Tokyo Xtreme Racer Gets January 23 Early Access Release Date

Tokyo Xtreme Racer kicks off 2025 with a surprise Early Access release date confirming the return of the unique cult-classic Japanese street racing game.

After remaining dormant for 18 years, TXR’s creators, Genki, resurfaced in late 2024 to announce the 2025 return of the legendary series.

While fans anticipated release updates at some point in early 2025, few would’ve expected such an immediate development at the start of the New Year.

The game’s official Steam page confirms the ‘Coming Soon To Early Access’ status, with a planned Steam PC release date of January 23, 2025 - less than three weeks away!

The news was announced alongside a producer letter on the game’s official X (formerly Twitter) page, providing more details on what we can expect from the upcoming launch.

SURPRISE! See y’all on the Shuto Expressway in just under three weeks! 🔥
Wishlist now on @Steam: https://t.co/hccHVQUKdE #TokyoXtremeRacer #TXR #Genki #GenkiRacingProject pic.twitter.com/4lxKmXbIME

— Tokyo Xtreme Racer (@Tokyo_Xtreme) January 6, 2025

While not the final version, the unexpected early release is an exciting development for the franchise that defined highway racing games during the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2 era.

In Japan, the series is known as Shutoko Battle (首都高バトル). It debuted in 1994 and continued to be released regularly until 2006. The series name comes from Tokyo’s Shuto Kosoku-doro expressway system, where its iconic highway battles take place.

As we prepare to return to the Tokyo Expressway in 2025, here’s what you can expect from the all-new Tokyo Xtreme Racer Early Access release.

What To Expect From The Early Access Game

The Early Access version of Tokyo Xtreme Racer will launch with an impressive amount of initial content, featuring over 200 rival characters (each with unique storylines) and more than 180 kilometers of the Shuto Expressway to explore.

Genki states on the Steam page: “Upon release of Early Access, the game will include the story playable up to roughly the halfway mark, with a focus on SP battle and the car tuning features.”

The game also introduces a new player skill gain system, adding a unique approach to the iconic highway battles.

Later, the full version will expand with additional storylines, vehicles, rival characters, and improvements based on player feedback during the Early Access period.

Spirit Point Battle Rivals

The following six rivals have already been confirmed on the official Genki YouTube channel:

• Rolling Guy #1
• Yamiteng
• Melancholic Angel
• Jackknife
• Bloodhound
• Midnight Rose

Car List

The Early Access game will bring a roster of 50 playable licensed Japanese (JDM) cars.

So far, the Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R, Toyota Supra MK4, Mazda RX-7 FD3S, and the Toyota GR86, AE86 Levin (and Trueno), and Subaru Impreza are already confirmed.

We’ve also seen the Mazda RX-8, Nissan 370Z, Suzuki Swift, and Mazda3 shown in the various trailers and gameplay footage, with many more to come.

Why Early Access Is A Good Thing

Genki’s decision to launch Tokyo Xtreme Racer as Early Access comes from its efforts to modernize the game while remaining true to its roots. They explained, “… we felt it would be best to launch the game in Early Access to do justice to the franchise.”

Since modern gaming has evolved significantly over the past 18 years, Genki aims to gather feedback from its hardcore fanbase alongside newcomers to the racing genre by launching in Early Access.

They note, “A lot has changed in the genre since Tokyo Xtreme Racer was around, and we believe it’s just as important to collect feedback not only from the fans that have stuck with the franchise, but also from racing game fans in general.”

There’s a refreshing, clear focus on community involvement and feedback to ensure they provide the fans with the game they’ve waited so long for. Thankfully, it’s clear that they’re aiming to produce a game that continues the series’ unique identity and old-school vibes, which are often overlooked.

Early adopters will also likely secure a better price, as they indicated that the cost of the final release may increase. Those who purchase during Early Access will automatically receive the full version upon launch.

The team states, “We will be collecting feedback through the Steam community. We are open to receiving suggestions, bug reports, and feedback in general.”

For fans of the series, it means you get to experience the game earlier, potentially bagging a bargain while having a rare chance to provide feedback to help the final game’s development.

When To Expect The Full Game

According to Genki, Tokyo Xtreme Racer will remain in Early Access for approximately four months while they gather feedback and make improvements.

With the January 23, 2025, Early Access launch date, we could see the full version as soon as May 2025, although this may be a little optimistic.

“The plan is to improve the quality of the game by making various improvements based on your feedback over the course of approximately 4 months of Early Access,” the team explains. However, they’ve noted that the exact full release date will depend on development progress, and they’ll announce it as soon as possible.

Confirmed PC System Requirements

The system requirements have also been published alongside the announcement, giving you three weeks to get your PC up to spec to enjoy the game to its full potential! Here’s what the team recommends:

Minimum Requirements

• A 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows 10/11 64-Bit
• Processor: Intel® Core™ i7-7700
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1050 Ti(VRAM 4GB)
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 12 GB available space
• Additional Notes: 1920×1080 with graphics at “Low” recommended. SSD recommended.

Recommended Requirements

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows 10/11 64-Bit
• Processor: Intel® Core™ i7-13700
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 3060(VRAM 8GB) or NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 4060i(VRAM 8GB)
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 12 GB available space
• Additional Notes: Graphics setting at “High” recommended. SSD recommended. For the “Ultra” graphics setting, GeForce® RTX 4060 or higher is recommended.

Console Release Dates

While there are no confirmed console release dates just yet, Genki’s choice of words in the producer letter suggests console versions are in the pipeline.

The development team specifically noted they “chose PC first,” indicating their current focus is on perfecting the Steam version alongside the community before expanding to other platforms.

“The reason we chose PC first was because we believe it will allow the most ease of access to our fans all over the world as well as allow us to tweak and improve the game as quickly as we can,” the team explains.

Given the franchise’s console legacy, from Super Famicom and Dreamcast to PlayStation consoles, Xbox 360, and handhelds like PSP and Game Boy Advance, further versions are extremely likely to follow once the PC version is complete. However, you’ll need to wait a little longer for the official announcements.

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