Developer and publisher Gaming Factory has announced the JDM: Japanese Drift Master release date, and the Japan-set "simcade" racer is coming to PC across various storefronts in March.
The game - which is "the most wishlisted racing game on Steam", according to Gaming Factory - launches for Valve's storefront, as well as the Epic Games Store and GOG, on March 26th.
It promises "winding mountain roads, scenic rural streets, and city highways" for you to race along, all of which will be located within the fictional Japanese prefecture of Guntama, an open-world expanse that "spans over 250km in main roads".
Rather curiously, despite being a fictional prefecture, Guntama will boast "the most famous tourist landmarks". These will include a recreation of the world-famous Himeji Castle, which is in Hyōgo Prefecture in the real world, and the Daikoku Parking Area, which you can find in Yokohama.
Unlike many other racing games, JDM: Japanese Drift Master also has a story. You'll play as Polish driver Touma, who wants to prove himself on the local Guntama street racing circuit.
As he tries to do so, he'll make friends among the locals, but he'll also make enemies, leading to "drama, action, and even love". It's fairly unusual for a racing game to emphasize its narrative these days, but it's nice to see nonetheless.
Intriguingly, the story in JDM: Japanese Drift Master will be told "through in-game events and a manga" drawn by Gaming Factory's art team.
Of course, it wouldn't be much of a racer without cars, and JDM: Japanese Drift Master has plenty, packing in licensed brands like Nissan, Mazda, and Subaru.
The game will also offer the opportunity to tweak and upgrade your car to your heart's content, and Game Factory says it's "constantly adding presets for driving wheels and the plethora of simdriving hardware available on the market" as well.
JDM: Japanese Drift Racer launches for PC via Steam, Epic, and GOG on March 27th.
