Ossu,
From the initial concept to the final version, JDM: Japanese Drift Master has come a long way. As we created new gameplay features and showcased exciting updates, we couldn’t help but reflect on the incredible journey this project has taken. Built by true enthusiasts, JDM is a game crafted with passion and dedication to bring an authentic drifting experience to life.
Check out the video and see how the gameplay has evolved over the years:
Concept
From the start, our goal was to create a simcade racing game that would introduce the art of drifting to a wider audience. Inspired by titles like Initial D and Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift, we envisioned a story-driven experience. However, the way we wanted to present that story evolved significantly over time.
Initially, we explored a Visual Novel-style approach with character illustrations, but we soon sought a way to make the narrative feel more mature and immersive. You can read more about this evolution in our devlog on concept art.
Developing the gameplay and open-world map was a challenge, but having a strong foundation in physics kept us focused on our vision. With simcade driving mechanics as our core, we never lost sight of what we wanted to create.
The First Demo
Steam Next Fest 2023 was the first opportunity for players to download and experience JDM: Japanese Drift Master firsthand. The response was incredible—our game ranked #1 in daily active players among all of the showcased demos! We were thrilled by the overwhelming attention and invaluable feedback from the community.
This first demo only featured a small portion of the open-world map that will be available in the full version, but the love for the Japanese countryside setting was undeniable. Players embraced the atmosphere, and their insights helped us refine and improve the game even further.
The demo was live for four months and was downloaded over 750,000 times! With such an amazing response, we were more motivated than ever to keep pushing forward and turn JDM into the ultimate racing adventure you’ve been dreaming of!
JDM: Rise of the Scorpion
In August 2024, we launched a demo-prologue that introduced a storyline for the first time! Players got to experience the origin story of Hatori ‘Scorpion’ Hasashi, one of the key rivals in the full version of the game, where they will face off against the main character, Touma. This free prologue not only showcased our refined driving mechanics but also gave players access to a larger portion of the map and our unique manga-inspired storytelling.
With later updates, we introduced Challenge Mode, which kept the game thriving for months. Players honed their drifting and racing skills, competing in monthly leaderboards where we crowned the top drifters and grippers.
Throughout this time, we gathered valuable feedback on the story, gameplay, and optimization, all of which played a crucial role in polishing the upcoming full version.
Remember to add JDM: Japanese Drift Master to your wishlist and hit that ‘Follow’ button! Your support means the world to us, especially in these final days before the release. Join our Discord and count down to the premiere with our amazing community!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1153410/JDM_Japanese_Drift_Master/
Let’s Drift
Gaming Factory
