The release of iRacing’s NASCAR ’25 console game is right around the corner. However, there are still many questions about the game and its release.
What’s Happening? Since late 2023, NASCAR fans have been waiting for the release of iRacing’s upcoming NASCAR console game. In…
NASCAR ’25 will be available on October 14 for XBOX Series X/S and PS5. But there will also be a PC release via Steam on November 11. It is important to note that NASCAR ’25 is NOT going to have a physical release, and will only be sold on the PlayStation, XBOX, and Steam digital stores.
As for the release itself, the game is available in two editions: Standard and Gold. Gold comes with the Season Pass and, if you pre-order the Gold Edition of the game, there is 72-Hour Early Access, while Standard features just the base game.
For more in-depth details on the game’s Standard and Gold Editions, make sure to check out our story linked down below.
What’s Happening? iRacing has officially announced the pricing tiers for its upcoming NASCAR game, NASCAR ’25, alongside a September 18 pre-order…
NASCAR ’25 will feature all three of the main NASCAR National Series, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck, Xfinity, and Cup Series, alongside the ARCA Menards Series, which is making its video game debut.
Each series has enough drivers for full fields, including some repeats from regulars in other series. This adds up to a total of 193 drivers and 93 teams across the four series:
For a detailed look at all four rosters, make sure to check out our track linked below.
What’s Happening? Though it’s been a while since the last NASCAR console game was released, iRacing’s NASCAR ’25 is imminent, and…
For the most part, all the heavy-hitter regulars would expect to see in the game are in the game. Some part-timers, such as Katherine Legge and Connor Zilisch, are absent from the Cup Series roster as of the initial roster announcement, though there is no reason to doubt they could be added at a later date.
(Though interestingly enough, Zilisch is featured in two in-game screenshots, one from RFK Racing this summer, and one posted by Martinsville Speedway on October 2.)
To the disappointment of some fans, legends, a long-time staple of NASCAR games, are not a part of the roster.
However, there are several notable tracks missing from the game’s list of 30 unique tracks.
For the Cup Series, Bowman Gray Stadium and Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez are missing, while AHR and Portland International Raceway are missing from the Xfinity Series list. The Truck Series has no missing tracks, while the ARCA Menards Series is missing seven of its unique 20 tracks on the 2025 schedule.
To fill this void, iRacing made several tracks available for the series that were not part of their 2025 schedule. For more info on the lineup of tracks, make sure to check out our article linked below.
What’s Happening? iRacing dropped the official list of playable race tracks for the four NASCAR Series featured in its upcoming NASCAR…
NASCAR ’25 will feature an in-depth career mode that will see players owning a team and working their way from the ARCA Menards Series to the NASCAR Cup Series
Throughout this career mode, features like deciding on upgrades and virtual currency will factor into how your career turns out. There is little information on the career mode beyond these basic factors, though it is likely that iRacing will release more in the coming days.
Like any good NASCAR game, NASCAR ’25 will feature an online multiplayer mode. In June, iRacing’s Matt Lewis revealed that NASCAR ’25 will have an online mode featuring 36 (Truck Series) to 40 (Cup Series) entry fields and private lobbies.
However, as of now, very little is known about how the online mode will function, including what the interface will look like, how matchmaking for races works, and how private lobbies will operate. There are also still questions about the availability of Cross-Play for users who want to race against friends playing on other platforms.
Much like career mode, it is likely that iRacing will release more information on this as release day approaches.
The paint booth is also another unknown, though, via interviews with those tied to the game, a paint booth similar to one used in past NASCAR games, giving users the ability to use graphics, shapes, and a certain set of sponsors to deck out their car, looks like the likely option.
This is, of course, a departure from iRacing’s loose system used for its main simulation PC game that gives users the chance to upload their own paint schemes, but, is common for NASCAR console games.
We also know that alternating firesuits will be a part of the game thanks to the pre-order bonuses. This hints at the possibility of customization options for players.
Notably, during the official gameplay preview uploaded to YouTube on September 18, iRacing’s Matt Lewis claimed similar videos covering the game were on the way, though these videos are yet to be released.
Via the pre-order details, we know that the game’s DLC packs will include paint schemes, firesuits, and in-game currency/bonuses.
On the day the game was available for pre-order, the first DLC pack, “The NASCAR 25 October Pack” was available for purchase on the XBOX store, and showed off some of the 70 paint schemes that will be in the pack, alongside more than 30 firesuits.
This will likely be what is included as far as items usable in-game, though it’s easy to assume they could add additional drivers in a future DLC.
Notably, the pre-order bonus includes in-game currency, which will likely be a part of DLC packs. These are likely bundled into the DLC packs, meaning players will need to buy the pack to get the currency.
For example, the October Pack features 10,000 reputation points, 10,000 Bonus Dollars, and special VIP Employees. The listing also suggests that these are to be used in the game’s career mode.
To put it simply, the excitement for NASCAR ’25 surrounds the past five years of console gaming in NASCAR, or, at least, the lack thereof.
In 2020, a well-known sim racing company, Motorsport Games, took over the NASCAR license and gave hefty promises for their first in-house game, NASCAR 21: Ignition.
While the game was aesthetically pleasing, perhaps the best in the history of NASCAR console gaming, it was deemed unplayable by many in the community. The game had many bugs and some odd decisions, such as placing players on track in a full-speed lap for practice and qualifying, which often led to wrecks.
After a major update failed to fix the game, and years of not following up on the game’s flop of a debut with another multi-platform NASCAR console game, it was clear Motorsport’s time with the NASCAR license was coming to an end.
In their place, iRacing, known for its top-of-the-line sim racing program and well-trusted in the NASCAR community, purchased the license and began development on what will be the first NASCAR game since 2021.
While iRacing is making major promises for their first NASCAR console game, fans have faith in a company so deeply tied to the sport and its competitive gaming history.
What do you think about this? If you have any questions about NASCAR ’25, make sure to check out the article linked at the top of the page, or feel free to reach out! Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
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