JDM: Japanese Drift Master – What We Know So Far

This unique new game delivers an open-world touge street drifting experience, capturing the spirit of Japan’s iconic drift culture.

JDM: Japanese Drift Master Slides Into The Spotlight

The JDM: Japanese Drift Master journey began a year ago with the release of its official teaser trailer, which sparked both excitement and hesitation among drifting enthusiasts.

Many were pleasantly surprised by what they saw, while others questioned whether it was all fancy CGI and whether the team was actually capable of pulling a playable game out of the bag.

We get it. I mean, let’s face it – we’ve all been fooled by glammed-up game trailers in the past, only for the end product to be massively underwhelming.

Alongside the initial doubts, the name was also mocked, with gamers claiming that it “sounds like another keyword-stuffed mobile app.”

The game’s development team, Gaming Factory, continued to silence the critics by relentlessly firing out additional teaser content that further backed up its intentions of being a serious contender in the somewhat limited drift sim genre.

As development progressed, the team announced a collaboration with Subaru, adding further authenticity to the game and showcasing the seriousness of the project. At this point, drifting fans started to listen to the hype.

The excitement ramped up further with the release of the official demo. After getting to experience the game, fans and initial critics were fully sold on the project. Once the demo was later pulled, they began eagerly awaiting the full version.

Release Date & Recent Updates

JDM: Japanese Drift Master will be released sometime in 2024. Although this is disappointingly vague, it’s not all bad news.

Before the full game is released, a free Prologue titled ‘JDM: Rise of the Scorpion’ will arrive on August 8th, 2024. This early release is a smaller version of the full game, which will help the developers understand what needs to be refined before the final release through community feedback.

Unlike bigger gaming studios, JDM‘s dev team has been actively engaging with the community through platforms like Reddit, YouTube, and Discord, building a connection with the fans. They’ve repeatedly taken player feedback on board and already integrated suggestions into the game’s development.

The development team actually listens to what the fans say, too. Previously, the playable demo had over 750,000 downloads, and the developers rolled out five updates along the way.

After the demo ended, the team analyzed 2,000 feedback surveys, with plenty of honest, useful feedback being delivered. This likely delayed the Prologue release as they scrambled to improve several aspects before release. It’s a refreshing approach where we’re used to seeing games rolled out requiring endless fixing these days! reel

While players praised the in-game sounds, realistic tire and tarmac physics, and extensive customization options of the demo, some noted the need for optimization for lower-spec PCs, a concern the developers are currently addressing.

How Is JDM Different From Other Drifting Games?

One way JDM: Japanese Drift Master stands out is through attention to detail, showcased by the functional blinkers on the cars (what more could you want?!). Jokes aside, things like this are small but significant touches that you’ll notice throughout, which many enthusiasts will appreciate, helping to further create an authentic experience.

Another unique element is the game’s storyline, inspired by Initial D. It follows Hatori ‘Scorpion’ Hasashi, a young drifter who balances traditional Japanese family expectations with his passion for racing.

With manga-style panels, the story follows Hatori’s journey from a rebellious high schooler to a skilled street racer (hashiriya), introducing a cast of his friends, rivals, and love interests who bring depth to the Japanese drifting scene.

Check out this article to see how they went about the game’s manga approach.

Physics and Gameplay

When it comes to physics and gameplay, JDM aims for a sweet spot between realism and enjoyable arcade-y vibes. If we had to explain it, it’s a mixture of the best of Forza Horizon, Need for Speed Heat, and CarX Drift Racing, sprinkled with a bit of Assetto Corsa’s realism, with Initial D’s storytelling along the way.

A standout feature of the demo was the tire physics, which we felt were even superior to those of Assetto Corsa. Assetto provides a “floaty” vibe without mods, rather than the true grip you need for full confidence in a drift car.

The approach positions JDM between the hardcore simulation of Assetto Corsa and the more arcade-style gameplay of games like CarX Drift Racing or Forza Horizon, helping JDM appeal to both sim enthusiasts and casual drifting fans.

Explore Haikama Lake’s Twisty Touge Roads

JDM brings virtual Japan to life with its expansive open world centered around the fictional Haikama Lake. It’s reminiscent of the freedom found in Forza Horizon, finally enabling drifters to finally enjoy what the Japanese touge mountain roads offer. (It’s about time someone did, Playground Games!)

The location offers incredibly diverse landscapes, from the tourist-friendly areas surrounding Haikama Lake to the challenging downhill slopes and mountain passes deep in the touge, and even through heavily urbanized cityscapes. You need to drift your way through the traffic going about their day, which includes authentic JDM rides and quirky kei cars to further add to the true Japanese experience.

In addition, the game incorporates dynamic systems, which even Assetto Corsa has yet to master (without mods), although Kunos finally intends to do so for the upcoming EVO game. Day and night cycles transform the visual landscape, while the weather system can suddenly turn a clear day into a wet, slippery challenge where you have your work cut out with avoiding the unforgiving touge guardrails.

Real, well-known Japanese drifting hotspots inspire the in-game touge roads of JDM. Sliding through the legendary mountain passes and city streets allows players to appreciate what the birthplace of drifting culture has to offer.

Car List

The team has gone to great lengths by 3D scanning real-world cars for the game. As showcased in their news update, they recreated iconic (mostly JDM) cars down to the smallest details, including accurate interior models and functioning gauges, mirrors, blinkers, and the ability to operate the pop-up headlights.

Although the game’s full car list has yet to be revealed, we’ve been monitoring the sneaky appearances in the teasers. Here’s what we’ve seen so far:

• BMW E36 M3
• BMW E46 M3
• Honda Civic
• Mazda Miata MX-5 (Or Eunos, if truly JDM!)
• Nissan 350Z (Also featured in Rise of The Scorpion)
• Nissan Silvia PS13 (180SX)
• Nissan Silvia S14 (200SX/240SX)
• Nissan Silvia S15 (200SX)
• Subaru BRZ
• Toyota Corolla Levin AE86
• Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86
• Toyota GR Supra
• Toyota Supra MKIV

Tuning & Customization

The tuning section brings comprehensive fine-tweaking and customization options that rival the depth found in established franchises like Forza.

Suspension adjustment allows full customization of ride height, spring rate, dampers, camber, caster, toe, and stabilizer bars, allowing you to fine-tune your rides for optimal performance in various track conditions and driving styles.

Performance upgrades are a core feature, enabling power, handling, and overall performance upgrades through a wide range of modifications. However, specific details on these upgrades are yet to be revealed.

Aesthetic mods are equally important in JDM culture, and the game doesn’t disappoint here, either. The teasers feature many of the finest JDM wheels and body kits, including popular brands like Rocket Bunny, allowing fans to create unique and eye-catching builds.

There’s also a dedicated paint shop where you can choose from classic two-tone designs to wild graphics and custom decals.

Stand-Out Features

Alongside the open-world Japan drifting experience, the game has plenty of unique features, with these being a few of the most notable.

In-Game Sounds

Original recordings of real car sounds add an additional layer of realism to the demo. You can check out their amusing approach to creating the sounds in the video below:

Mobile Integration

The game incorporates a virtual smartphone that serves multiple functions. It’s an immersive way to adjust vehicle settings, interact with the game world, track objectives, and personalize your in-game experience without disrupting gameplay.

Realistic Traffic

You’ll get to weave through the busy Japanese traffic, including various rarely-seen JDM vehicles.

Open-World Environment

Explore winding mountain roads and drift your way through busy urban areas.

Weather Dynamics

Conditions can change rapidly, forcing you to adapt your driving style from clear, grip-friendly conditions to sudden, slippery rainstorms.

Time Progression

The day-night cycle adds another layer of complexity. There’s nothing quite like the vibes of sliding through the touge with your pop-up headlights on full beam!

System Requirements

The game supports various control methods, including a gamepad, steering wheel, and keyboard. All control setups promise realistic driving physics, so you don’t need to rush out and get a wheel just yet – even if it is recommended!

Minimum requirements:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: 64-bit Windows 10
• CPU: Intel Core i5-7400 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: Intel Arc A580, GeForce GTX1660 or Radeon RX580 8GB
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 16 GB available space

Recommended requirements:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: 64-bit Windows 10
• CPU: Intel Core i5-10400F or AMD Ryzen 5 3600
• Memory: 32 GB RAM
• Graphics: Intel Arc A770, GeForce RTX3060Ti or AMD Radeon RX6700
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 16 GB available space

Will JDM: Japanese Drift Master have what it takes to answer the long-standing cries of Forza Horizon fans eagerly awaiting a true Japan-based open-world drifting game? We can’t wait to find out!

In the meantime, why not experience what our free touge drifting games have to offer? We have two perfect Drifted exclusives for you to enjoy – Drift Hunters MAX and Touge Drift & Racing.

JDM: Japanese Drift Master FAQ

In this section, we cover some of the most commonly asked questions about the game.

Will JDM: Japanese Drift Master support VR?

There’s currently no official confirmation of VR support for the game.

Are there plans for console versions of the JDM: Japanese Drift Master?

Right now, it’s only announced for PC via Steam. No console versions have yet been confirmed, but we’d love to see it happen.

Will the game feature licensed cars or fictional vehicles?

The game includes a mix of licensed and fictional vehicles inspired by real Japanese cars. The team announced a collaboration with Subaru, so the BRZ will be fully licensed. However, other cars will have alternative names, as seen in games such as GTA and CarX. An example is the Nissan Silvia S15, which is the “Ichiban Silvanna 15” in the game.

Is there a multiplayer mode?

While multiplayer features haven’t been officially mentioned, we’ve heard rumors that they plan to include online multiplayer options.

Will there be mod support for JDM: Japanese Drift Master?

Official mod support hasn’t been announced, but it’s a popular request from the community.

Are there plans for post-launch DLC or expansion packs?

The developers haven’t revealed specific plans for DLC, but we expect to see ongoing support after the release.

Will the game have cross-platform play?

As the game is currently only announced for PC, cross-platform play won’t be available yet.

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