iRacing obtains license for NASCAR 'simulation-style console' video games

In big news for video game enthusiasts in the racing community, NASCAR and iRacing announced a new partnership today. iRacing now has the license to exclusively produce “simulation-style console racing” games for NASCAR.

Of course, iRacing has become its own thing in the last decade. With simulation racing taking off among fans, iRacing has shown itself to be a strong entity in the video game world.

NASCAR, iRacing and Motorsport Games Inc. made the announcement early this morning. Right now, iRacing is in the process of developing a NASCAR console game that is expected to come out in 2025.

Together with @iRacing, we're set to deliver a brand-new NASCAR simulation-style console game in 2025 with everything you've been asking for.

Every Driver.

Every Track.

Every Feeling.

Everything. pic.twitter.com/iXxb2bxgLh

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 5, 2023

“When we were approached with the option to acquire the license for the simulation-style NASCAR console game, which was the console game and franchise that we were dreaming about doing, it was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up,” said iRacing President Tony Gardner. “Having the ability to build a NASCAR console game is a privilege we promise to execute with the utmost care. We look forward to working diligently with NASCAR industry stakeholders to deliver a product that provides an amazing experience for the gaming community and NASCAR fans worldwide.”

Gardner added, “With all the NASCAR game experience, console experience, resources and technology assets we already have in place, we are in a fantastic position to hit the ground running building a great NASCAR game franchise on the various platforms.”

This is great news. NASCAR fans have been hoping for a solid game for years. The Motorsport Games era just did now work out. So, a new era. iRacing is a great platform and that should translate to a good console game.

Motorsport Games on iRacing, NASCAR partnership

When Motorsport Games obtained a majority of 704Games and obtained the NASCAR console gaming license, there was promise. It just didn’t work out. While the games at times looked good, performance wasn’t up to standards.

Fans had been upset. Updates didn’t help on NASCAR 21: Ignition. Even when Next Gen cars were added, they didn’t perform well. I had fun at times playing, but there have been better, more enjoyable games.

“The sale of the NASCAR license is the result of a thorough, strategic review of where we believe our company should be headed over the longer-term,” said Motorsport Games CEO Stephen Hood. “In our exploration of the sale, we gave due consideration to those companies we believed could develop a great NASCAR game. Both NASCAR and iRacing have been receptive to our proposed change, working with us to architect a positive transition post-sale and we thank them for their support. We will now concentrate our efforts towards delivering around other IP already in advanced development.”

So, a new NASCAR game in 2025! That sounds far away, but folks, it’s October 2023. It’ll be here before we know it. NASCAR and iRacing have done some great things together already. With the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series, it’s elevated virtual racing to a level never thought of.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a massive proponent of iRacing. I’m sure he’s excited about this. For those that like to play NASCAR Heat 5 and NASCAR Rivals, sorry. Motorsport Games will stop supporting those titles in 2024.

Does this excite you? It feels like the right move at this moment, but we’ll see in 2025.