Will NASCAR 25 Be Playable on PC?
What’s Happening? iRacing’s NASCAR 25 is less than a year away from its projected release date, but several questions remain about…
We are officially within a year of the projected release date of NASCAR ’25. This game is the first NASCAR game developed for the current generation of consoles. Some fans may be wondering how much this could affect the cost of the game. Looking at recent trends from the gaming industry, here are some of iRacing’s options for pricing their new game.
What’s Happening? iRacing’s NASCAR 25 is less than a year away from its projected release date, but several questions remain about…
This is the method most gamers are used to when buying games. However, since the release of NASCAR Ignition: 21 in 2022, the price of video games has continued to rise. Nowadays, in the AAA Games pricing model, a standard game costs roughly $70.
For example, NASCAR Heat 5, the last of the modern NASCAR Heat series, was released in 2020 and cost $49.99 for the standard edition. This year, Formula One’s new game, F1 24, cost $69.99 at release.
Beyond the base game, there are typically special editions available in this traditional model. For example, F1 24 also had a Champions Edition, which cost $89.99 at release. However, this number can bump all the way up to almost $100, depending on what exclusive items are featured when buying the next tier.
Past NASCAR games, such as NASCAR 21: Ignition, had special editions. Ignition had the Champions Edition, and NASCAR Heat 5 had the Gold Edition, which was $69.99 at release. Furthermore, several games nowadays also feature a third tier, which can even push into the $150 mark.
iRacing’s most recent console game, World of Outlaws Dirt Racing 24, was available in a Standard Edition for $49.99 and a Gold Edition for $64.99. However, this game was developed for both last-generation and current-generation consoles, meaning its price is less than the typical price of a modern game.
This pricing model, which is used by most games, will likely be used by iRacing for an anticipated game like NASCAR ’25. But if iRacing goes a different route, what are their options?
This method, as controversial as it is, is often used by modern developers to maximize the product’s features. HELLDIVERS 2, a third-person shooter, uses this model.
For the current generations of games, the live service model keeps games relatively cheap. HELLDIVERS 2 costs $39.99 but has constant updates and DLC for users to purchase, bringing in subsequent income for the more affordable base price.
This model could be used in a NASCAR game. iRacing could use it to sell the paint schemes that appear throughout the season, and the lower price would attract more casual fans.
However, many of the games using this model emphasize online play as the key feature. While online might be one of the most used modes in NASCAR ’25, many fans prefer to settle in with career or single-season mode.
What’s Happening? 2024 and 2025 will be an interesting and exciting time for NASCAR video game fans. In this article,…
A very unlikely model for NASCAR ’25 is the free-to-play platform used by games like Fortnite. This platform has proved successful for Battle Royale-style games; however, its use in a racing game would be interesting.
These games are highlighted by a very basic game that compensates for the lack of sales with DLC for everything. It wouldn’t be a model of, say, buying a track for a price similar to that of the name service iRacing rather than a cosmetic benefit.
iRacing could sell every paint scheme, custom car sponsor, or custom driver appearance. While this approach would be interesting for a NASCAR game, fans would more than likely outright reject it.
However, if iRacing follows the traditional AAA model, the game could technically be “free” to play. It could be part of Xbox Game Pass or PS+ Premium. Both of these models charge fans a monthly price to play a massive catalog of games.
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