The end of 2024 quickly approaches, as does the end of an era. A select group of NASCAR video games will no longer be available for digital purchase.
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Motorsport Games, the company behind the last several NASCAR games, announced that these games and their downloadable content (DLC) would not be available on digital stores after Dec. 31, 2024. The list of video games includes "NASCAR 21: Ignition," the Nintendo Switch exclusive "NASCAR Rivals," and the "NASCAR Heat" series.
The downloadable content for these titles includes numerous paint scheme packs and the Next Gen expansion for "NASCAR Heat 5."
"We sincerely thank our community for the enthusiasm and support you've shown for these games over the years and hope you have enjoyed racing with us," Motorsport Games said in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
According to the announcement from Motorsport Games, all of its NASCAR games will remain playable for those who previously purchased them.
This end of an era takes place after Motorsport Games subsidiary 704Games transferred its NASCAR license to iRacing in October 2023. This allowed iRacing, NASCAR's official simulation partner, to begin development on a new console game.
The expectation is that the iRacing console game will be released in 2025. The company already has a wildly popular PC-only property that NASCAR fans and drivers alike frequently play, but the console release will bring this style of NASCAR racing to a broader audience.
According to a podcast announcement from collaborator Dale Earnhardt Jr., the iRacing console video game will also feature a robust soundtrack built on input from fans and people in the racing industry.
"When we were approached with the option to acquire the license for the simulation-style NASCAR console game, which was the console game and franchise that we were dreaming about doing, it was an opportunity we couldn't pass up," said iRacing President Tony Gardner in a 2023 statement.
"Having the ability to build a NASCAR console game is a privilege we promise to execute with the utmost care. We look forward to working diligently with NASCAR industry stakeholders to deliver a product that provides an amazing experience for the gaming community and NASCAR fans worldwide."
