Everything You Need To Know About JDM: Japanese Drift Master
2025 is proving to be a pretty fruitful year for racing games. So far, we’ve had the launches of Assetto Corsa Evo, Tokyo Xtreme Racer, and recently, Wreckfest 2 into early access – and there’s more to come.
Arriving tomorrow, JDM: Japanese Drift Master looks like it’ll tickle our inner Initial D fanboy. Consider us pretty excited for the clock off work on Wednesday, then. Here’s everything we know about it so far.
What exactly is JDM: Japanese Drift Master? JDM: Japanese Drift Master, Eunos Roadster
Inspired by Touge racing and the manga series Initial D, JDM: Japanese Drift Master is pretty much what you’d expect from a game with that title.
It’s focused on mountain racing, with a mix of drifting and grip-focused events. It’s set in an open world based on Japan’s curvaceous mountain roads, unsurprisingly, with around 155 miles worth to drive across
There will be two sets of physics. One is described as ‘Simcade’, which aims to balance realism with a bit of a safety net of fun, while ‘Arcade’ will offer a more liberal experience through the use of built-in Drift and Brake Assist.
As for gameplay, expect a story focusing on a Polish drifter named Touma, starting out a new life in Japan. Over 40 narrative-driven events are said to feature.
When is JDM: Japanese Drift Master releasing?JDM: Japanese Drift Master is set to release through Steam tomorrow, 21 May, although a price has yet to be confirmed.
Will JDM: Japanese Drift Master come to consoles? JDM: Japanese Drift Master, FD Mazda RX-7
For the time being, JDM: Japanese Drift Master will be on PC only, but console releases are planned.
Speaking with Traxion.gg, Wojciech Babiński, Lead Game Designer at developer Gaming Factory, said: “Consoles are a big part of our publishing plans… Once the PC version is out, we’ll shift our focus to porting.”
JDM: Japanese Drift Master confirmed car listJapanese Drift Master is set to feature licensed cars. At launch, those will include offerings from Nissan, Mazda and Subaru. We’d expect more to follow down the line.
A full car list has yet to be confirmed, so this list isn’t a catch-all at this stage. We’ll have a full list for you imminently.
MazdaFD RX-7
RX-8
NA Eunos Roadster (MX-5)
NB MX-5
Nissan350Z
370Z
KGC10 Skyline GT-R
R34 Skyline GT-R
S14 Silvia
S15 Silvia
SubaruGD Impreza WRX STI
ZD8 BRZ
JDM: Japanese Drift Master, ZD8 Subaru BRZ
JDM: Japanese Drift Master customisation and tuningAn earlier trailer detailed exactly how drift tuning and customisation in JDM: Japanese Drift Master works.
It showed off the extensive bodywork mods that’ll be available in gaming, allowing you to pick and choose new bodykits plus change out the OEM lights and exhausts for custom alternatives. It’s worth pointing out that bodywork and wheel changes are from fictional brands, rather than licensed manufacturers.
Interior mods will feature too, giving you the option to swap in new steering wheels, seats, gear sticks and even displays.
Mechanical tuning will feature as well, unsurprisingly, including chassis and engine mods. You’ll also be able to fine-tune settings, as with many other racing titles.
Will JDM: Japanese Drift Master have Eurobeat?Yes, is the short answer. We can all live out our Takumi Fujiwara fantasies, right and proper.
Granted, it’ll be an original score rather than taking the known works of Dave Rodgers and co. Still, we’ll take it.
JDM: Japanese Drift Master PC requirementsMinimum
OS: 64-bit Windows 10
Processor: Intel i5-7400 or Ryzen 5 2600
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: Intel Arc A580 or GeForce GTX1660 or Radeon RX580 8GB
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 16 GB available space
Recommended
OS: 64-bit Windows 10
Processor: Intel i5 10400f or Ryzen 5 3600
Memory: 32 GB RAM
Graphics: Intel Arc A770 or GeForce RTX3060Ti or AMD Radeon RX6700
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 16 GB available space
