Motorsport Games Announces Launch Date For A Rebranded Nascar Video Game

Motorsport Video games is totally revamping Nascar video video games with the launch of Nascar 21: Ignition, set to be launched on Oct. 28, with pre-orders accessible as quickly as Aug. 12.

The brand-new Nascar recreation will probably be utterly completely different from the earlier Nascar online game collection, which was a recreation of the early 2000s’ Nascar Warmth. The all-new simulation will probably be powered by Unreal Engine and Studio 397’s rFactor physics engine, giving customers a extra genuine driving expertise, immersive gameplay, dynamic AI and beautiful visuals.

“That is our new basis,” Dmitry Kozko, CEO of Motorsport Video games, mentioned in an unique cellphone interview. “This required an unlimited funding from the start. Earlier than, our earlier basis might construct a two-story home. This one, we’re planning to construct a skyscraper on.”

That is Motorsport Video games’ first Nascar recreation revealed by itself after buying 704 Video games in August 2018. Kozko didn’t say how a lot cash the agency invested in making this recreation, however he mentioned they “spent much more” than up to now with the intention of utilizing the parts as the longer term base of their portfolio.

Because the Nascar season concludes simply days after the sport is revealed — with the season finale at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 7 — Motorsport Video games will supply players a free improve to the Subsequent Gen automotive in 2022. It’ll have a free improve path for All consoles, throughout each present and subsequent gen platforms.

“After we took over 704 Video games, we realized that the product wanted a whole overhaul,” Kozko mentioned. “We began that work already in 2018, and that is the product that’s the fruit of that labor. We’re releasing a recreation that we will proudly say is from scratch. We’re not utilizing the previous parts, and it’s a vital title for us.

“Subsequent yr’s recreation will nonetheless come out with Subsequent Gen automobiles and what it takes to signify that season.”

For customers who need an enhanced expertise, Nascar 21: Ignition can even supply a particular Champions Version, accessible two days earlier than the usual bundle is in the marketplace. This particular version will characteristic Nascar Corridor of Famer Invoice Elliott, who will race alongside his son, 2020 Nascar Cup Collection champion Chase Elliott. It’ll additionally include a season cross that can launch extra paint schemes and three different legendary Nascar drivers.

Apart from the Champions Version, the Motorsport Video games workforce desires Nascar 21 to be really genuine like a Nascar race weekend. There will probably be components much like actual life, resembling groups pushing automobiles out of the storage, going via the pits and extra.

“The basics are utterly completely different,” Kozko mentioned. “We’re utilizing a very completely different engine. We’re pushing the boundaries with how visually interesting the sport is, one thing we weren’t capable of do earlier than. It’s the following degree of realism.

“The second half is how good the sport feels on the observe. We’re simply joyful to take the most effective of the most effective and never be held up by the previous tech we have been uncovered to.”

The brand new Nascar recreation can even characteristic a redesigned paint sales space, enhancing a person’s capacity to create their very own paint scheme.

“We made positive that, although we give a person full vary to finish expression of their paint schemes, we maintain the precise parameters that establish a Nascar scheme from different schemes,” Kozko mentioned. “One of many methods is how a quantity could be manipulated however nonetheless be within the Nascar pointers.”

There can even be a broadcast high quality pre-race construct up and post-race replays. The printed voiceover work is supplied by Nascar’s MRN Radio broadcaster Alex Hayden. 23XI Racing’s Freddie Kraft, who’s Bubba Wallace’s spotter, would be the spotter’s voice within the recreation.

Nascar 21: Ignition can even embrace a curated soundtrack with artists Lynyrd Skynyrd, Think about Dragons, Aerosmith and Luke Combs. Moreover, on-line races will characteristic a full 40-car subject, provided on every console, together with Steam.

The profession mode in Nascar 21 can even differ in comparison with prior Nascar video games, Kozko mentioned. There will probably be a transparent path that forces drivers to construct a status — similar to in actual life Nascar — together with driver-focused development, clear objectives and constructions on the highway to glory.

“Our companions at Motorsports Video games have devoted an unimaginable quantity of expertise and sources in the direction of utterly redeveloping the sport and delivering a product that our followers will probably be excited to play,” Nick Rend, managing director of gaming and esports at Nascar, mentioned. “Nascar 21: Ignition makes use of Epic’s Unreal Engine to convey probably the most sensible Nascar race expertise immediately into the house of our followers, whereas introducing Nascar-style racing to a broad viewers of players.” 

Kozko mentioned that as a result of the sport is popping out so late this yr, the following recreation will probably be launched earlier in 2022. He in contrast this yr’s launch date to the previous with the Nascar Warmth collection, which is normally launched in September moreover Nascar Warmth 5.

“It appears to be the time we’ve probably the most information on how person habits can be, how the Nascar season heats up in the direction of the tip and what that does to demand,” Kozko mentioned. “There have been some logistical issues that went into creating the content material that the Nascar season represents.

“The objective is to get nearer to the start [of the season] as a result of that’s one thing we imagine may gain advantage our followers. We didn’t wish to launch a Nascar Warmth 6 in September and even earlier simply to make folks look ahead to the following one. We wished to get it out quicker, and that meant it took extra time.”

Whereas Kozko mentioned they’ve by no means launched a Nascar recreation earlier than July, he’s curious to see what the information can be like.

Not solely is the Motorsport Video games workforce already engaged on subsequent yr’s Nascar recreation, however they can even proceed engaged on Nascar Warmth Cell, in addition to a Nascar recreation for the Nintendo Change.

In July, Motorsport Games also formed an official partnership with the NTT IndyCar Series to be its official online game developer and writer. Whereas that recreation will not hit cabinets till 2023, it’s a important step as Motorsport expands its portfolio within the motor sports activities realm.

Monster Video games and 704 Video games first mixed efforts in 2015 to recreate the favored Nascar Warmth collection from the early 2000s. Due to Motorsport Video games’ acquisition of 704 Video games, Nascar Warmth grew significantly in reputation.

Nascar labored completely with EA Sports activities from 1997 till 2008, producing a number of video video games. Nonetheless, after the licensing settlement wasn’t renewed and the standard of the video games declined, Nascar wanted a brand new associate. Eutechnyx revealed Nascar video games from 2011 via 2015, however the video games weren’t common amongst followers as a consequence of its lack of sensible racing.

Monster Video games and 704 Video games mixed efforts in 2015 to recreate the favored Nascar Warmth collection from the early 2000s. Due to Motorsport Video games’ acquisition of 704 Video games, Nascar Warmth is rising in reputation.

Motorsport Video games raised roughly $60 million after its IPO in January, promoting roughly three million shares. The agency additionally simply introduced its headquarters is being inbuilt Miami.

Final yr, in the course of the Covid-19 shutdown, Motorsport Video games hosted a worldwide 24 Hours of Le Mans digital race with large named drivers, resembling Juan Pablo Montoya, Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button, Max Papis and extra. Moreover, Motorsport Video games now has a 10-year rolling license settlement with Vehicle Membership de l’Ouest for Le Mans and simply signed an settlement with the British Touring Automobile Championship.