NASCAR 25, the first multi-platform console NASCAR game since 2021, will launch on September 5, 2025, with a Standard Edition priced at $80. A Champions Edition offering early access on September 2 will retail for $100, as iRacing announced recently. The game’s cover features Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, and Chase Elliott, reigniting hopes for a revival of NASCAR gaming.
Developed by iRacing, NASCAR 25 promises revamped race-day immersion, career mode depth, and all four premier series: Cup Series, Xfinity, Craftsman Truck, and ARCA. But with sparse gameplay footage revealed so far, fans remain cautiously optimistic.
NASCAR 25 Release Date and Editions Spark Anticipation
The Standard and Champions Editions include access to all four NASCAR series, with the pricier version granting a three-day head start. Cover stars Blaney, Bell, and Elliott headline the game’s marketing, tapping into their combined fan bases. This marks iRacing’s debut as a standalone NASCAR console developer, leveraging its simulation expertise from titles like NASCAR Racing 2003.
NASCAR 25 drops September 5 for Play Station and Xbox with Standard Edition ($80). Champions Edition ($100) will grant Early access on September 2 for ($100).
Cover athletes revealed: Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, and Chase Elliott! https://t.co/OzicRqGSnp pic.twitter.com/M2hW5hUJzs
— The Daily Downfords (@DailyDownfords) May 1, 2025
iRacing’s Mike DeVault, part of the development team, emphasized reimagining traditional race weekends.
“In NASCAR 25, we really saw the opportunity to do something different with the race day experience,” he said in the latest episode of Developer Diary.
“It’s always been sort of the same flow when you get to the race weekend of practice, qualify, and race. And while we wanted to have those features in there, we wanted to make them all feel very unique and memorable.”
Production Director Matt Lewis added that each track will showcase unique visuals, using “certain areas to build out a scene” rather than generic backdrops.
Early glimpses show drivers interacting with teams in garage areas, though on-track footage remains limited. A 14-second clip of William Byron’s Cup car exiting pit road revealed choppy frame rates but detailed cabin interiors, hinting at Unreal Engine’s potential.
iRacing Doubles Down on Immersion Amid Fan Skepticism
NASCAR 25 aims to replicate the sensory overload of race days, from pre-race ceremonies to engine roars. Real-world audio recordings and spotters like TJ Majors (RFK Racing) and Josh Williams (Trackhouse Racing) bolster authenticity.
“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,” said the game’s Executive Producer, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The career mode lets players manage contracts, staff, and strategy across all four series. Director John Schneider stressed that the game will be from a driver’s perspective during a race weekend. Yet fans question whether depth outweighs aesthetics. Forums buzz about whether improved visuals, like fighter jets flying over Las Vegas Motor Speedway, mask gameplay flaws.
Earnhardt Jr. acknowledged the balancing act. “One of the good challenges, I think, for us trying to build this product is the sensory overload and putting you in the moment right before you get into the car,” he said.
But skepticism lingers. With no full gameplay reveals yet, critics wonder if NASCAR 25 can escape the shadow of 2021’s maligned NASCAR Ignition.
For now, iRacing bets on nostalgia and innovation. The September release will determine whether NASCAR 25 crosses the finish line or stalls in the pits.
Thanks for all that rich information. You are the only source that noted a release date for Nascar 25. You get all my kudos!
Daily Downfords is a parody account like the onion. It says this in their bio line. The covers & release date are false information.
What about the release date Sadik gave on September 5th? This is the most accurate date I’ve witnessed so far. What do you think?