What we learned from an iRacing Arcade hands-on

iRacing Arcade is set to be a friendly, approachable, slice of virtual motorsport. But thanks to its connection to a hardcore, membership-based, sim racing title, it poses several important questions.

We’ve been playing a newer build of the upcoming title, testing all of the cars, most of the tracks, plus some online multiplayer action. And by doing so, hopefully, we can try to answer most queries.

Here’s everything you need to know about this adorable spin-off.

What is iRacing Arcade?

The goal is to provide a slice of circuit driving action in a snackable, accessible, way that’s fun for all ages. Also, I suppose long-term, it provides the beginning of a ladder of progression. This is a friendly starting point, then up to iRacing’s NASCAR 25 and finally onto the full-fat iRacing.

If that pinnacle simulation is Premier League soccer, think of this as junior leagues mixed with semi-pro. Children should enjoy it primarily, but there are some features we’ll cover later aimed at a more mature audience.

It’s best not to think of this as watered-down iRacing. Instead, it feels like a different proposition entirely, but with iRacing’s assistance and licences layered over the top.

That’s because this is being created by the tiny Original Fire Games team, with the assistance of the all-encompassing sim racing platform. This diminutive outfit created 2021’s beloved Circuit Superstars, followed by Karting Superstars in 2023 – that title is still in early access, by the way, and the dev team “intends” to return to it when it can.

Recognisable HUD elements, car handling and adorable visual style all carry across from its prior games, now bolstered with key elements such as licenced content and a career mode, both of which may not have been possible without iRacing’s support.

Does it drive like iRacing?

No, this does not drive like iRacing, and it’s not meant to.

Take the Fiat 500 starter car, for example.

Straight away, this little Fiat is slower than the Porsche that’s available in the public demo and that we recently tested. That’s to be expected, but it also handles differently – this is distinctly front-wheel drive. Momentum is key, as it should be with low-power cars.

Now, while the cars have unique characteristics, there are some shared tendencies of this driving model. Namely, you’re unlikely to ever really oversteer, unless you drop a wheel on the grass. If you arrive too quickly at a turn, the prevailing response is safe, steady, understeer.

There is a driving technique which is distinct to iRacing Arcade – one where you turn in what initially feels a little too early, but you’ll learn to time this, and rarely use the brakes, save for the really quick cars, such as the GTP before tight hairpins.

Mostly, the trick is to work out which corners are flat, with a well-timed turn-in point, and which deserve a very brief lift, as the engine braking effect is strong.

Can you race in a naturally aspirated Formula 1-style car?

Well, yes. Yes, you can. There is the fictional Formula GP and it’s a naturally aspirated Formula 1-style car. The engine sounds like a dental drill mixed with a coyote’s howl. The turn in razor sharp.

It highlights the handling differences between the cars, as this has much stickier tyres and higher downforce. Around Lime Rock Park, for instance, every corner is completely flat apart from the first and even then it’s only a slight dab of brakes.

How does the AI race?

Brutal.

You will be mostly racing against up to 11 rivals. In single-player, there are five difficulty presets, but then I can also tweak the max level beyond those to 120, plus the level of slipstream and rubberband effect.

Skilled drivers may find even the middle setting too forgiving from the off, but underestimate them at your peril. Nudge up the levels and they can be seriously quick, leaving you languishing like Nikita Mazepin in 2021.

And then when you have got up to speed on a particular track – let’s say Imola, which in this miniature form has a really enjoyable flow to it in this ‘Touring Car’ – they can happily barge you out of the way.

Mind you, the racing dynamic is forgiving enough that you can give it back just as much in return. Sometimes it becomes an accurate BTCC representation…

The point being, once you find your preferred difficulty level, your rivals don’t hold back.

Maybe they hit too hard sometimes, it can become a bit of a banger race – the limiting factor there being your damage level, which can affect your performance. There’s a damage meter, and on higher settings, it can diminish rapidly.

Your rivals seem to have insane speed around tight hairpins that we’re not quite able to replicate – the AI isn’t finished yet, with fine-tuning to their behaviour and racing lines in progress as we speak.

Bet it doesn’t have strategy, though!

Oh no, it does. You can tweak all the consumption settings yourself for a single race, and we’re sure this will be a factor in the career mode too.

Take a seven-lap race, for example, around Bahrain. The fuel won’t last until the end of the race, and your tyres provide less grip as you race on. So do you pit on lap three, four or five? All are viable, and your AI rivals don’t all stop at the same time, either.

In the pitlane, you must find my box and line your entry. As soon as you stop, your animated pitcrew got o work; this is like in Circuit Superstars. They will stop filling fuel as soon as I hit the accelerator.

I could see how online, with the right lobby settings, the strategy options will be key to success.

Does it have Knockhill?

Funny you ask that, but iRacing Arcade does feature the home track of Traxion’s John and Ross!

But, we weren’t able to yet it yet or Paul Ricard and Kyalami, as they were absent from the preview build.

The full 14-venue list is:

• Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
• Bahrain International Circuit
• Barber Motorsport Park
• Circuit Paul Ricard
• Imola
• Knockhill
• Kyalami
• Lime Rock Park
• Maple Ridge
• Miami International Autodrome
• MotorLand Aragón
• Sachsenring
• Sugar Hill
• Tsukuba

All, apart from two, are officially licenced, and replicated in small form – take Barber’s trackside spider or Imola’s colourful kerbs.

There’s a crossover here with iRacing, as every real-world track here is also available for the sim, apart from Bahrain and Paul Ricard, which debut here first, before they hit the sim next year and Kayalami – maybe this is a strong hint?

Maple Ridge and Sugar Hill are the fictional locations and nods to Circuit Superstars, as they both appeared in that game, but this time, they have redesigned topography, with steep inclines and declines.

 I bet it doesn’t have a stock car?

Yes, you are correct, no NASCAR here – mind you, wouldn’t that make for some interesting DLC? Circuit Superstars even had an oval, after all…

Speculation aside, it does have eight vehicles. They are:

• Fiat 500
• Formula Junior
• Formula 4
• Formula GP
• Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
• GTP
• LMP2
• Touring Car

You can customise their livery designs too. There are several pre-made paint scheme designs for each. Some feature real-world sponsors, and you can only change the wheel colour for those, and then there will be some where you can change four of the colours to your liking.

Then you can do the same for your race suit and crash helmet, then select a driver post and even a post-race celebration animation.

There are several other small points to address, so here’s our iRacing Arcade Rapid Fire Q&A session:

Will there be split-screen multiplayer?

Not at launch, but it is confirmed for 2026 to tie in with the console release and for PC too.

Can I use a wheel and pedals?

No, and that’s not part of the plan.

Is there online multiplayer?

Yes – there are lobbies.

Is the multiplayer cross-platform?

Yes, using lobby codes, those on PC, PlayStation and Xbox can play together when the console versions release next year.

Are there leaderboards?

Oh yes, see the Time Attack mode.

Can I play on Steam Deck?

Yes, the plan is to be Steam Deck verified.

Is there VR?

No.

Can you change the view?

No, but then isn’t that a bit like asking for a cockpit camera in Mario Kart?

So is it like Mario Kart with power-ups?

Touché. No, it’s not.

Is this a subscription game like iRacing?

No, it’s a one-time purchase, although pricing is not confirmed yet – you are set to receive some bonus items, TBC on what exactly, by logging in with an existing iRacing membership in-game

Does the online multiplayer work?

Yes.

You can join a lobby, provided you have a code, or create a lobby and let your friends know the entry code.

As host, you can tweak the track, car, race length, damage levels, consumption amounts, add in qualifying sessions and have multiple races back-to-back with points tracking. If you only have a couple of people, you can fill the grid with AI-controlled opponents.

This code system also means that the multiplayer will be cross-platform once the PlayStation and Xbox versions are released in Spring 2026.

Is iRacing Arcade any good?

We’ll reserve a critical eye until our scored review later in the year.

Think of this as an explainer overview, sprinkled with some early opinions.

There’s also a crucial element missing presently: the career. We’re told you will be able to buy property, starting in a run-down barn and then hiring drivers, buying cars (we see a sell option right now) and expanding your motorsport empire.

This will be key to iRacing Arcade’s future, and combined with the final version of the AI on-track rivals.