Note: The Penske Entertainment editorial staff is looking back at the 10 biggest moments of 2025 in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in this year-end series, with one installment appearing on the site per day in countdown fashion from Dec. 22-31.

iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations and INDYCAR announced Aug. 26 a long-term licensing agreement for iRacing Studios to produce standalone INDYCAR titles for console and PC.

As part of the agreement, iRacing Studios will release an INDYCAR title for PlayStation, Xbox and Steam in the second half of 2026. The new product will mark the first dedicated INDYCAR game in more than two decades.

No big deal, right? It’s just a game, right? Think again.

Video games are a major form of entertainment in the 21st century. The gaming industry market was worth $184 billion global in 2024, while the global box office for movies was around $33 billion last year. That’s right – video games are five times bigger than Hollywood.

The ubiquity of gaming on PC and console is a vital conduit to new and existing fans, as many young people are exposed to sports through video games for the first time. And racing fans have wondered out loud for a while when a bespoke INDYCAR game would return.

INDYCAR has been a part of the iRacing PC racing service for more than a decade, a relationship that will continue in this new deal, but not as a standalone game. The iRacing Studios INDYCAR offering will join other highly regarded iRacing Studios titles NASCAR 25 and the World of Outlaws: Dirt Racing games as officially licensed products that represent some of the top racing series in the world.

The game will feature a robust, multilevel career mode, licensed drivers from the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone, and online multiplayer. The new product will be built from the ground up, with a dedicated development team creating the game on iRacing Studios’ proprietary and enhanced Orontes engine.

Real-world INDYCAR teams and drivers will be deeply involved in the creation of the new title, including Team Penske star and iRacing enthusiast Scott McLaughlin. Since transitioning to the series full time in 2021 from Australian Supercars, McLaughlin has won seven races and become a fan favorite.

The heritage of the relationship between INDYCAR and iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations dates back more than three decades. The company’s predecessor, Papyrus Racing Games, created the iconic Indianapolis 500: The Simulation in 1989, followed by IndyCar Racing and IndyCar Racing II in 1993 and 1995, respectively.