A High-Voltage Throwback for the Digital Drift Generation
Move over, nostalgia, it’s about to get electric. Nissan’s Formula E team, already known for pushing boundaries on the world’s fiercest street circuits, has now shifted gears into the virtual fast lane with the launch of their first-ever video game: NISMO Electric Racer Tokyo. Picture all the pulse-pounding speed of Formula E, now pixelated and packed into a retro arcade experience that lets you tear through the electric veins of Tokyo, Mount Fuji in the backdrop, cherry blossoms flying by, your only job is to keep your stylised Nissan racer off the virtual sidewalks and your hands firmly glued to the throttle button.
The game was crafted in collaboration with Kentaro Yoshida, a Japanese illustrator famed for pastel hues, bold lines, and quirky characters. For Yoshida, dipping his pen into the pixelated world represents a personal first, and his unique visual signature infuses both the game and real-world racing: if the game’s cherry blossom-shrouded tracks aren’t enough, Yoshida’s retro-futurist Sakura-themed livery for Nissan’s real Formula E machines will debut at the Tokyo E-Prix. This Tokyo stop, home turf for Nissan, sets the perfect scene for what team principal Tommaso Volpe calls a celebration of Japanese heritage—on the asphalt and on the screen.
Accessible from any modern PC or mobile device, NISMO Electric Racer Tokyo boasts an 8-bit visual style directly channeling the golden days of ‘90s arcade racers. But don’t mistake pixels for placid: with a simulated top speed of 322 kph, this is a proper white-knuckle tribute to the split-second thrills of actual Formula E racing. To make things spicy, official drivers Oliver Rowland and Norman Nato are already limbering up their thumbs, setting benchmark scores for fans—and brave souls everywhere—to challenge on an online leaderboard. Nothing says “modern motorsport” quite like racing for the fastest virtual lap before the real cars even hit the track .
The game’s launch is more than just a marketing detour; it’s a love letter to Japan’s legendary gaming scene and to the high-voltage future Nissan envisions. Since making their Formula E debut in 2018, Nissan has been all-in on racing with a purpose—championing zero-emission vehicles, electrifying their lineup, and sharing that racetrack-to-road tech with McLaren Racing for the current Formula E era. Now, with a commitment extending into the GEN4 era (through 2030!), Nissan isn’t just playing a game: they’re fully invested in bringing sustainable racing—and the thrill of EVs—to a new, global audience.
As Formula E continues as the world’s cleanest, most future-forward motorsport—certified net-zero from the get-go—and engines give way to battery packs, Nismo’s retro game offers fans a chance to plug in, have fun, and maybe even get their name atop a leaderboard next to the pros.
To fans of pixelated pavement and neon nostalgia: your ride awaits at www.NismoElectricRacer.com.
