Despite showing up in numerous titles over the past few years — Gran Turismo 6, Forza Motorsport 6, Project CARS, iRacing — NASCAR has yet to enjoy a dedicated game on current consoles. That will finally change in less than two months, with NASCAR Heat Evolution set to arrive on PS4, XB1, and PC September 13. Check out the trailer above.
Monster Games — the developer behind Viper Racing, NASCAR Heat 2002, NASCAR: Dirt To Daytona — is once again working on America’s most popular motorsport after a 14 year hiatus. The previous game (NASCAR ’15) was largely a reskin of the 2014 edition originally developed by Eutechnyx, and suffered a cool reception from both critics and the public. With the new (old) team now behind the game, hopes are high for a return to form.
The trailer itself is a bit of a mixed bag. On the plus side, a brief glimpse of the tuning menu confirms a four-point tuning approach, a necessity in a NASCAR title. There’s a noticeable fluctuation in frame-rates in the clips, however. Since NHE (as we’re now going to refer to it) is still a work-in-progress title, we’ll have to wait and see if that’s strictly limited to the video.
The game will feature over 40 drivers from the Cup series, as well as a Create-A-Driver mode. 23 tracks from the championship will feature, including a handful of road courses. According to the game’s official Instagram, time of day will also be accurately represented:
As mentioned above, NASCAR Heat Evolution lands on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC platforms on September 13.
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Well I hope it’s got more than three cars…….
The cars do not look that great. You hardly see the whole tire on these cars. In this game they look out of place. the tracks look Ok. I’ll pass. C’mon GTS!!
If we can’t drive our own pit stops it’s already knocked off “most authentic” for me. If we can, I might buy the game just for that.
This is their first NASCAR game in a while. I think I’ll wait a game or two before I purchase anything.
Dirt to Daytona was great. If it’s anything like that, shouldn’t be terrible.
Hmmm…the Chevrolet SSs are labeled as such. Still gonna go with the “GM asked us to scrub it” line, Turn 10?
I remember nascar heat 2002 on ps2…. best game EVERRR when your 14 haha. The AI on that old game was something to behold. I remember them pushin me at talledega to 46.9s and 46.8s and breaking up the pack!! I think i was still playing it in like 2008 or 2009. 2003 thunder was ok too but heat was a real sim game! I mean, not hard core but pretty damn good on ps2 in ancient times…
I do not have high hopes. 2003 was the golden age of the NASCAR video game and it’s all been downhill from there.