When iRacing secured the rights to create official NASCAR video games across PC and console in 2023, it felt obvious that it was going to release a new title each year.
After all, that was the original plan by the previous licensees, plus including the year in the name of its first release, NASCAR 25, spoke volumes.
However, it hasn’t been concrete that a ‘NASCAR 26’ was on the way until today, 8th June 2026.
“The next version of NASCAR 25, which, as you can imagine, will be [called] NASCAR 26, is well into development, and I think you will see some news on that in the very near future,” said iRacing’s Vice President Marketing and Communications, Kevin Bobbitt, on the latest episode of the iRacing Downshift podcast.
“We’ll say ‘hashtag soon’ for some news that’s coming, but I can’t say more than that. I’m excited about it, [there’s] some cool stuff that we’re working on.
It follows a social media post by NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee and iRacing Executive Director, Dale Earnhardt Jr., in April that read:
“The soundtrack for the next console NASCAR game is coming together. Got 19 songs currently to get rights to. Feel like we learned a lot from last year to make this group even better. Plus, working on the options to control what you want to hear and what you don’t.”
iRacing has formed an iRacing Studios umbrella, encompassing its spin-off titles, such as an upcoming IndyCar Game, ExoCross, World of Outlaws: Dirt Racing and the dedicated NASCAR games.
NASCAR 25 launched in October of last year for PlayStation and Xbox, with PC (Steam) following in November. It was considered by many as a solid return for the NASCAR gaming series.
What do you think about yearly NASCAR releases? Let us know in the comments below.