After months of teases, we finally have clear, controller-in-hand gameplay from NASCAR 25. In a new 16-minute video filmed at Young’s Motorsports, Xfinity driver Anthony Alfredo takes the #42 Chevy for practice laps at Homestead-Miami and jumps into a short race before switching to a Cup car at Richmond. If you’ve been waiting to see how the cars actually behave, this is the best look yet.
“It’s challenging… but I could pick this up late at night, run a couple races, and scratch that itch.” — Anthony Alfredo (on controller) YouTube
The quick hits (what the video confirms)
- Real handling traits are front and center. Alfredo talks through classic oval balance: tight in the center, snaps loose off when it rolls onto the right-rear. He has to manage throttle and hands rather than mash and go.
- Difficulty is no joke. They run 98 AI difficulty (scale reportedly goes to 105) and start deep in the field; passes require racecraft (side-drafts, sliders, using the fence at Homestead, top lane at Richmond).
- Assist & controller tuning is deep. Stability, damping and smoothing options help tame thumb-steer on a pad; you can tailor impact forces so you can’t just bulldoze the AI (or turn that training-wheels stability off).
- Multiple cameras, strong cockpit presentation. Two chase cams, two cockpit views, roof and bumper cams are shown; cockpit lighting and mirrors are highlighted in the run.
- Laser-scanned authenticity. Track and car models are pulled from the iRacing sim, meaning the console game benefits from the same scan data (Richmond’s patches and character are specifically called out).
Coverage from sim-racing outlets echoed the same takeaways: impressive visuals, convincing cockpit view, and believable slick-track behavior at Richmond. OverTake.gg
How it feels (from the seat)
- Homestead: Worn surface, lane choice matters. Alfredo works bottom/middle to build momentum, then flirts with the wall (“ripping the fence”). Contact is costly; composite bodies help you survive, but you can’t just ride the wall.
- Richmond: Hot day, low grip, outside lane can come alive. Alfredo leans on rivals without turning them, executes crossovers and sliders, then fades as fronts burn off—a nice nod to tire wear and heat.
Why this first look matters
Earlier dev diaries only flashed snippets; today’s footage shows race flow, AI racecraft, and pad playability all at once. For a console audience that doesn’t want a pure sim but still craves authenticity, this hit the mark—hard enough to be satisfying, accessible enough to pick up and race.
Release timing (so you can plan)
Per today’s press materials, NASCAR 25 is slated for PlayStation 5 & Xbox Series X|S on October 14, 2025, with PC on November 11, 2025.
My quick take
This is the first footage that feels like a race weekend: out-lap jitters, finding a lane, making a slider stick, then paying the price when you abuse the fronts. The 98/105 AI setting is a smart showcase—it proves there’s headroom for aliens while showing that a pad can still be precise with the right damping. If the rest of the package (career, modes, netcode) meets this bar, NASCAR 25 could finally give console players the credible, modern NASCAR racer they’ve been waiting for.
