JDM: Japanese Drift Master News

2024 has been a very intense and exciting year for us! It brought not only great challenges but also many successes. We released a total of 73 devlogs on JDM: Japanese Drift Master and JDM: Rise of the Scorpion. Each was a chance for us to give you a behind-the-scenes look at the production process and hear your feedback.

We started the year by saying goodbye to our first demo, which allowed us to gather invaluable feedback from you, and ended it by breaking into the Top 50 most anticipated games on Steam. In April, we announced the free-to-play prologue for JDM: Rise of the Scorpion, introducing for the first time. Hatori - an important character for our story. The prologue was released in August and remains available to play, so you can see for yourself how our work is progressing. We ended the year with a bang, announcing the window for releasing the full version of JDM, which we planned for Spring 2025.

[h3]Let's recap everything that happened in 2024![/h3]

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h2]Car Licenses[/h2]
One of the major milestones this year has been the acquisition of official licenses from the world's most iconic car brands. Legends like Nissan, Subaru, and Mazda have joined the ranks of JDM! Thanks to these collaborations, we have been able to bring the cars you know and love from the real world into the game. This is a huge step forward in our mission to create the best drift game ever


[h2]Premiere of JDM: Rise of the Scorpion[/h2]
On the 8th of August 2024, our free-to-play prologue JDM: Rise of the Scorpion. was released, introducing many new features such as the Challenge Mode in which you can compete for top positions on the leaderboards; a vastly expanded map, that's only a fraction of what you'll see in the full game; and a storyline told through manga pages embedded directly to in-game events, focusing on Hatori and his friends as they make their mark on the local drifting scene. Unfortunately, we couldn't avoid some technical problems at launch, but thanks to your feedback and support, we were able to fix them quickly with systematic updates. Thank you for your dedication and for always being there for us!


[h2]Gaming events[/h2]
In 2024, we had the pleasure of presenting JDM: Japanese Drift Master at many industry events. These were unforgettable experiences where we had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know thousands of gaming and automotive fans. Our stands were visited by crowds of enthusiasts, and thanks to the collaborations with 4Divinity, Intel, MSI, or 2Games we were able to showcase the game in almost all major markets.

We visited:

1. Pyrkon
   
2. Japfest
   
3. Gamescom
   
4. PAX West
   
5. Tokyo Game Show (TGS)
   
6. Gamescom Asia
   
7. BitSummit
   
8. Brasil Game Show (BGS)
   

Thank you for coming by and making each one of these events special!


[h2]Contests[/h2]
2024 was also the year of contests where you could win exclusive prizes:

• #LetsRise – an Instagram competition held before the release of JDM: Rise of the Scorpion, in which you told us about the features you anticipated most from the upcoming demo.
  
• Beat the Streamer – a contest held in JDM: Rise of the Scorpion, where you could compete against our streamer friends to beat their official scores on the leaderboard in the Challenge mode.
  
  [h3]Current contests[/h3]
  
• Guntama Street Art Contest – a creative art contest in which the best works will be immortalised in the full version of the game. Remember, the contest is ongoing and you can still take part! Check out the contest devlog for more details.
  
• Gleam Giveaway – a simple contest where we ask you to complete tasks related to our products and social media for a chance to win prizes. You still have a chance to take part, more details here.
  

[h2]Amazing Community[/h2]
Thank you for watching our trailers and gameplays, and for providing us with your feedback in the comments! We have always tried to keep up with you on social media and Discord to post as often as our time allows; to create our community with you, not beside you.


2024 is the year our community showed us that together we can do anything. Thank you for your support, feedback, and opinions, which motivate us every day. Your engagement, questions, and stories are invaluable to us.

We would like to remind you that the Guntama Street Art runs until the end of January and that you can still enter the Gleam Giveawaywhich runs until January 2nd, 2025. Check out our social media to keep up to date!

Spring 2025 and the upcoming release of JDM: Japanese Drift Master are upon us, so get ready - there's a lot of excitement coming your way. Click the “Follow”, add the game to your wishlist on Steam, and let's make 2025 even better together!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1153410/JDM_Japanese_Drift_Master/


Let’s Drift
Gaming Factory

In Gaming Factory, cars are our life. Not only do we drive aroundracetracksto learn all about drifting, but we also privately work on our own vehicles.

This year, we visited Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, and brought an RX-7 with us. The car wasn’t a rental—it belongs to one of our developers, BananaBoy. The Mazda has become something of a star at the show, so we thought we’d share a bit of its background with you. To do that, we interviewed the owner. Let’s get started!


[h3]Why did you choose this particular model?[/h3]

The Mazda RX-7 has always been on my ‘must-have’ list of cars—it’s my absolute favorite JDM in terms of looks. In 2016, I made a 500-kilometer drive across Poland to trade my Subaru for an RX-7. However, I ended up backing out because the poor condition of the Mazda didn’t compare to the pristine Impreza I had. For the next six years, I regretted that decision! 😊

[h3]Does your car have a unique history or an interesting past?[/h3]

Is it interesting? That’s not for me to judge. Unfortunately, many of today’s highly sought-after JDMs have a similar story, often without a happy ending. This particular RX-7 comes from Japan, where it was driven from 1993 for at least ten years. It later made its way to the UK, where it underwent numerous mechanical modifications. When it was imported to Poland in 2012, it had a freshly built engine with around 500 horsepower. Interestingly, the car was imported with the intention of removing the engine and other parts, which were repurposed into another RX-7. Since then, it had been sitting in a corner of a garage, gathering dust.


[h3]Was this car difficult to acquire? What was the buying process like?[/h3]

The Mazda RX-7 is a 30-plus-year-old legend that still commands a high price. In the spring of 2022, I decided it was now or never. I spread the word among friends in the industry and on motoring groups, searching for an RX-7—whether it was a project, a rebuild, or a model in great condition. A few offers came through, including the car we’re discussing today. However, because it was incomplete, I initially opted for a fully operational Mazda. A few months later, the same car turned up again, this time at a much better price. Even though I already owned one RX-7, I simply couldn’t say no!

[h3]What key modifications did you make and why?[/h3]

A more accurate question might be, “Is there anything you haven’t modified?” 😛 As I mentioned, the car had been collecting dust in the shop for about ten years without an engine. During that time, it had been “robbed” of parts needed for other projects. By the time I bought it back, you could say it was just a bare shell with no drivetrain and a rundown interior. The car essentially needed to be built from scratch. It was completely rebuilt, both mechanically and visually, and now sports a new color as well.


[h3]Do you have any plans for future improvements or tuning?[/h3]

Of course! As of today, I still consider the car unfinished, and it needs additional work. First, the electrics need to be completed—I want the car to be fully functional, which includes working air conditioning, gauges, and a sound system. The suspension also needs attention. I plan to replace the stock control arms with adjustable ones, radically alter the geometry for drifting, and possibly upgrade the wheels to something more interesting.

[h3]What engine is in your car? How much power does your car's engine generate and what vehicle performance it assures?[/h3]

The current engine is the complete opposite of the original rotary (Wankel) engine—a 3-liter M57 diesel from BMW. So, I swapped out a high-revving, low-torque petrol engine for a slow-revving diesel with several times the torque. At this stage, after the engine swap, it produces 260 horsepower and about 600 Nm of torque. This is more than enough for drifting. However, if I decide I need more power, this engine has the potential to handle significant upgrades comfortably.


[h3]What is your favourite visual element on your car? (e.g. body kit, paint job, wheels).[/h3]

I don’t think I have a single favorite component. For me, the most important thing is how the individual parts come together to form a cohesive whole. The body kit from C-West, combined with the RE Amemiya bonnet and carbon wing, is my favorite tuning "package" for the RX-7 body. The car has beautiful lines on its own, and these additions guarantee it catches the eye of anyone with even a passing interest in cars. I didn’t want to overwhelm those lines with a flashy color. The factory red was replaced with Titanium Gray, also from the Mazda RX-7 factory palette, and subtly enhanced with a wraparound livery reminiscent of the early 2000s—the golden age of tuning in Japan and worldwide. I’ve paired the look with classic sports rims, the Work Emotion 11R. However, I wouldn’t rule out switching to something else in the future. I tend to get bored quickly and like to change things up. 😊

[h3]Is your exhaust system custom? If so, what did you change and why?[/h3]

The entire exhaust system is handmade from stainless steel. Since it’s a supercharged diesel, it doesn’t produce enough noise to require mufflers. As a result, it’s a straight pipe with a 3-inch diameter, expanding to 4.5 inches in the end section.


[h3]What makes this car unique from other JDM cars?[/h3]

(Wankel) engine was also a signature feature of the RX series, and no other widely known JDM model had a similar engine. Now, with the diesel swap, it’s even more distinctive. I haven’t come across another RX-7 FD anywhere in the world where someone has made a modification quite like this—it’s a bit of a controversial choice! 😛

[h3]How do people react when they see your car on the street?[/h3]

The hype around Japanese classics has grown enormously in recent years. I often see people taking photos of my car, pointing at it, or hearing children shout in excitement. You have to realize that these cars are almost extinct—there are only a few dozen left in Poland. In my town, only two RX-7s have been spotted over the last decade, and both of them are mine. This makes the car very special. For my generation, the RX-7 is an icon, well-known from games and films. Seeing one in person on the street becomes a memorable experience, even for those who don’t consider themselves car enthusiasts.


[h3]Do you own any other cars? If so, do you have any favourites?[/h3]

There are plenty of cars I’d like to own, but my budget doesn’t allow me to have them all at once, so I change cars frequently—selling and buying as I go. I bought my first car in 2011, and since then, I’ve owned about 200 different models. If that sounds absurd, just imagine my friend, who owns a similar number of cars at any given time, spread across different storage locations. 😊 Currently, I own the RX-7 we’ve been discussing, a Nissan 350Z, a Volkswagen Golf Convertible (my first car), a Lincoln Limousine from one of Donald Trump’s hotels, a Peugeot 206 RC, and a Tesla Model S, which is my daily driver. Over the years, I’ve also had many radically different vehicles, including around 20 Mazda MX-5s, a Hummer H2, a Porsche Boxster, 911, and Cayenne, a Bentley Continental GT, an Aston Martin DB9, three Nissan Silvia S15s, two Skyline R34s, a Toyota Chaser, two Subaru Impreza WRXs, an original Mazda RX-7, and many more.

Right now, I’m saving up for my next dream car—a Ferrari or Lamborghini.

Thank you for the talk!



We hope this interview has given you a closer look at what it means to own and cherish a piece of JDM history. If you have any burning questions or your own stories about your dream cars, let us know in the comment section below!

Don't forget to add JDM: Japanese Drift Master to your Steam wishlist and push the “Follow” button to receive the latest updates. Also join our amazing community on Discord where the discussion never ends. See you on the track!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1153410/JDM_Japanese_Drift_Master/


Let’s Drift
Gaming Factory

Today, we’re taking you on a high-octane journey that bridges the gap between real-life racing action and the immersive virtual world of JDM: Japanese Drift Master. Buckle up, because we’ve got an exclusive devlog packed with adrenaline, burnt rubber, and breathtaking drifts!



[h3]Introducing the JDM x Racing Tracks Showcase [/h3]
To develop the best racing game possible we need to understand racing at its core. To do that we show up at various events, focusing our attention on drifting challenges. This year we had the pleasure to participate in Japfest and JDM Trójmiasto events, here in Poland. To share a little bit of fun we had with you folks, we’ve put together a special video combining footage from real-life racing events and runs in our game. From the roar of engines to the squeal of tires. It’s a true celebration of the passion and artistry of drifting, both in real life and in the virtual world.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
This epic crossover wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible events that fueled our inspiration:

[h3]Japfest[/h3]
At Japfest, one of the biggest celebrations of Japanese car culture in Europe, attendees had the chance to not only witness stunning drift car parades and custom-tuned beauties but also dive into the world of JDM with on-site driving simulators provided by Simracing School! Equipped with full steering wheel setups, fans could test their skills in JDM: Japanese Drift Master while competing for exclusive prizes.

[h3]JDMTrójmiasto[/h3]
In Tricity, Poland, the JDM Community event brought together fans, drivers, and gamers alike. The picturesque Polish coast provided the perfect backdrop for filming live-action content that you saw in today’s showcase. This event captured the essence of car culture and the camaraderie that comes with it. The feedback we received from the community was incredible.

Participating in drift events allowed us to recreate the spirit of these events in JDM: Japanese Drift Master. We wanted to ensure that every turn of the track, every detail of the scenery, and every drift you do in the game reflected the thrill of being on the track in person.


Special thanks go to our partners: Simracing School and Motul. With you, these events are always more exciting!


Check out the video, feel the adrenaline, and let us know what you think. And remember, whether you’re tearing up the track in real life or perfecting your lines in-game—the spirit of drifting lives in all of us - Let’s Drift!

Add JDM: Japanese Drift Master to your Steam wishlist and follow the game to stay updated. Also join the discussion and connect with fellow drift enthusiasts on our Discord server. See you soon!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1153410/JDM_Japanese_Drift_Master/

Let’s Drift
Gaming Factory

As the year comes to a close, we wanted to provide a small summary of what you might expect in the full version of the game, which will be released in Spring 2025.

Your feedback, comments, and DMs since the launch of JDM: Rise of the Scorpion was an immense help to our development process. We hear what you are saying and we know there’s still a lot we can improve before the game releases. To highlight a few aspects that are at the top of our priorities:

• Performance - our goal is to have the game running smoothly even on weaker GPUs or perform better on mid and high end GPUs. We’re actively improving game streaming, as well as lighting, shadows and… well basically all aspects of the game, so you can enjoy JDM on the PCs you already own.
  
  
• Input devices - steering wheels, pedal panels, handbrakes and shifters - we’re systematically adding support for additional devices and testing them in-house to be sure everything is ready for launch. That includes hardware dedicated strictly for sim racers, as well as mainstream devices you can find in electronic stores across the globe and even cheap stuff you can get online with little to no branding on them. Of course, we won’t be able to cover every single device available out there and check every single combination of devices, e.g. Logitech steering wheel, paired up with a Thrustmaster handbrake and a Moza shifter, so our robust key binding system will make a reappearance. It will be updated and will contain more settings so that with a little bit of time you will be able to bind anything to play JDM with.
  

[h2]Story[/h2]


Racing games rarely have an engaging plotline assigned to them. With a game inspired by Japan and its culture, it felt almost obligatory to implement manga into the gameplay. And so we did! With a full team of manga artists in-house we’re drawing the story page by page, all of which will tie to every single story event that you will encounter in the game.

Each story event will push the manga forward and at any time you will be able to read the unlocked pages via your smartphone, a feature you could already see in our prologue-demo JDM: Rise of the Scorpion.

JDM: Rise of the Scorpion introduced a prequel story to the game, which you won’t find in the full game. It’s set a few years earlier and introduces some important characters that will shape the story of JDM. The prologue is free to play, so if you haven’t done so already, you might want to check it out.

Our fictional prefecture - Guntama - will see a lot of racing very soon. You will meet colorful characters, some of them will become your friends, others fierce rivals. Expect a lot of action, drama and even some romance. We’ll get back to you with more details, early next year!

[h2]Open World [/h2]

When we started the development of JDM: Japanese Drift Master we had one goal in mind - recreating Japan as precisely as it was possible. Starting with the architecture and surrounding nature and ending with the roads you will drive on. Let’s stop here for a second and talk about the latter.

If you’ve played enough racing games in your life, you might have noticed that they place you either on racing tracks or city streets where every road is as wide as a highway. Japan is known for its narrow, winding passes, extremely tight streets and even more extreme mountain corners, so this approach just wouldn’t cut it. Aiming for credibility, we wanted to recreate Japan roads as they are in reality, adding additional layers of experience to the game - one of authenticity so that roaming around our fictional Guntama feels like the real deal and one of gameplay complexity. In JDM you just won’t be able to go 200 miles per hour at all times - controlling your speed, the gear you're in and when you need to break will be as crucial as learning and understanding drifting (to cut those corners faster). We believe our game is the only title out there that provides such an experience.

Of course, we are continually working on expanding the Guntama prefecture, populating it with various, recognizable landmarks and architecture. Some are generally known to the global populace, some will have a deeper meaning for automotive fans - legendary car spots will find their way into JDM! Stay tuned next year for more precise information on the subject. For now, take a look at some examples from JDM: Rise of the Scorpion.

The Machi-no-Eki Yusuhara building might not be a hotel in-game, but it’s still a recognizable landmark, whose purpose has been tied to the story and mood aspects of JDM: Japanese Drift Master.



Haruna Lake is called Haikama Lake in JDM. See and decide for yourselves if we gave justice to this location.






Throughout the development of JDM, we strived to bring characteristic Japanese landmarks to the game and the examples above only scratch the surface of the content you will be able to uncover, as you drive around Guntama. If you’re a Japanese resident or a frequent tourist you will definitely recognise some spots. If you haven’t done so already, launch JDM: ROTS and see how many references you can find and let us know in the comments! :)

[h2]Tuning[/h2]
Before we close this devlog, let us say a few words about tuning, as it’s one of the most frequent subjects you ask about. It’s happening and growing by the day, both in terms of visual and technical tuning. Speaking of the latter - you will be able to buy new parts for each car. Those parts will come in tiers - each tier more expensive, but providing better performance. For as long as you can afford it, you can buy any part you want. On top of that, more advanced parts will unlock the ability to fine-tune your car's performance. We’re not ready to go into details, but expect an update focused on the subject next year.

And as for visual tuning, let the images speak for themselves:

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Again, we will share more details on visual tuning with you next year.

That’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this little summary. Tell us in the comments what made you interested in JDM in the first place. Also, don’t forget to 📌 Hit ‘Follow’ on our Steam page and add JDM: Japanese Drift Master to your wishlist to stay up-to-date on all announcements.

[h3]PS[/h3]
We have two ongoing contests right now:

🎨 Don’t miss the chance to have your art featured in our game. Check out the Guntama Street Art Contest devlog for all the details and show us what you’ve got!

🎁 We’re also running an exciting Gleam campaign. Follow a few simple steps for your shot at a free ticket to the streets of Guntama! Join here: Gleam Contest.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1153410/JDM_Japanese_Drift_Master/


Let's Drift!
Gaming Factory

As the year draws to a close, we still have one more exciting update to share about the development of JDM: Japanese Drift Master. We want to take a moment to celebrate a milestone that means a lot to us as the creators of this incredible project.

[h3]JDM is officially in the top 50 most wishlisted games on Steam![/h3]



We’re deeply grateful to each and every one of you for making this possible. Your support has been our driving force, and being listed among such amazing upcoming titles is both humbling and motivating. This recognition fuels our passion as we continue to perfect the game.


Next year we will have a lot of awesome news and deep dives into the project which will surely make you even more excited for the upcoming premiere. Rest assured, we’re working hard to climb the Steam wishlist rankings even higher—and you can help us make that happen!

[h3]If you want to support the development of JDM:[/h3]

💬 Let us know in the comments what you’re most curious about, so we can take that into consideration, as we prepare our articles.

📌 Hit ‘Follow’ on our Steam page and add JDM: Japanese Drift Master to your wishlist to stay up-to-date on all announcements. The next few weeks will feature reflections on our journey and a glimpse into the exciting road ahead.

🎨 Don’t miss the chance to have your art featured in our game. Check out the Guntama Street Art Contest devlog for all the details and show us what you’ve got!

🎁 We’re also running an exciting Gleam campaign. Follow a few simple steps for your shot at a free ticket to the streets of Guntama! Join here: Gleam Contest

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1153410/JDM_Japanese_Drift_Master/

Mark your calendars—Spring 2025 is closer than you think! Get ready for the premiere of an experience like no other.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Let’s make 2025 the year of JDM together!

Let’s Drift!
Gaming Factory