I spent quality time learning about NASCAR 25 and one thing is clear — this is going to be the game fans always wanted

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NASCAR video games have been a bit of a rollercoaster for fans like me. We’ve had some great experiences, but lately, things haven’t been as good. The most recent official game has become known by a single nickname among dedicated fans, as I learned recently during a discussion with many of them.

Voldemort. The game that shall not be named.

After a four-year hiatus, NASCAR 25 brings the excitement of top-level stock car racing back to consoles and PC. This game represents a fresh start, leaving past issues behind. It’s a completely new franchise, developed with the help of the experts at iRacing. NASCAR is truly making a comeback!

Starting a new NASCAR franchise from the very best foundations

If you’ve played any of the recent NASCAR Heat games, you probably already know the team behind NASCAR 25! It’s Monster Games, and while they made those earlier games, they’re working with a new publisher this time around.

The studio previously released NASCAR Heat 4, which was generally well-received. After a shift in direction, Monster Games is now developing a new NASCAR title as part of the iRacing Studios team.

In 2022, iRacing bought Monster Games, giving the team developing NASCAR 25 significant support and resources. iRacing is considered the leading sim-racing platform and has a long-standing relationship with NASCAR.

NASCAR 25 represents a fresh start for the series. During a preview, the development team emphasized that it’s not simply a rehash of the iRacing simulator. Instead, it’s a dedicated NASCAR game designed to fully utilize the official license, offering an enjoyable experience for players of any skill level, whether they prefer using a controller or a racing wheel and pedals.

NASCAR 25 is being developed with the expertise of iRacing, and it’s aiming to be more than just a great NASCAR game. It has the potential to be one of the best racing games available right now.

We don’t have many details about what’s coming next, but the focus is on building a strong base for the NASCAR experience we’ve all been hoping for.

iRacing’s expertise will set NASCAR 25 apart

During my time with NASCAR 25, I experienced the full range of racing it has to offer. I drove in three distinct race types – a short track, a high-speed superspeedway, and a road course. Just like in real life, each track demands a completely different car setup, driving style, and overall approach to racing.

NASCAR 25 isn’t a direct replica of the NASCAR experience in iRacing, but it does borrow some of the key features that make iRacing so enjoyable.

NASCAR 25 uses incredibly detailed track data from iRacing, created using laser scanning. This means the Daytona track in the game is as realistic as most people will ever experience.

Just like in iRacing, NASCAR 25 features realistic car setups and physics, thanks to the involvement of actual race engineers who previously worked with NASCAR teams. They’ve brought their expertise to help make the game as authentic as possible.

Beyond the core technology, NASCAR 25 offers a uniquely tailored experience. It features all the advanced tech that iRacing users are familiar with, but everything you see – the cars, tracks, and more – is custom-built by the Monster Games team for this game.

This includes officially licensed cars, tracks, and drivers, and for the first time ever in a NASCAR game, you can also race with the ARCA Menards series.

I’ve only had a chance to try an early version of the game, but it looks promising. The cars and tracks I’ve seen are really well-made. However, it’s still under development, so it’s hard to give a full review just yet.

NASCAR 25 is shaping up to be a hell of a racing game

I could easily spend hours discussing NASCAR 25, even after just a quick look. But I’ll do my best to be concise.

This is shaping up to be one fantastic racing game.

iRacing Studios has created an incredibly detailed and immersive racing experience. Beyond the realistic track data and physics, it’s the small details that truly make the game special.

The game features realistic spotter audio, using actual race calls from TJ Majors and Josh Williams. To avoid repetitive commentary, artificial intelligence was used to create variations of these calls, ensuring a more dynamic and engaging experience.

I noticed the AI opponents are really adjustable, letting you tailor the difficulty to your liking. If you want a truly challenging, realistic race, you can max out the AI settings and really feel the pressure. But if you’re just starting out, or prefer a more relaxed experience, you can easily lower the AI to enjoy a casual drive.

As a researcher on this project, I’ve focused on making the AI drivers behave realistically. For instance, on a high-speed track, the AI will attempt to overtake you if it detects you’re moving faster and going for a better line. However, if it senses another driver is faster, it will stick to its current lane and won’t attempt an overtake.

You can draft alongside other players, and I’m really impressed with how well the drafting mechanic works in this game. It’s got me more hyped for racing than ever before!

The game’s default car settings prioritize smooth corner entry, but you can customize them to fine-tune the car’s handling to your preference. Tire performance is realistic – if you have newer tires than your opponents, you’ll gain a noticeable advantage and be able to overtake them more easily.

Coming October 14 on console

I’ve been really looking forward to NASCAR 25 ever since I first heard it was being released this year. I’m incredibly excited about it, and everything I’ve seen so far has only increased my anticipation.

This game strikes a great balance between the excitement of arcade-style racing and the realism of simulation racing. I’ve only played with a controller so far, and it’s been fantastic!

The game will first release on consoles on October 14th. A PC version is coming shortly after, with the extra development time dedicated to making sure all PC racing accessories work seamlessly with the game. The PC launch on Steam is scheduled for November 11th.

This game is available digitally only – you won’t find any physical copies. If you purchase the gold edition, you’ll be able to start playing three days before the official launch on October 14th. Get ready to race!

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2025-09-24 19:11