NISSAN DROPS RETRO ARCADE BANGER TO CELEBRATE TOKYO E-PRIX WITH NISMO ELECTRIC RACER TOKYO
Nissan’s bringing big 90s energy to its home race in Tokyo - not just on the grid, but on screen too - with the launch of its first-ever video game: NISMO Electric Racer Tokyo. Created to celebrate the return of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship to Japan, this pixel-powered passion project fuses high-speed electric racing with vintage arcade nostalgia. Developed in collaboration with renowned Japanese-born artist Kentaro Yoshida, NISMO Electric Racer Tokyo channels the vibrant chaos of Tokyo’s neon-soaked streets, weaving through cherry blossoms and past Mount Fuji in glorious 8-bit style. It’s fast, it’s fun, and it’s absolutely dripping with retro Japanese game culture. Available to play now on PC and mobile at www.NismoElectricRacer.com, players can put pedal to pixel and race through a stylised Tokyo cityscape at a simulated top speed of 322 km/h - capturing the heart-racing thrill of Formula E. The game launches alongside a 90s-style advert that blends gameplay footage with real-life racing action from Nissan’s Formula E campaign. Drivers Oliver Rowland and Norman Nato are already gunning for leaderboard glory, but fans are encouraged to step up, set their own lap times, and see how they stack up against the pros. This isn’t just a throwback for throwback’s sake. Nissan tapped the unique visual style of Kentaro Yoshida to bring the game - and their race weekend - to life in a way that’s bold, nostalgic, and unmistakably Japanese. Known for his pastel palettes, chunky linework and quirky characters, Yoshida was born in a quiet fishing village in Toyama, Japan. At 18, he made the move to Australia chasing sunshine and surf, eventually settling in Sydney’s laid-back Northern Beaches. That coastal cool now collides with Tokyo’s electric buzz in a debut gaming collaboration that feels completely original.
Yoshida’s influence doesn’t stop at the game. Nissan has also enlisted him to design a special edition livery for the team’s Formula E car at the Tokyo E-Prix - his artistic reinterpretation of the team’s signature Sakura-themed design. The one-off race livery will make its public debut during a special event at Nissan’s Global Headquarters in Yokohama on May 14th, before hitting the track just days later.
“We’re very excited to return to our home E-Prix in Tokyo,” said Tommaso Volpe, Managing Director and Team Principal, Nissan Formula E Team.
“This race is not only a major moment for us as a team, but also a chance to celebrate our Japanese heritage. With NISMO Electric Racer Tokyo, we’ve created something that captures the energy we bring to the track while celebrating Japan’s legendary gaming culture. We’ve had a good season so far and we’re ready to give it our all in Tokyo—to deliver excitement both on and off the track.” Whether you’re chasing lap records on the leaderboard, catching Yoshida’s art in the pitlane, or just soaking in the glow of a truly Tokyo-style race weekend, Nissan’s got you covered - from console to circuit.
We tried out the game, and it’s great. It’s mad that old-school graphics and gameplay can be so entertaining and fun, especially when the world of gaming is trying its best to have as realistic graphics as possible to fool the user into as much of a lifelike experience as possible. I guess it helps that we’ve been around since the days when Atari was the top dog in gaming consoles and we’ve been along for the ride to see things progress to what the kids today are mindlessly playing. Go ahead, give it a go, but don’t blame us for the time you end up wasting on the site…
Take a look at the YouTube video that shows off the retro-cool arcade game created by the chaps at NISMO in conjunction with celebrated artist and designer, Kentaro Yoshida: NISMO Electric Racer | Nissan Formula E | NISMO
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