Yes. In February 2024, Insider Gaming reported, based on an interview with iRacing president Tony Gardner, that Monster Games was leading development of iRacing’s NASCAR console project and that the team was using Unreal Engine. That early project became NASCAR 25; the franchise has since moved on to NASCAR 26, which NASCAR and iRacing announced in July 2026.
What the Unreal Engine report said
Insider Gaming’s February 2024 report attributed the development details to an interview with Tony Gardner, iRacing’s president. Gardner said Monster Games was leading the project and that iRacing had expanded the group and loaned engineers to it. He also said the team was using iRacing car models, track models and technology. Insider Gaming’s report described Unreal Engine as the project’s engine, in contrast to Unity in the Motorsport Games-era games it discussed.
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Gardner put Monster Games’ role plainly: “They’re taking the lead on it.” He also described the technology being brought in: “They’re using our car models, our track models, a lot of our tech.” These are interview-based statements reported by Insider Gaming, not an independent audit of the engine, staffing or assets. The engine choice alone does not establish how the game looks, runs, or handles.
How the project became NASCAR 25
iRacing acquired Monster Games
On January 4, 2022, iRacing announced that it had acquired Minnesota-based Monster Games. The studio had worked on NASCAR Heat and Tony Stewart’s Sprint Car Racing. iRacing said the acquisition would broaden its ability to make racing games for console audiences. iRacing’s acquisition announcement establishes the relationship that later placed Monster Games at the center of the console project.
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- Career mode progress through the Feeder series (xtreme dirt, gander trucks and xfinity series) to reach the NASCAR Cup series or jump right in and start at the top
- Improved stats track your progress through the career with more detailed and improved statistics offering far more insight
- Gameplay enhancements improved AI, more player camera options and dnfs
- Brand new testing mode perfect your racing lines and experiment to find the best car setup for each track
- Challenge mode brand new online challenge mode gives you unique race scenarios to complete with a variety of gameplay. Official tracks 34 Officially licensed tracks for you to race on across the various series, including Daytona international Speedway, Indianapolis motor Speedway and talladega Super speed way, plus five fictional dirt tracks.Multiplayer Race online with up to 40 players or enjoy local split screen multiplayer with a friend.eSports support Take part in the EN as car Heat Pro League qualifiers for a chance to race for a real life NASCAR team.Paint booth even more enhancements, including new number fonts and schemes
The NASCAR console license moved to iRacing
On October 5, 2023, NASCAR, iRacing and Motorsport Games announced that NASCAR Team Properties’ exclusive simulation-style console racing game license was transferring from Motorsport Games subsidiary 704Games to iRacing. The announcement expected a new game in 2025; that was a forecast, not a release date that remained current. Tony Gardner called the opportunity “a privilege we promise to execute with the utmost care.” The license-transfer announcement records the change in license holder.
The early project and its later identity
When Insider Gaming reported on the project in February 2024, it was still early in development. The story described driving and career mode as priorities, while noting that further details had not been shared. Those were early design priorities, not a complete or current feature list. NASCAR later identified Monster Games as instrumental in developing NASCAR 25 in its October 2025 retrospective, which connected the team with developers from earlier racing games. NASCAR’s NASCAR 25 retrospective supplies that later context.
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- Career Mode – Join an existing NASCAR Cup Series team or create your own in this revamped Career Mode that allows you to build your legacy and compete for the NASCAR Cup Series title.
- Race Now – Select any driver and compete at any track on the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season schedule, with options on changing the race length, tire and fuel consumption, and more.
- Challenge Mode – Brand-new Challenges in which players attempt to beat or accomplish scenarios inspired by real on-track events.
- Online Multiplayer – Race online with up to 16 players in online lobbies
- Split Screen Multiplayer – Battle head-to-head against your friends in full race weekends with AI or on your own
What NASCAR has announced about NASCAR 26
On July 29, 2026, NASCAR and iRacing Studios announced NASCAR 26 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam, with a September 18, 2026 release date. That date has passed, but the announcement by itself does not confirm that the game launched as scheduled or establish current retailer availability. The release did not identify the game’s engine, so the 2024 Unreal Engine report should not be presented as a new 2026 engine confirmation.
The announcement described these features and series:
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- Brand New in box. The product ships with all relevant accessories
- Four series: NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series.
- Track and race features: Dynamic Track technology, new tracks, burnout celebrations and cross-platform multiplayer.
- Driving and training: an enhanced driving model, updated driver AI and tire and braking models, plus Peak Performance training mode.
- Modes and progression: The Chase as a standalone mode and an improved career mode with facilities and team upgrades.
- Visual updates: listed as part of the announcement, without independent performance or quality findings.
These are advertised features from NASCAR and iRacing Studios’ NASCAR 26 announcement, not hands-on findings. The announcement also gave preorder prices of $59.99 for Standard Edition and $79.99 for Gold Edition. Gold was described as including three days of early access beginning September 15, four monthly paint scheme DLC packs, career reputation points and a career bonus. Those were announcement-era terms and prices; they do not establish current prices, availability, or whether a listing is for a physical disc or digital code.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is this the same as the iRacing subscription simulation?
No. The project discussed in the 2024 report was a standalone NASCAR console game, later identified as NASCAR 25. NASCAR and iRacing announced NASCAR 26 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam as a separate game. Do not confuse that product with iRacing’s PC subscription simulation: the license announcement and the NASCAR 26 platform announcement describe the console game as its own release.
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- Nascar heat 5, the official video game of the world's most popular stockcar racing Series, puts you behind the wheel of these incredible racing machines and challenges you to become the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion.
- Features all the official teams, drivers and cars from the three NASCAR national series as well as the Xtreme dirt Tour, racing on 38 Authentic tracks.
- All official 2020 NASCAR tracks, teams, cars, drivers and schedule from four racing Series - the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR XFINITY series, NASCAR gander rv & outdoors Truck series and fan-favorite, the extreme dirt Tour
- Split screen multiplayer allows you to race against your friends on the same screen
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- NEW GRAPHICS & SOUND - Biggest improvement in graphics and sound in nearly a decade.
- NEW FEATURES - Track Map, Unlockable Paint Schemes, Control Options, Enhanced Career Mode
- DRAFTING - Team up and draft with other drivers. Seize the moment and break from the pack when the time is right!
- COMPETITIVE, SMARTER AI - Multiple racing lines and new controls for skill range, stability, spread, and mechanical failures.
- NASCAR ESPORTS - NASCAR Heat 4 is the only way to qualify for the eNASCAR Heat Pro League where you can race for a real NASCAR race team.
What the report does—and does not—confirm
- Reported in 2024: Monster Games led development, the project used Unreal Engine, and it drew on iRacing car models, track models and technology, according to Gardner as quoted by Insider Gaming.
- Established later: NASCAR identified Monster Games as instrumental in NASCAR 25’s development in its 2025 retrospective.
- Announced in 2026: NASCAR 26’s platforms, feature list, editions and September 18 release date were presented by NASCAR and iRacing Studios.
- Not established by those announcements: whether NASCAR 26 launched on schedule, current stock or pricing, physical-format availability, review scores, sales, player counts, wheel compatibility, or tested frame rate and driving quality.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
