Hands-on with NASCAR 21: Ignition’s 2022 Season Update

For those who still have a copy of NASCAR 21: Ignition, the 2022 Season Update was released on Thursday (6th October) with many pieces of the real-world current NASCAR Cup Series season included.

Available in Race Now, Online Multiplayer and the Paint Booth modes, the 2022 Season Update includes the drivers, paint schemes, teams and even the racetracks included from this year, excluding the Clash at the L.A. Coliseum track, for no additional charge.

The Career Mode, unfortunately, does not get this update. The game opens to the new 2022 Expansion graphic and had 2022 photography littered throughout the menus, but if you choose to continue your career, you won’t be able to race in the new NASCAR NEXT Gen cars.

Tracks that are now in the game due to the patch include Auto Club Speedway, World Wide Technology Raceway and the updated Atlanta Motor Speedway. There is also a refreshed UI which now has tire and fuel gauges.

Some car numbers have multiple drivers included, and some of the non-chartered teams are also in the update. Highlights include all three drivers of the Kaulig Racing No. 16 (AJ Allmendinger, Daniel Hemric and Noah Gragson), all three drivers of the Rick Ware Racing No. 15 (David Ragan, Ryan Preece and Garrett Smithley) and both No. 77 Spire Motorsports drivers (Landon Cassill and Josh Bilicki).

The game also received some quality-of-life updates, but in testing, there still seem to be several bugs in the fundamental baseline code. For example, even though the notes say Fanatec wheel support was added, my particular device (ClubSport Wheel Base V2.5 with inverted pedals) still required the rather bizarre rFactor 2 trick to function correctly, despite there now being a pre-set.

There were also a handful of game-breaking glitches in my short time returning to the title, including disappearing cars, super long caution periods, incorrect standings and the fuel gauge on the new UI didn’t seem to be updating after filling it up, nor did other pitstop options work.

That’s not to mention the graphical glitches, like the fuel man missing the gas hole completely. It’s easy to see why this whole platform will be jettisoned for something all-new for 2023.

Anyway, that’s the Ignition update. I’m looking forward to the NASCAR Heat 5 DLC and the release of NASCAR Rivals, personally.

NASCAR Rivals for the Nintendo Switch releases on 14th October, while the 2022 Season Expansion Update for NASCAR Heat 5 releases on 21st October 2022.

Check out the full Ignition release notes for Thursday’s update below. The update is free to anyone who owns the previous editions of the game on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam and the base price of the game has now dropped to $19.99.

NASCAR 21: IGNITION 2022 SEASON UPDATE RELEASE NOTES

FEATURES

• 2022 NASCAR Cup Series racetracks from both the regular season and playoffs.
• The 2022 lineup of drivers, teams and paint schemes have been directly pulled from the 2022 season, providing players with the most up-to-date version of the sport.
• The Ignition update also sees the addition of all three Next Gen car models from Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota, playable on every NASCAR track.
• Refreshed user interface elements, making navigation of menus and settings more seamless.
• An upgraded HUD has also been developed with all new tire wear and fuel indicators to closely monitor the real-time status of the car’s condition while racing.
• Newly-recorded broadcast introductions from Motor Racing Network’s On-Air Announcer, Alex Hayden, will be featured throughout

WHEEL SUPPORT

• Added Fanatec wheel support

FIXES

• Front end stability improvements
• Multiple idling crashes/hangs in race
• Options menu volume slider inconsistencies
• Fixed AI having head start on certain tracks
• Fixed issue where contingency textures stay upon starting new car
• Fixed issue where car engine audio can go silent
• Fixed situations where cars would not enter pit
• Fixed AI cars slowing down on certain tracks
• Improved handover from AI to player control on race restarts from caution
• Improved Qualification session player starting position
• Fixed road collision gaps on certain tracks

ONLINE MULTIPLAYER TRACK PLAYLISTS

• 2022 Bump & Run: Bristol, Bristol Dirt, Charlotte Roval, COTA, Indianapolis Road, Martinsville, Phoenix, Richmond, Road America, Sonoma, Watkins Glen
  
• 2022 Shake & Bake: Atlanta, Auto Club, Charlotte, Daytona, Darlington, Dover, Homestead, Kansas, Las Vegas, Michigan, Nashville, New Hampshire, Talladega, Texas, WWT Raceway

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