Tokyo Xtreme Racer PS4/PS5 Release Date

Tokyo Xtreme Racer’s PC announcement got the fans hyped, but when can PlayStation players experience the series’ return after nearly 20 years?

A Brief History Of Tokyo Xtreme Racer

The Tokyo Xtreme Racer series, known in Japan as Shutokō Battle (首都高バトル), is a cult classic racing franchise that has been hugely popular among console gamers since the early 1990s.

Developed by Japanese game developer Genki Co., Ltd., the series debuted in 1994 with Shutokō Battle ’94 for the Super Famicom in Japan (known as the Super Nintendo, or SNES, to us Western oldies!).

From the very beginning, the series set itself apart with a unique focus on illegal nighttime street racing on the highways of Tokyo’s Shuto Expressway.

The games focused on delivering realistic Japanese street racing vibes with in-depth tuning/customization and an immersive open-highway experience, marking the start of a long-running series that would become one of the most racing games among JDM enthusiasts for decades.

After an 18-year hiatus, fans were stunned by a surprise announcement of the series’ return in 2024. The excitement peaked shortly after following another update at the start of 2025 stating that the Early Access version of the game would arrive just a few weeks later, on January 23, 2025, for PC via Steam.

While this news left many die-hard fans concerned that Genki has forgotten about the console roots that made the game famous, there’s a reason behind the PC/Steam decision. And, thankfully, there’s no need to panic just yet!

Why Is Tokyo Xtreme Racer Coming To PC First?

The decision to launch TXR on PC first via Early Access is likely down to Genki, the developer, understanding that the gaming world has changed significantly since their last TXR release in 2006. In the present day, this is now the ideal platform for their return.

By focusing on PC initially, the team can easily communicate with the global fanbase and quickly make improvements based on feedback during the four-month Early Access period. This is especially important because Genki values their dedicated community, which has remained loyal despite the series’ long absence.

In the official Producer Letter from Genki alongside the announcement release, they stated: “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.”

“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.

With the rapid advancements in gaming technology, starting with PC allows them to refine the game and ensure it lives up to expectations before the more complex rollouts to other platforms.

While needing to wait longer to enjoy the new game admittedly sucks for console players, the approach shows they’re thankfully committed to delivering a high-quality product, particularly given the long gap since their last release and the many changes in gaming technology during that time.

After disastrous launches in recent years, with Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown leading the way, it’s awesome to see Genki trying its best to ensure that the console game will live up to the hype.

When Is Tokyo Xtreme Racer Coming To PlayStation Consoles?

While Genki hasn’t officially announced the console release dates, their “PC first” statement in the producer letter strongly hints that PlayStation and other console versions will be arriving soon. However, no specific console versions have been officially confirmed yet.

After working closely with the community during the Early Access period to refine the game and ensure it meets the high expectations of fans waiting nearly two decades for a new installment, console versions should arrive soon after.

Genki explained, “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”. Given the January 23, 2025, Early Access release date, if they can stick to this timeline, the full version should be completed around May 2025.

Given this, it is unlikely to see a Tokyo Xtreme Racer release date on PS4 or PS5 consoles before May 2025.

With the series’ rich console history, spanning from the Super Famicom (Japanese Super Nintendo) and Dreamcast to PlayStation consoles, Xbox 360, and handhelds like PSP and Game Boy Advance, they will likely announce console versions once the PC version is polished and ready for a wider release.

While this means eager PlayStation fans will likely need to wait a bit longer for an official announcement, we actually see it as good news. The extra time Genki is taking to perfect the PC version means that when Tokyo Xtreme Racer eventually arrives on consoles, it will be a highly refined and (hopefully) near-perfect experience.

After waiting 19 years for its return, a little more patience should be well worth it when you can finally get your hands on the carefully crafted and thoroughly tested console version!

What To Expect From The PlayStation Game (Eventually!)

When Tokyo Xtreme Racer eventually makes its way to PlayStation consoles after its PC release, we expect a highly refined final version crafted around the community feedback following plenty of improvements and bug fixes.

Genki mentioned that the final PC version of the game is expected to feature a complete story mode and an impressive car list with over 200 unique rival characters, each with unique JDM cars, storylines, and racing styles, set across 180 kilometers (around 110 miles) of freshly recreated Shuto Expressway.

The PlayStation version should also feature a newly refined Spirit Point Battle system and the new Player Skill Gain feature, along with more tuning and customization options than ever before in the series, allowing you to modify your cars with licensed aftermarket parts from manufacturers like BBS, Do-Luck, and C-West, along with heaps of other upgrades and paint options.

Will TXR Be Available On PS4?

The surprisingly high minimum system requirements for the PC version of Tokyo Xtreme Racer have raised concerns about whether the game will be released on PlayStation 4.

While Genki may be setting high requirements to ensure the smoothest experience for PC players, there’s also a chance that the game may genuinely require the latest console hardware to run effectively. TXR might not be released on the PS4 if this is the case.

However, given the series’ strong connection to the PlayStation brand, they’re undoubtedly aware of the large fanbase on PlayStation consoles and will make it accessible to as many players as possible. For the time being, we remain optimistic.

In the meantime, to keep yourself “futureproof” and to ensure you’re not disappointed, it may be the perfect time to begin saving for a PS5. After all, even if it is on PS4, the PS5 version will likely be far superior.

While you wait for TXR, we recommend checking out the free-to-play Drift Hunters MAX browser game on your PC or mobile device, which also features an open-world highway driving experience, but sideways (and also with your favorite JDM rides!)

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