Arcade racer Screamer showcases anime-inspired characters and cover art

Milestone is best known for its realistic motorcycle games, such as MotoGP and Monster Energy Supercross, as well as the vibrant Hot Wheels Unleashed games. However, next year will see the Italian developer release a reboot of the 1990s arcade racer Screamer.

First announced last December at The Game Awards 2024, Screamer is a story-driven, anime-inspired arcade racer set in a futuristic city. 

While there’s no release date yet, Milestone has unveiled Screamer’s cover art. Created by Japanese animation studio Polygon Pictures, which produced episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the artwork offers a first look at five key characters set to appear in the game’s story, overlooked by a mysterious masked character, who is presumably the antagonist or tournament leader.

Alongside the artwork reveal, a new trailer introduces us to the Green Reapers, one of five teams competing in an illegal street racing tournament in the gritty city of Neo Rey. Each team will have one leader and two members, with the Green Reapers led by Hiroshi Jackson, who has a cybernetic arm and “a past marked by loss and second chances.”

Completing the team lineup are Frederic Barthelemy, a “hothead in a constant search for new thrills,” and Róisín Garrity, a “deadly assassin trained to kill from a young age.” More teams will be showcased in the coming months.

Compared to the anime-inspired characters, the neon-soaked visuals appear stylised but toned down, lacking cel shading. The art direction evokes games like Inertial Drift and Blur. Recent pre-alpha gameplay footage shows that Screamer will emphasise vehicle combat featuring Burnout-style takedowns, power-ups, and drift-heavy handling.  

Screamer is set to release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC in 2026, but an exact release date is yet to be confirmed.