For iRacing players seeking a more casual experience, the long-running racing simulation is getting a surprise arcade spin-off later this year.
First unveiled at Gamescom back in August, iRacing Arcade is the result of a partnership between iRacing and Original Fire Games, the Vancouver-based studio behind the charming isometric racer Circuit Superstars.
Launching on PC later this year, iRacing Arcade mixes Circuit Superstar’s stylised visuals with licensed racing disciplines and circuits. While an exact release date is yet to be announced, Executive Vice President Steve Myers is confident it will be out “by the end of this year.”
iRacing Arcade is “screaming to have split screen”
After the PC release, a console port is planned for early 2026. Myers believes that iRacing Arcade is “screaming to have split screen” on consoles, which influenced the decision to release the console port next year.
“One of the reasons why we’ve kind of delayed it [on consoles] is because we want to get split screen into the console port,” said Myers, speaking to Traxion. “As we were playing it, it became very evident that it’s screaming to have split screen. So that’s going to be the main push for the console version.”
Myers goes on to explain how iRacing is spreading out its game launches as they appeal to different audiences.
“We’re trying to give some breathing space to each one of the products so that we’re not over-marketing to the same group of people, but also allowing products to have the attention they deserve and the effort that has been put into them is properly presented,” he says.
“As a business, we’re lucky that we can pick our own release dates for the most part. And so we don’t have to rush to release [iRacing] Arcade to sit right on top of NASCAR 25.”
iRacing Arcade is “very far along” in development
“It’s very far along”, Myers tells Traxion when asked how iRacing Arcade’s development is progressing. “The last piece we’re working on is the presentation layer. We’re still working on the UI.
“We’re still working through the screens that transition you into the race in the career mode. There’s still a lot of artwork on the front end that needs to be done. So that’s why we haven’t shown too much yet. But the in-game stuff is well advanced.”
In-game, you’ll be driving a mix of fictional and licensed cars lifted from iRacing, including the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup seen in the announcement trailer and the IMSA series. “Getting Porsche involved early was like a huge domino in validating the product to our other partners,” says Myers.
There will even be a Sim City-style management element, where you start in a small racing garage and upgrade your facilities, adding more team cars and upgrades.
Whereas Circuit Superstars is played from an isometric viewpoint, iRacing Arcade adopts a chase camera, echoing Original Fire Games’ follow-up game, Karting Superstars.
“I liked the remote control car camera view in the original Circuit Superstars. And I think there could have been a compelling game built continuing that,” says Myers.
“When I was originally thinking we would go that way, after playing Karting Superstars and some internal discussions, we decided that the chase camera is the way to do it. I’m glad we made that decision because it’s an absolute blast to play.”
In the meantime, a playable PC demo of iRacing Arcade is out today (13th October).
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