit of Xbox as the social hub of the new digital entertainment lifestyle. Xbox is now available in North America, Asia, Europe and Australia.