Hamster Corporation has now released Namco's classic arcade racing game Ace Driver on PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series X. This release makes the title, which was long confined to arcades, more accessible on modern consoles for the first time, though it is not currently available on Xbox One or PC.
Ace Driver was originally released in Japanese arcades in 1994 and arrived in Western markets in 1995. Namco announced a PlayStation 1 version in 1995, originally scheduled for release between 1995 and 1996, but this version was ultimately canceled.
Inspired by Namco's Final Lap series, the game challenges players to complete three laps in a Formula One car while avoiding obstacles and competing against opponents. The title achieved solid commercial and critical success at the time, and although it didn't reach the same level of fame as Sega's Daytona USA or Namco's Ridge Racer, it is still regarded by some veteran players as a representative work among similar arcade racers.
The series later saw the release of Ace Driver: Victory Lap in 1995 and Ace Driver 3: Final Turn in 2008, after which it remained dormant for a long time. The PS4 and Nintendo Switch versions are priced at $14.99, while the newer console versions are priced at $16.99; the reason for this price difference has not been confirmed.