For the first time in two decades, IndyCar will have its own console game from late 2026 when iRacing will release a new official title backed by the series.
iRacing adds IndyCar to its portfolio which also includes NASCAR 25 and the World of Outlaws games, bringing three of North America’s biggest racing championships under one roof in gaming terms.
As part of the deal, iRacing Studios will release an IndyCar title for PlayStation, Xbox and Steam.
A long-running saga
IndyCar was supposed to get a new game for 2023 made by Motorsport Games - which triggered a controversial split between IndyCar and iRacing - but that title never came to fruition.
IndyCar terminated the licence agreement with Motorsport Games in late 2023. Today’s news means a reprieve for the fans desperate to see IndyCar return to consoles.
The iRacing link
IndyCar has a long history with iRacing. The latter’s predecessor, Papyrus Racing Games, developed a host of now cult racing games, produced Indianapolis 500: The Simulation, IndyCar Racing and IndyCar Racing II in 1989, 1993 and 1995 respectively.
During the COVID pandemic in 2020, the real-world IndyCar drivers swapped to iRacing for online substitute series the IndyCar iRacing Challenge (pictured above) - more on that in a moment.
The game is the latest step in the partnership, and also comes with an extended licensing agreement deal for iRacing’s general racing platform.
IndyCar's past games
IndyCar, its cars and tracks have appeared sporadically in games through the years but has boasted few of its own titles.
Aside those aforementioned, Newman/Haas Racing was released in 1998 and is much loved by some retro gaming fans. Indy Racing 2000 featured on Nintendo 64, and the IndyCar Series 2003 and 2005 games were released on Xbox and Playstation 2.
What do we know about the game?
This is just an initial announcement so there’s not a whole lot of detail about what the game will look like.
It will have a “robust, multi-level career mode”, licensed drivers from IndyCar and its feeder series Indy NXT, and have an online multiplayer element.
It will be “built from the ground up, with a dedicated development team creating the game on iRacing Studios’ proprietary and enhanced Orontes engine”.
McLaughlin's involved
Team Penske driver Scott McLaughlin has agreed to be part of the development process for the game.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of the development process for iRacing Studios’ new IndyCar title,” McLaughlin said.
“It’s an honour to work with a team that has developed such amazing products to help deliver IndyCar’s first dedicated title in quite some time.
“It’s already an exciting time to be an IndyCar fan for so many reasons, and this game will take the fans’ at-home driving experience to the next level!”
IndyCar says “real-world IndyCar teams and drivers” will be “deeply involved in the creation of the title”.
What have iRacing and IndyCar said?
“IndyCar fans have long been clamouring for a standalone title for consoles, and we’re excited to give them what they’re looking for in 2026,” said Tony Gardner, president, iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations.
“iRacing Studios’ standalone IndyCar title will offer all the excitement of the NTT IndyCar Series and an immersive experience that fans of all ages can enjoy. We are already very excited about how the game is coming together.”
IndyCar president Doug Boles called iRacing Studios “the ideal partner for us, trusted and known to our core fans and ready to share our sport with a wider and highly engaged audience”.
When IndyCar stars took to iRacing
While it’s been a long-wait for a console game, IndyCar fans got to see the series’ drivers racing together online in a full series set up to replace the suspended calendar during COVID.
It was a six race championship starting with Watkins Glen on March 28, 2020, and concluding with what became an infamous 175-mile race around the Indianapolis oval.
That finale prompted Lando Norris - guesting for McLaren in the series while Formula 1 was also on hiatus - to feud with Simon Pagenaud after the two clashed on track.
Santino Ferrucci also speared Oliver Askew off in the closing stages and McLaughlin took his first series win before even racing an IndyCar for real.
Now four-time champion Alex Palou competed from his family’s coffee shop near Barcelona, also before he had debuted for Dale Coyne later that year. NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr also joined for a race, taking a podium.
