After nearly two years of anticipation since its initial announcement, iRacing and NASCAR have officially confirmed that NASCAR 25 will launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on October 14, 2025, with PC via Steam to follow shortly after.
The announcement arrives between two crucial NASCAR Playoff races – Las Vegas and Talladega – positioning the game’s debut perfectly within the sport’s most exciting season stretch. Of the last ten multi-platform NASCAR console games, NASCAR 25’s October 14th release date represents the third-latest launch window for a NASCAR title.
iRacing’s Console Debut
NASCAR 25 marks the first standalone NASCAR console title produced by iRacing, the developers behind the most authentic motorsport racing simulation in the world. This represents a significant shift for the company, which has built its reputation on hardcore PC simulation rather than console accessibility.
The development team brings serious pedigree to the project, including developers who worked on fan-favorite NASCAR games like NASCAR Racing 2003, NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona, and entries from the NASCAR Thunder series. This combination of modern simulation expertise with classic NASCAR gaming DNA could prove to be the winning formula fans have been waiting for.
Comprehensive NASCAR Experience
One of NASCAR 25’s most compelling features is its scope. The game will feature all four premier NASCAR series – the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series, Craftsman Truck Series, and, appearing along NASCAR series in a standalone title for the first time, the ARCA Menards Series.
This inclusion of ARCA represents a significant step forward for NASCAR gaming, providing players with a true developmental pathway that mirrors real-world racing progression. All four series, along with real drivers from each, will feature extensively in NASCAR 25’s Career Mode, where you’ll customize your own driver and vehicles, manage contracts, money, facility, and staff.
The iRacing Advantage
What sets NASCAR 25 apart from previous console offerings is its foundation in iRacing’s proven technology. The game leverages the company’s laser-scanned track data and sophisticated physics modeling, adapted specifically for console controllers rather than traditional racing wheels.
John Schneider, Director of Development and Production at iRacing, emphasized the technical advantages: “We’ve got iRacing laser-scanned assets, we’ve got the iRacing physics experts, you put all of that together and we have the perfect recipe for success”.
This approach represents a careful balancing act – maintaining the simulation fidelity that makes iRacing special while ensuring the game remains accessible to console audiences who may not have dedicated sim racing equipment.
Enhanced Race Day Atmosphere
Beyond pure simulation accuracy, NASCAR 25 aims to capture the complete NASCAR experience. The game promises to replicate the sensory overload of race days, from pre-race ceremonies to engine roars, with real-world audio recordings and spotters like TJ Majors (RFK Racing) and Josh Williams (Trackhouse Racing) bolstering authenticity.
Executive Producer Dale Earnhardt Jr. described the vision: “Feeling the spectacle of the Daytona 500, the pre-race, all the build-up, bringing all of that in and trying to build the anxiety and nerves in the user”.
What’s Next
Following the release date announcement, iRacing confirmed that driver rosters will start coming next week along with the next Developer Diary. You can check that out here. After that, the official cover reveal will come along with more deep dives up through its launch.
With just under three months until launch, NASCAR 25 represents the most ambitious NASCAR console game in years. The combination of iRacing’s simulation expertise, comprehensive series coverage, and focus on authentic race day atmosphere suggests this could be the NASCAR gaming experience fans have been waiting for since the NASCAR Thunder glory days.
The Bottom Line
NASCAR 25 marks the first NASCAR console game since NASCAR 21: Ignition from Motorsport Games and the first console game from iRacing. Given the mixed reception of recent NASCAR titles and iRacing’s stellar reputation in simulation racing, October 14th can’t come soon enough for NASCAR gaming enthusiasts.
The real test will be whether iRacing can successfully bridge the gap between hardcore simulation and console accessibility – a challenge that could define the future of NASCAR gaming.