iRacing® Studios NASCAR 26 Review Summary

A major upgrade over NASCAR 25 with enhanced graphics and improved driving physics, but force feedback wheel issues, unrealistic AI handling, and a shallow career mode hold it back.

Major Upgrade Over NASCAR 25: Players overwhelmingly describe this game as a huge step forward from NASCAR 25, with more polish, better engagement, and improvements across nearly every aspect.

Enhanced Graphics And Visuals: Graphics are frequently praised as sharper, more polished, and visually impressive, with improved lighting, skies, and an overall less arcade-like look.

Improved Driving Physics And Feel: Many reviewers highlight a more alive and rewarding driving model, with better car feel, handling physics, and a new tire model and dynamic track wear that transform the experience.

Fun And Addictive Gameplay: The game is described as fun, addictive, and a riot to play, with many reviewers having a blast and enjoying the overall experience.

Solid Wheel And Controller Support: Both wheel and controller support are well-refined, with easy setup on various hardware like Fanatec, Moza, and Xbox controllers.

Steering wheel force feedback problems: Multiple reports of violent shaking, non-existent or weak force feedback, and unresponsive buttons across various wheel models like G920, PXN, and Moza. Some describe it as feeling like driving a tractor.

AI issues and unrealistic behavior: AI drivers exhibit random aggression, unrealistic grip, poor pit road logic, and rubber banding. They also refuse to help the player at superspeedways and dominate races unfairly.

Handling and physics feel unrealistic: Physics are widely criticized as floaty, sensitive, or completely broken. Cars are described as weightless yet prone to understeer, with poor countersteering and unrealistic damage effects.

Lack of innovation from predecessor: Reviewers frequently state the game is nearly identical to the previous title with minimal changes. Many call it a 'coat of paint' or an overpriced update that could have been an expansion.

Missing features from previous games: Core features like side drafting, triple screen support, FOV adjustment, and data capture for SimHub are absent. Many other expected options are also missing.

Steering Wheel and Controller Support: The game supports steering wheels, controllers, and pedal setups, with specific mentions of wheel support and controller handling. This broad input compatibility ensures accessibility for both casual and simulation-focused players. Force feedback is also highlighted for wheel users.

Career and Championship Modes: Players value the inclusion of career mode, championship mode, and chase mode, which add structured progression and varied racing experiences. Career mode enhancements are also noted, though not widespread. These modes contribute to a sense of realism and long-term engagement.

Car Feel and Physics: The car feel, handling physics, and overall physics are noted as important aspects. A new tire model and more authentic NASCAR physics contribute to a realistic driving experience.

Race Variation and Modes: Race variation is appreciated, and new game modes like Peak Performance and The Chase Mode add diversity. The Chase mode is specifically highlighted as a new addition. Online live events and cross-platform multiplayer further expand gameplay options.

Competitive AI Opponents: AI opponents feature competitive difficulty and varying behavior, providing a challenging racing experience. Improved AI and racing competition are also noted, contributing to a more engaging single-player mode. Adaptive AI further enhances the challenge.

Mixed performance experiences reported: While some users on mid-high end hardware report no crashes or stutters and stellar performance, others experience visual stuttering and require a strong computer for very high settings. One reviewer scored performance 10/10.

G920 steering wheel violently shakes: Multiple players report that the Logitech G920 wheel shakes uncontrollably at game launch and continues until the game is quit or the wheel is unplugged. The issue also persists whenever the game is reopened.

Steam Deck performance is poor: Players note that Steam Deck support is very bad, with the game running at only 25-35fps at lowest settings and 800p resolution at Daytona, resulting in pixelated visuals.

Complete crash during Daytona 500: At least one player experienced a complete game crash specifically during the Daytona 500 event. This indicates a potential stability issue in that race.

No DLSS or frame generation options: The game lacks DLSS tricks or frame generation options in the settings menu. This limits performance optimization possibilities for users.

Positive purchase recommendations: Multiple players strongly recommend buying the game, stating it is worth the price and an easy recommendation. Some mention it is worth waiting for a sale or price drop.

Negative purchase advice: Some players strongly recommend against buying the game, especially for owners of NASCAR 25, citing dissatisfaction with the product. One user refunded the game.

Sim-style arcade racing appeal: The game is recommended for those seeking a sim-style arcade racing experience. It is also noted as potentially better on controller than wheel.

Patience advised for fixes: Some suggest waiting a month to see how iRacing handles the current issues before purchasing. There is also hope that a good career game may come in a few years.

Early access value: One review considers the early access offering worth it despite being an unfinished state. This aligns with positive sentiment about the game's foundation.

Session length: 1.0h.

For the mostly negative reports, the game never becomes fun: controller handling, missing career progression, multiplayer issues, and repetition keep enjoyment away. A minority positive note says other parts are great so far, but no unlock or timing for enjoyment is described.

Friction: Controller handling feels like a chore; Missing true career progression; Multiplayer needs work; Repetitive cycle from the previous game.

Sim Rig Hardware Enthusiast: Dedicated wheel/VR sim rig, prioritizes physics and feedback fidelity, races online cross-platform. Motivation: Immersive, hardware-accurate sim racing with real force feedback and chill cross-play online races. Stance: buy.

Casual Controller Racer: Plays with a controller or entry-level wheel on lower difficulties, focused on enjoyment over mastery. Motivation: Jumping in for lighthearted fun racing without the pressure of high difficulty. Stance: buy.

Franchise Veteran: Deeply experienced with prior titles, evaluates features, AI, physics and editors against earlier releases. Motivation: Following the NASCAR series' evolution and seeing how each entry improves on the last. Stance: buy.

Across both Windows VRAM cohorts, players report the game running well, with smooth performance and strong recommendations. Isolated visual stuttering appears in the higher-VRAM cohort but does not outweigh the positive reports.

Windows 12-15GB VRAM: positive. Players report stellar performance and call it a huge upgrade, with only isolated day-one visual stuttering.

Windows <8GB VRAM: positive. Players report smooth performance even on very high settings and no stuttering, describing it as a clear step up.

Comparisons to iRacing and Past Titles: Reviewers frequently compare the game to iRacing, the developer's simulation background, and older NASCAR titles including NASCAR Heat 2, Heat 4, Heat 5, NASCAR 15, and even PS2-era games. While some see it as an upgrade, others find it disappointing relative to iRacing.

Graphics Sharper Than NASCAR 25: The graphics are reported to be noticeably sharper than NASCAR 25, with a major graphics overhaul that makes it feel more than a simple DLC. Visual comparisons to Forza are also made, though it is not considered next-gen.

Still Has Same Core Issues: Despite improvements, the game is largely unchanged from its predecessor and retains most of the same flaws, including out-of-box problems that were present in NASCAR 25.

Improvements and Content Praise: Reviewers note that some good changes have been made, there is a lot of content to delve into, and the game will provide many hours of play. It is also seen as better than expected for a second-year franchise.

Mixed First Impressions: First impressions after initial laps and being the first NASCAR game since Heat 5 vary. Some find it not a huge leap or groundbreaking, while others see room for improvement for the next game.