iRacing: A Look Ahead to 2025

As iRacing evolves, the overall goal of the platform remains the same: to offer the most realistic and engaging racing experience. However, 2025 marks a year of ambitious expansion.

iRacing aims to consolidate its industry-leading position with the release of Assetto Corsa EVO, whether it’s tackling technical challenges or reaching new audiences, iRacing hopes to stay ahead of the competition.

iRacing’s Expansion into Console Gaming

A Groundbreaking Partnership with NASCAR

In a landmark announcement, iRacing revealed plans to release a NASCAR simulation game for consoles in 2025. This marks a significant departure from its PC-exclusive roots and opens the door to a broader audience.

The new game aims to blend the authenticity of iRacing with the accessibility of traditional console racing titles.

GARDNER SAID, “WITH ALL THE NASCAR GAME EXPERIENCE, CONSOLE EXPERIENCE, RESOURCES AND TECHNOLOGY ASSETS WE ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE, WE ARE IN A FANTASTIC POSITION TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING BUILDING A GREAT NASCAR GAME FRANCHISE ON THE VARIOUS PLATFORMS.”

The team behind iRacing traces its roots to Papyrus Design Studio, creators of the legendary NASCAR Racing 2003 Season. Many fans still consider NR2003 the gold standard of NASCAR games. This heritage adds weight to iRacing’s console ambitions, positioning the 2025 release as a spiritual successor to this beloved classic.

Challenges Facing iRacing in 2025

Series Fragmentation

One of iRacing’s long-standing issues is the fragmentation of its player base across numerous series. With so many racing options available, players often find themselves in sparsely populated lobbies.

This fragmentation undermines the sense of community and diminishes the competitive spirit that iRacing strives to foster.

Standardizing Track Limits

Track limits play a critical role in determining the flow and fairness of a race.

Inconsistent enforcement of these boundaries has been a source of frustration for many players, leading to contentious race results and disputes within the community.

Enhancing the Reporting and Penalty System

Another significant challenge is the perceived inefficacy of the reporting and penalty system. Players often feel that disruptive behavior, such as reckless driving or intentional crashes, goes unpunished.

This lack of accountability erodes trust in the platform’s fairness.

iRacing’s New Graphics Engine

After extensive due diligence, iRacing’s team decided to build a proprietary engine rather than adopt a third-party solution.

This choice allows the team to tailor the engine specifically for high-precision racing simulations, offering the flexibility to push visual boundaries in ways that suit their unique requirements.

MOREOVER, IRACING IS BUILT FOR THE LONG HAUL. WITH PLANS EXTENDING INTO THE 2030S, THE GRAPHICS ENGINE MUST BE NOT ONLY CUTTING-EDGE BUT ALSO SUSTAINABLE, WITH THE FLEXIBILITY TO ADAPT AND EVOLVE ALONGSIDE THE PLATFORM’S GROWTH.

This shift will give iRacing more control over every aspect of the visual experience, creating a platform that can evolve with gaming advancements.

One of the most exciting improvements in the new engine is lighting, an area where iRacing’s current graphics fall short. The new engine introduces a deferred rendering path, a significant upgrade from the previous forward rendering technique.

Deferred rendering enables more complex lighting and shadow calculations without sacrificing performance. Enhanced specular lighting will bring out fine details in car reflections and track surfaces, adding a level of realism that racing fans crave.

New Sim UI will debut in March 2025

While the New Sim UI will feel familiar in terms of layout, it introduces key enhancements designed to streamline the experience. Upon release in March, you can expect a more intuitive interface, with better organization and usability.

The team’s goal is to maintain the core iRacing experience while adding enhancements such as dynamic maps, customizable UI elements, and the ability to open multiple black boxes for better in-sim management.

One of the most exciting features will be the integration of telemetry directly in the sim, allowing drivers to monitor performance in real-time during races. The admin interface will also receive a significant upgrade, improving ease of use for race organizers.

One of the most exciting features will be the integration of telemetry directly in the sim, allowing drivers to monitor performance in real-time during races. The admin interface will also receive a significant upgrade, improving ease of use for race organizers.

While the New Sim UI will debut in March 2025, it’s just the beginning. This overhaul will provide the foundation for future updates and additional functionality, like further customization options and more advanced features for drivers and administrators alike.

Career Mode

iRacing is expanding its experience by introducing a Single Player Career Mode.

This new mode will roll out in two phases, aiming to enhance the game’s appeal to both newcomers and experienced racers looking for structured, offline challenges.

• Phase 1 of this expansion, set for release in 2025, will bring AI Championships to iRacing. In these championships, players can compete in organized events against AI drivers, providing a realistic and immersive environment for offline practice and skill-building. AI Championships will serve as a foundation for the comprehensive career mode expected in Phase 2.
• Phase 2 will introduce a full Career Mode with the elements fans expect in a racing career.

But the most important question is…

Will this Career Mode allow players to start from entry-level races, climb the ranks as they unlock cars, improve skills, and sign with teams?

For now, the Single Player Career Mode aims to meet the growing demand for offline modes in racing games, allowing iRacing to stay competitive with other racing simulators while broadening its audience.

What other new features would you like to see in iRacing in 2025?

• Remember, you can join iRacing clicking here.

Check out our Hardware Guide 2024

• iRacing: Top Direct Drive Racing Wheel Bundles for 2024
• Sim Racing:  The Best Entry-Level Racing Wheels in 2024
• Best No Direct Drive Wheel For Sim Racing 2024
• Best Budget Pedals Under $300

See you on the track!