Publisher 4Divinity and Beep Japan, alongside development studio GAMING FACTORY, have revealed that they’ve secured a licensing agreement with the automotive brand SUBARU for their upcoming PC release of “JDM: Japanese Drift Master” scheduled for 2024 on platforms such as Steam and GOG.com.

The game is an indie developed racing title set in an open-world Japanese metropolis. Players assume the role of a foreign driver aiming to establish themselves in Japan’s renowned drifting culture, drawing inspiration from the popularized touge drifting scene that Japan is known for with influence from globally recognized franchises such as Initial D.

The game features a range of iconic Japanese cars from the 80s and 90s.

The game features extensive cars customization, with the ability to engage in various races, experience the day-night cycle and weather changes or simply explore a limited Japanese open world.

Naturally, for indie developers, particularly in genres like highway racing or mountain pass drifting, securing licensing agreements with car manufacturers is basically impossible. This is especially true given instances where companies like Toyota now decline to license their vehicles to developers whose games center around “illegal street racing” themes.

Obtaining automotive licenses can be a cumbersome process for indie developers, and often, it’s not deemed necessary.

Many small-scale developers opt to create their own car models, closely resembling or even directly mimicking iconic vehicles they wish to include in their game. They remove any branding to avoid legal issues.

Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto series is a prime example of this approach, featuring numerous vehicles that are easily recognizable to real life equivalents by car enthusiasts, albeit under Rockstar’s own fictitious in-game brand names.

This strategy allows developers to avoid paying licensing fees while still offering a rich and immersive gaming experience.

It’s noteworthy that JDM Japanese Drift Master has secured a licensing agreement with SUBARU, paving the way for SUBARU vehicles to be officially integrated into the game upon its release.

The developers have expressed their intention to elevate the game’s authenticity and realism by incorporating licensed vehicles, ensuring that this collaboration is faithfully reflected within the game.

I wholeheartedly concur with their statement. Racing games filled with knock-off versions of iconic Japanese cars are abundant, but that doesn’t necessarily imply that a game using such an approach is subpar.

On the contrary, Planet Jem’s NIGHT-RUNNERS has reignited a sense of excitement in me that I’ve been missing in modern gaming.

What I’m getting at is that incorporating well-known brand names in these products essentially validates their authenticity. Gaming Factory is certainly pushing the envelope with their upcoming title, especially now with the genuine addition of SUBARU vehicles thanks to the licensing agreement.

JDM: Japanese Drift Master is currently in development for a fall 2024 release, with a free prologue version called “JDM: Rise of the Scorpion” set to release in the summer of 2024.

Acting as an introductory chapter, the prologue delves into the story of rebellious high school student Hatori ‘Scorpion’ Hasashi, set in rural Japan.

Featuring new car models and tracks alongside content from previously released demo versions, the story unfolds through manga-style cutscenes, introducing the protagonist’s girlfriend, friends, and rivals.

In Valve’s Steam store, you’ll find a multitude of small-scale games like CarX Drift Racing, Drift86 and thousands more, ranging from mediocre to positively received. From the gameplay footage and trailers I’ve seen, JDM: Japanese Drift Master may appear somewhat simplistic, but it appears well-presented and polished.

Given the popularity of indie titles in this genre, I have little doubt that GAMING FACTORY will achieve success with their game upon release. Its prologue is likely to generate significant hype as it circulates among content creators. You can wishlist and keep informed about the game on its Steam store page.