JDM: Japanese Drift Master News

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Today is the day, artists! We are incredibly happy to announce that we have just selected the first winners of our Photo Mode Contest. The competition was fierce, and we received a lot (and we mean A LOT!) of awesome shots… but three photos rose above the rest.[/p][p]However, it goes without saying - after all you were the ones who voted and picked the top shots. We think you've chosen really beautiful, unique and simply stunning scenes - which makes us even more happy to remind you that…[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][hr][/hr][h3]The three most popular screenshots will now find their way to JDM as loading screens backgrounds![/h3][p][/p][p]That’s right. Our dear winners shots will be immortalized in the form of in-game loading screens backgrounds… with their name on them! What better way to go down in history as Guntama’s finest? In addition, they will be rewarded with a completely new and unique rank on our Discord server (be sure to drop by if you're not there yet!).[/p][p][/p][h3]And now, without further ado - the winners![/h3]

1. [p]Kommy - with 39 votes[/p]
2. [p]Scheusal - with 12 votes[/p]
3. [p]Rima 'J - with 12 votes[/p]

[p][/p][h2]Kommy [/h2][p][/p][hr][/hr][h2]Scheusal[/h2][p][/p][hr][/hr][h2]Rima 'J[/h2][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Didn’t win this time? No worries, the next round starts now![/h3][p]We'd like to remind you that the Photo Mode Contest is a recurring event, with three winners. So if you just missed out on winning this time, don't give up. Your new screenshots have a chance to win in future editions. Remember that the Contest takes place on our Discord server, so if you want to join in on the fun, first join our awesome drifting community. We can’t wait to see your amazing snaps! [/p][p][/p][p]You can find the contest rules here - https://jdmgame.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Photo-Mode-Contest-Rules-1.pdf[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]JDM: Japanese Drift Master has always been a true passion project for us. We're committed to crafting the best racing experience possible - and to do that, we need your input and support. Join us on our Discord server and help shape the future of the game with your feedback![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]See you on Guntama roads, artists![/p][p]
[/p][p]Let’s Drift![/p][p]The Gaming Factory Team[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][hr][/hr][h3]GAMING FACTORY - UPCOMING RELEASES[/h3][p]We're not only a developer but also a publisher. If you like JDM, take a look at what other titles we have gearing up for launch. Who knows, maybe you'll come to love them, as much as we do! [/p][p]
Thanks!

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[/p][p]Steam Racing Fest just launched and we’re more than happy to be a part of it. Starting from today until August 11th you can grab the game at 25% off. [/p][p][/p][p]It’s a perfect opportunity to buy the game, if you’ve been on the fence until now. And if you’re still unsure if it’s worth it, take a look at the video below:[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]Oh, how time flies! It feels like we’ve released the game just a week ago and here we are - two major patches and a few more updates and hotfixes already behind us. [/p][p][/p][p]We’ve been closely watching and discussing with you the state of the game since day zero. We’ve gathered a lot of feedback, constructive criticism and a lot of words of encouragement since. We sincerely thank you for all the support! For now, let’s do a little deep dive on how much has changed:[/p][h3]
Optimization[/h3][p]Yes, we know there’s still space for improvement here and we are continuing to work on further optimization advancements, however since launch we minimized stuttering, added basic FSR support, added additional graphical settings and removed or added an ON/OFF option for a few settings based on your feedback.[/p][p][/p][h3]Physics 2.0[/h3][p]The most recent addition to the game. You said that driving on a wheel is far from ideal and we were inclined to agree, hence a full rework of Force Feedback and additional changes done to global physics. We’ve also reworked the Arcade and Simcade models a bit, pushing them further apart from each other - now, both fully represent the style of play associated with their names. To learn more about those changes, visit our devlog HERE.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]AI updates[/h3][p]We were fiddling with AI improvements since the game launched and now we’re finally happy to say it’s in a good spot. We’ve reworked traffic to behave more realistically, as well as improved its general behaviour on tight mountain roads and on highways. AI opponents have also been revamped - actively seeking new best paths during the race and being more aware of other cars on the road, including the player’s.
[/p][h3]Tuning Accessibility[/h3][p]For those less tuning savvy, we’ve prepared an auto Car Setup feature. If you go into the Car Setup menu now, you will see three different setting options: stock, drift and grip. Selecting any of them will automatically set the car for that activity. Of course you can change those settings at any time you visit the Car Setup menu. Nothing stands in your way to swap a grip setup for a drift setup between events, using the same car. You can also go into manual settings and improve or change whatever feels better for you.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Photo Mode and Landmarks[/h3][p]By popular demand we’ve implemented a fully fleshed out Photo Mode, which you can activate at any time by going into the Pause Menu. To make the use of the mode more fun and engaging we have added a Landmarks activity to the game - find the landmark spots in the game and take a photo there using the Photo Mode to get extra car experience and an awesome screenshot to your collection. You can find and unlock those spots for every single car, so that your roaming across Guntama Prefecture never gets old. You can read up more about this feature HERE. [/p][p][/p][h3]New Content[/h3][p]From a 9 mission long side story of Scorpion, through two new and completely free of charge cars, to additional new locations and side missions. Our plan is to continue expanding the world of JDM, so expect more and more content finding its way to the game.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p]Obviously the list of changes, updates and fixes is far longer than the above mentions, however we’re already at the ‘beefy’ size of this devlog, so let’s stop here. [/p][p][/p][p]JDM: Japanese Drift Master is and always was a passion project for us. We’re trying to create the best possible racing experience and we need to do it alongside you and your feedback. [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Celebrate the evolution of JDM with us during the Steam’s Racing Fest![/p][p]See you on Guntama roads![/p][p]
[/p][p]let’s Drift![/p][p]The Gaming Factory Team[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][hr][/hr][h3]GAMING FACTORY - UPCOMING RELEASES[/h3][p]We're not only a developer but also a publisher. If you like JDM, take a look at what other titles we have gearing up for launch. Who knows, maybe you'll come to love them, as much as we do! [/p][p]
Thanks!

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[p][/p][p]We have been teasing the upcoming changes to the game throughout the entirety of  last week and now it's time to launch them live! [/p][p][/p][p]The scope of this update is based on your feedback and covers some of the items that received the most constructive criticism since the game launched in late May. Expect better car handling in both Arcade and Simcade physics models, as well as drastically improved driving experience when playing on a steering wheel. Force Feedback support has been revamped with additional settings and calibrations. We’ve also improved gravity physics for the game, as well as braking power, suspension work and tire grip. [/p][p][/p][p]We’re also introducing a new car to the fleet - Honda NSX NA1, and a completely new location - a multi story garage, which also serves as the location for a new Underground Side mission. [/p][p][/p][p]If you want a deep dive into some of the above topics, check out the AI devlog & the Physics 2.0 devlog.[/p][p][/p][p]And now, without further ado:[/p][h2]
Patch Notes:[/h2][hr][/hr][h3]Physics 2.0[/h3][p]We’ve revamped the overall physics in the game focusing on car suspension, brakes and tires, to improve the overall driving experience across both physics models.[/p][p]We’ve completely reworked the Force Feedback system, to greatly improve handling the game on a steering wheel. [/p][p][/p][p]Some  additional notes:[/p]

• [p]Improved the auto flip physics behavior.[/p]
• [p]Reworked car airborne physics. The car will now have more weight when airborne. Added cinematic cameras to big jumps.[/p]
• [p]Improved the grip parameters across the whole game in both Arcade and in Simcade physics models.[/p]
• [p]Improved gravity physics. The cars will now have more weight and more realistic physics when colliding with other objects.
  These are the initial global changes we've already implemented alongside the bigger Physics 2.0 update. However, our plan is to continue working on this aspect in the following weeks, expanding it with a proper collisions system for each car. [/p]
• [p]Improved braking power for all cars (noticeable in Simcade, heavily adjusted in Arcade).[/p]

[p][/p][p]Our next step for this process is to expand the supported wheel presets with premade FFB settings presets. We estimate that by the end of summer the full list of currently supported steering wheels will receive a preset update for FFB.[/p][h3]
AI Improvements[/h3][p]We’ve improved AI across traffic and opponent behaviour. [/p][p]Traffic cars are now smarter - they are more mindful about the player’s position and speed and react more accordingly. We’ve targeted two main aspects of their behaviour: highways - they will now be less inclined to change lanes and move out of the player’s way, unless they are driving at high speed directly behind them. They will also change lanes more frequently, forcing the player to be more mindful when speeding on the freeways; tight, mountain roads - the traffic should now be less congested in those areas and the cars will no longer drive immediately one behind the other, leaving space for the player to manoeuvre between them. [/p][p]Opponents - they are also now smarter and will actively seek the best possible route to take to win the race. They will also be more mindful about other cars, including the player, when driving. [/p][p][/p][p]Some additional notes:[/p]

• [p]Improved AI opponent drift interactions.[/p]
• [p]Balanced the routes that opponents take during events[/p][p][/p]

[h3]New Car - Honda NSX NA1 (1992)[/h3][p]We’ve added a new fan favourite car to the game - the NSX you’ve all been asking for: NA1.[/p][p]There are also three bodykits available to purchase from the tuning shop for it:[/p]

• [p]Phantom Veil Widebody[/p]
• [p]L3GENN Widebody[/p]
• [p]Griptide Tuning Kit Widebody[/p][p][/p]

[p][/p][h3]Gameplay[/h3]

• [p]Added a new camera angle to the game.[/p]
• [p]Added a new location to the game - a multi story garage. You can find it in the Guntama Port Area. A new Underground Side Mission has been added using this location.[/p]
• [p]Challenge mode. Added new, preset cars with custom livery designs to the challenge mode (grip and drift).[/p]
• [p]Improved handbrake handling on 4 wheel drive cars.[/p][p][/p]

[h3]System[/h3]

• [p]Fixed a variety of crashes reported by the community. [/p]
• [p]Further improvements of game optimization, including VRAM and texture optimization.[/p]
• [p]Improvements done to static cameras across the game.[/p]

[p][/p][h3]Cars[/h3]

• [p]Fixed Subaru Impreza GV STI mirrors.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue with Yotsuhoshi Shadow, where the turn signals would not work or work incorrectly.[/p][p][/p]

[h3]New Car Parts[/h3][p]Nissan Fairlady S30[/p]

• [p]Ronin Torque Widebody.[/p]
• [p]Imsa Widebody.[/p]
• [p]4 new taillights and 1 new headlight.[/p]

[p]Mazda RX-7 FC[/p]

• [p]3 piece body kits:  BMM Sports, Gearstorm Sports II,Darkkit Garage Fashion, Nitrotandem Vial Type 1.[/p]
• [p]Gearstorm Sports II Rear Spoiler.[/p]
• [p]Front & Rear Fender: NitroTandem Vial and Naru Trap .[/p]
• [p]a new LED Taillight.[/p]
• [p]BMM Sports Blister Widebody.[/p]
• [p]GutterSlide Magic Widebody.[/p]

[p]Nissan Fairlady Z (Z34)[/p]

• [p]GearHead 3 piece body[/p]

[p]Nissan S14 Ks Aero SE[/p]

• [p]Craft Autos Hood[/p]

[p]Nissan Fairlady Z (RZ34)[/p]

• [p]AeroFusion Auto hood[/p]

[p]Nissan Skyline R34 V-SPEC II[/p]

• [p]BMM Sports,Tarmac Circuit hood[/p]

[hr][/hr][p]We hope you will enjoy the changes! [/p][p]We will be closely monitoring your feedback, so please share your thoughts with us, once you have a chance to play the game after the update.[/p][p][/p][p]We are also committed to expanding the list of supported steering wheels and additional peripherals.[/p][p][/p][p]If you encounter any bug, please let us know HERE.[/p][p][/p][p]We are continuing to improve and expand the game - you can see our updated roadmap below.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Thank you for being with us! [/p][p]Also, remember to join our Discord server![/p][p]
[/p][p][/p][p]Let’s Drift[/p][p]The Gaming Factory Team[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][hr][/hr][h3]GAMING FACTORY - UPCOMING RELEASES[/h3][p]We're not only a developer but also a publisher. If you like JDM, take a look at what other titles we have gearing up for launch. Who knows, maybe you'll come to love them, as much as we do! [/p][p]
Thanks!

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[/p][p]Drifters, we’ve got some good news for all of you and especially the people who play on a steering wheel. In the upcoming patch expect to see major changes done to the overall driving experience. We’re overhauling some of our physics systems, focusing a lot of our attention towards the tire and suspension physics. These changes will be felt across all input devices - gamepad, keyboard and, most importantly, steering wheels. [/p][p][/p][p]The changes are targeted at drastically improving the grip racing experience, but also to enhance the overall feel and control of the cars you are driving. 

We’re also expanding our support for Force Feedback, which will significantly improve car behaviour when playing on a wheel. There’s a lot of additional configuration options happening under the hood for FFB that will not only make it easier to just plug and play using a wheel but will also make the driving experience feel smoother and more realistic.[/p][p][/p][p]The above introduced changes will influence both the arcade and simcade physics models, where the arcade physics will now feel more ‘arcade’y’ and simcade will feel a little more realistic.[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][hr][/hr][p]We’ve been following your feedback since launch day and this patch means to resolve the most pressing issues reported by you. Here are a few examples of what to expect:[/p][p][/p]

1. [p]Force Feedback - we’ve made a deep dive into our systems and reworked the support for FFB from the ground up. We are also upgrading our in-game setup - you will find more settings to fiddle with and tailor the driving experience just the way you want. This is a major step forward but not the end of the road - we’ve circled back to available steering wheel presets and are modifying them accordingly to changes made in the engine. We will also be adding FFB presets to those setups per wheel. This process will probably take until the end of summer, but the first batch of supported wheels will come alongside the upcoming update. More on that on patch day.
   [/p]
2. [p]Oversteering - with the overhaul of the physics in our engine and improvements made to tire and suspension behaviour you should no longer experience uncontrollable oversteering while playing on a wheel. The changes done to Force Feedback will also improve the general feeling of control you have over your car. The above modifications, alongside the automatic car setup system we’ve recently introduced, should drastically enhance the overall experience of driving in JDM.
   [/p]
3. [p]Arcade vs Simcade physics models - we’ve made a deep dive into both of our physics models and both were overhauled to better represent their target player bases.[/p][p]Arcade will now feel more… well arcade :) The overall driving experience will be easier with more overall grip for all cars, as well as it will be more effortless to maintain a drift.[/p][p]Simcade will feel a little bit more realistic now, especially in the handling department:  turning will feel smoother and the overall driving experience more enjoyable. [/p][p]All in all, the difference between the two models will now be more tangible, separating both models further apart and as such better representing the driving experience you can expect from both of them.
   [/p]
4. [p]Gravity - we’ve revamped some of our gravity settings, to improve car behaviour while in air - both big and small jumps will now feel more impactful and you will be able to feel the proper weight of the car. These changes will also influence the car’s behaviour during collisions, adding more weight to the cars and reacting more realistically during crashes.
   [/p]
5. [p]Braking - changes done to the game’s physics will also impact braking. At low speeds braking will be significantly faster and more reactive. At fast speeds, braking will be more impactful in general. With the suspension physics adjustments you will also see how your car works on the road, improving the feel for the car.[/p][p][/p]

[p][/p][p]To reiterate - our goal for this update is to greatly improve the driving experience, especially for our steering wheel drivers. If you’ve played the game previously and were discouraged by car handling, the upcoming patch will be a great moment to jump back in and check the new additions. [/p][p][/p][p]We will continue working on further improvements, so your feedback will be of utmost importance. When the changes go live, feel free to share your comments in the Discussion Forums, our Discord Server or through Customer Support - we want to build the best simcade racing game out there and we cannot do it without your help.[/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p]These are by no means the only changes coming to the next major patch. We’ve already shared a sneak peek for some of them - check our previous devlog for more information HERE.[/p][p][/p][p]The update is coming very soon, so be on the lookout for more news.[/p][p]If you haven’t done so already, join our Discord server and keep in touch with us directly.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Let’s Drift[/p][p]The Gaming Factory Team[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][hr][/hr][h3]GAMING FACTORY - UPCOMING RELEASES[/h3][p]We're not only a developer but also a publisher. If you like JDM, take a look at what other titles we have gearing up for launch. Who knows, maybe you'll come to love them, as much as we do! [/p][p]
Thanks!

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The next major patch is coming next week, so we wanted to give you a little sneak peek into what will be changing. Without further ado, let’s dive in:
[/p][h3]AI Improvements[/h3][hr][/hr][p]The AI improvements will touch on two different aspects of the game: open world traffic and opponent behaviour during events. 
[/p][p]Let’s start with events, as it is a more pressing issue for most of our drivers. We’ve improved AI inputs for the opponents - they are now more fluent, ensuring that every action they take is based on the same principles a player’s car would. The result is a more natural and realistic behavior of the AI. The opponents will also be smarter on the track, looking for the best possible route for them based on a variety of factors and will take into account other cars to calculate their reaction. Because of this the AI should be a little more predictable and definitely less destructive to your races.[/p][p][/p][p]In terms of traffic, we’ve completely redone our detection system and updated the traffic behaviour, ensuring that life on the road feels more realistic. Our efforts were primarily focused on highways, where the traffic would always turn to the left road lane, to avoid the incoming player. Now the cars will behave more naturally and will react to the players’ speed and the road maneuvers they make as they get close by. This will ensure a more life-like experience. [/p][p][/p][p]We’ve also looked into occasional traffic jams on the narrow mountain passes and the rural tight roads - the traffic will now be more scattered and less congested, allowing players to manoeuvre between cars when moving through the open world. [/p][p][/p][h3]Livery additions to the Challenge mode[/h3][hr][/hr][p]To make the Challenge Mode even more fun, we are adding custom created cars to the fray. They will come pre-tuned (and well set-up for either grip or drift races), including one of a kind, eye-pleasing custom liveries.
[/p][p][/p][p]This is the first, minor step we are taking in our mission of creating a fully customizable decals system in the game. It will take us some additional time to cook, but expect it to come to the game in Autumn. [/p][p][/p][h3]A new Underground Side Mission race[/h3][hr][/hr][p]Inspired by Tokyo Drift’s scene, the new Underground Side Mission will take you to a multi-level garage, in which you climb to the top floor and then down again to street level, all within a certain amount of time, of course, and with a drift score goal in mind.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]You will also be able to visit the garage in the open world. You will find it in the Guntama Port area. [/p][hr][/hr][hr][/hr][p][/p][p]We’ve got more big news lined-up for the upcoming patch and the above is but a pre-taste, a Part 01 if you will. Other, truly major, changes are being tested as we publish this devlog. As previously promised, one of them is all about the driving experience dedicated to our steering wheel drifters. Be on the lookout for a new announcement on this topic closer to the week’s end.[/p][p][/p][p]As always, we’re more than happy to discuss with you not only the upcoming changes to the game but anything JDM related. Join our Discord server to never miss a beat.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Let’s Drift![/p][p]The Gaming Factory Team[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][hr][/hr][h3]GAMING FACTORY - UPCOMING RELEASES[/h3][p]We're not only a developer but also a publisher. If you like JDM, take a look at what other titles we have gearing up for launch. Who knows, maybe you'll come to love them, as much as we do!
Thanks!

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