View source for Article:The Decline of Console Arcade Racing Games

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==<big>Article</big>==

By Sebastian Vettel


<b>History of Arcade Racing Games</b>


When I say Arcade racing games, what do you think? You think Outrun, Crazy Taxi… games you play in an arcade store, but I mean the games on consoles. From the early 2000s to the early 2010s, arcade racing games dominated the scene with huge franchises like Need for Speed or Forza Horizon. As a wee young boy, I always loved racing games; my love of cars and motorsport really stemmed in the early 2000s. 
My Favorite game was Burnout 3 Takedown, the fast-paced movements, constantly keeping me on my toes throughout the playthrough, using revolutionary mechanics like the Brake to Drift System (Essentially allowing the car to drift with a push of the brake button). This game was so good during its time that it was competing with Halo 2 and GTA San Andreas for the 2004 Game of the Year. Arguably, the best game in their respected franchise really shows you the level of arcade racers during its heyday, the arcade racers of the 2010s doesn't have the same edge as previous era's leading to its sudden decline and the uprising of Sim Racers. 


<b>Nowadays, you rarely see true arcade racers, due to one thing: Money.</b>


Publishers like Ubisoft and EA don’t really see the vision of arcade racers. Once regarded as one of the best publishers for most successful racing games, now turn their focus to shooters or anything that can pump money. You can say “John, why don't you talk about Forza?” and you have a good point; however, Forza mostly leans into the sub-genre of Simcade, which is a hybrid of Simulation and Arcade feeling, meaning you can technically use brake to drift mechanics, but you can also have the experience of true simulation. 


Games like Le Mans Ultimate or iRacing are becoming more popular due to experienced racing drivers like Max Verstappen, who uses it for practice, the sense of realism and the competitive Multiplayer which sees real players from around the world competing to either prove themselves or making a statement. The Esports is another big factor on why its gaining popularity by introducing professional leagues, money pools and the chance of racing for real, which has happened to many Esports Players. 


In conclusion, do I think arcade racers are fully gone? No, just the fact that peak racers during the 2000s can never and will ever be topped. Indie developers have made great and well-polished arcade racers, but it's never the feeling of enjoyment, never capturing the old-school style. With the decline of Arcade Racers, the popularity of simulation racers is the next big thing in racing games. Could we see a sudden stop of true arcade racers? Yes, most likely, as the most logical step would be Simcade, as that is now the social norm with racing games.

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Written by: [[Ferrari F50 GT]]

Publish Date: May 16th, 2026 @ 7:08pm