New Racing Game Anki Overdrive Featuring Physical Track, Cars Coming in September

Anki has announced that Anki Overdrive, its new racing game, will begin shipping on September 20 in the US, Canada, UK, and Germany. Like its predecessor, Anki Drive, this is a racing game with a twist: It features a physical track that has toy cars racing along it.

In addition to returning game modes like the self-explanatory Race and Battle (cars can be equipped with virtual weapons, as in a kart-racing game), Overdrive introduces two new modes. Time Trial has you trying to set the best lap time possible, while King of the Hill tasks players with being in first place for the longest amount of time.

Also new to Overdrive is a modular track. With the pieces included in the starter kit, you're able to build eight different tracks. This number grows further by buying expansion kits; what start out as relatively simple arrangements can turn into something much more elaborate, like what you see below.

Overdrive is played using a mobile device by downloading the Overdrive app. The cars can be (virtually) customized with new weapons and upgrades, and Anki--which is a robotics and AI company, rather than a game developer--claims the AI "allows each car to fully control itself on the track and use diverse strategies to fight to the finish."

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The game promises to offer a much different experience than picking up the latest Forza or Need for Speed later this year, but it comes at a cost. In addition to the iOS or Android device each player needs, the starter kit is priced at $150. This comes with 10 track pieces, two cars, a charging platform, and a tire-cleaner. Unspecified new modes and features will be released for free post-launch, and the game supports tracks and cars from Anki Drive.