First NASCAR Game for PS4, Xbox One Announced

The first NASCAR game for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One is on the way. The fully licensed stock car racing game, NASCAR Heat Evolution, launches on September 13, developer Monster Games announced today.

Heat Evolution, the latest entry in the NASCAR Heat series, includes numerous NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers and cars, as well as 23 licensed tracks.

The game, which is also coming to PC, will have new AI and Speed Rating systems that will adjust the gameplay to your skill level. Additionally, there will be quickplay races, as well as deeper offerings such as Career and Chase, the latter of which challenges players to win the Sprint Cup. Additionally, Heat Evolution will include Challenges--for these, players can attempt to beat a real-world NASCAR record, though none were specified.

Monster Games, which is based in Minnesota, also made NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona. In 2013, the developer released Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D for Nintendo 3DS.

"We have been working on NASCAR Heat Evolution for 18 months and are excited about what we have created," Monster Games president Richard Garcia said in a statement. "From day one, our goal has been to deliver a fun, engaging and realistic racing game designed for NASCAR fans."

NASCAR licensing boss Blake Davidson also added a statement on the game.

"The gaming space allows fans to consume our sport on a daily basis, ultimately helping grow and diversify our audience," he said. "Our fans have eagerly anticipated the arrival of a new NASCAR game, and we expect that NASCAR Heat Evolution will be well worth the wait."

Additionally, the first Toyota driver to cross the finish line at this weekend's 2016 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway will be on the cover of Heat Evolution. According to the developer, selecting a cover athlete based on the results of a real race represents "a first in video game history."

Toyota drivers include Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, and Martin Truex Jr.

Heat Evolution is co-developed by Dusenberry Martin Racing, which acquired the NASCAR video game rights in January 2015. Previously, the rights were held by Eutechnyx.

For more on Heat Evolution, you can add @dmrnascarheat on Snapchat to get a look behind-the-scenes of the game's official announcement event.

The last NASCAR game was 2015's NASCAR 15, though it was more of an update than a new game, and sells for only $20.

In other news about NASCAR video games, Microsoft just this week launched a NASCAR-themed expansion for Xbox One racing game Forza 6.