NASCAR 21: Ignition | Release and Pre-Order Dates Announced

NASCAR 21 Ignition Release Date 01.jpg
The highly anticipated NASCAR 21: Ignition from Motorsport Games will be available for pre-order from August 12th, with a release date scheduled for October 28th of this year.

Motorsport Games has been building excitement and anticipation around their forthcoming NASCAR title, known as NASCAR 21: Ignition. Motorsport Games’ Twitter account gave us word late Wednesday that the title is due to release in late October of this year, with pre-orders available as of the 12th of August.


The tweet contained a video as well, showing Unreal Engine based replay footage but no in-game racing footage. The video built a tone of high action and dramatic incidents that players could experience in-game this October.

Much of the anticipation in the sim racing community surrounding this title came from the news that rFactor’s physics engine would be utilized by Motorsport Games in the development of the game. This bit of development news was issued in a press release shortly following the acquisition of Studio 397 by Motorsport Games this past spring. This doesn’t mean that identical driving physics will be used in NASCAR 21: Ignition as rFactor 2, but it does set a high ceiling for what could be accomplished in the title.

A visit to the NASCAR 21: Ignition website shows game cases for the Xbox ONE and Playstation 4 consoles alongside cover art for the PC release on Steam. Conspicuously absent from the image are the current gen console cases or any other mention of PS5 or Series X. The cover art is shown for each platform in two versions: the Standard version and the Champions Edition.

Pre-Ordered copies of NASCAR 21: Ignition will get access to the title 2 days earlier than the public release, and those who order the Champions Edition will get the full game plus the Bill Elliot playable character and paint schemes, three DLCs (also available by purchasing the Season Pass), and a Career Booster.

Community forum open​

Visit the NASCAR 21: Ignition forums here

Let us know in the comments below what you expect from this title, and whether you plan to pre-order it.
About author
Mike Smith
I have been obsessed with sim racing and racing games since the 1980's. My first taste of live auto racing was in 1988, and I couldn't get enough ever since. Lead writer for RaceDepartment, and owner of SimRacing604 and its YouTube channel. Favourite sims include Assetto Corsa Competizione, Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2, Automobilista 2, DiRT Rally 2 - On Twitter as @simracing604

Comments

@MustartMatters You might be right, I know next to nothing about NASCAR. But surely they drive there one after another a lot, and having great AI simulation of masterful break of slipstreaming must be a necessity there, even more so than simulating straight of classic Lemans racing.

Dirty air in Nascar is very unique. They get sensitive to crazy effects. But various things works, I know for example bump drafting works.
Yeah, maybe I was a bit harsh to say it was poor, perhaps I should say it's very basic and underdeveloped!

I know for Nascar in rF2 that online is ok, whereas AI has train tracking, and you can follow (and be followed) way way too closely, and the fact they use different physics means it's sometimes hard to find a good balance for fun racing.

Also, because it's so basic, the slipstreaming is so strong you have insane packs, meaning if you lose contact with the pack they will absolutely disappear from you, whilst IRL cars are more spread out at tracks like Texas.

Superspeedways on rF2 in nascar isn't awful, but the AI won't really move out of line and try to create a second lane like they do IRL, so they'll tend to stay single file. You tend to get stuck in line, and if you move out, nobody will join you and try to bump you up, meaning you'll drop to the back. Doing a Denny Hamlin, where you bump draft and then cut in front of someone is nearly impossible!

I say that, but Nascar Heat had the worst physics ever, the driving was just garbage, BUT the AI was actually raceable and would produce half decent races, so maybe using the RF2 physics for the driving is a smart decision, but the trailer isn't filling me with too much hope!
 
I pre-ordered, but I must say I'm a little disappointed with the list of DLCs. Just liveries again. I still wanted historical series (Aerowar, etc.) But let's see how good or bad it will be. Better NH anyway :)
 
Ok, so... UE4 + Rf2 physics on a PS4. Yeah sure, why not? No lack of computing horsepower there. This absolutely will not be a Pcars style hatchet job on the physics.

It's great that so many dev teams are now under the same roof.

The future of sim racing is very bright. Almost blinding.
 
I expect a lot from the new Nascar, hoping for a nice simulation, because except iracing there is nothing good in Nascar for me, so I remain sceptical but let's wait and see and hope for the good!
 
Simple. no way pre-order unless Mike gets a copy early and it blows his mind.
I remain an optimist as it is at least not Project Cars 4 NASCAR edition.
 
After the 2018x stockcars were released, I was hoping for more updates to the Oval/Nascar rules plugin. Since they have at least a couple of dedicated Nascar fans on the team. But the development in that area also has slowed down. dang.
 
Premium
This will be MotorSports games 1st Release title, so as for a future in racing sims , you would think they need to get this 1st one right with as little bugs as possible and a complete package, or they will go out of business very quickly. imo
 
Im trying to stay positive about this. Even though I have strong feelings that I will be let down. Either way they get my money lol.
 

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Shifting method

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