Racing Game JDM: Ph4ntom Driver Announced for PC

Gaming Factory announced the open-world racing game JDM: Ph4ntom Driver on October 15, according to automaton-media.com. The game is in development for PC via Steam, and no release date has been announced.

JDM: Ph4ntom Driver is a spin-off of the open-world racing game JDM: Japanese Drift Master. It is set in Guntama Prefecture, an otherworld version of the fictional Guntama Prefecture from the previous title. The setting is isolated from the living world, corrupted by evil magic, and inhabited by various yokai.

The player drives a JDM machine to explore the open world and faces a final battle against the demon king Jomodouji. Yokai enemies attack in groups in the streets and are mowed down with the car. Players can obtain new cars and parts and customize their car to improve performance and combat ability. A released trailer shows scenes of destroying red crystal-like objects placed on roads with a car.

The game features a supernatural power called Hakai and an element of earning a Hakai score. The single-player campaign tells its story through manga-style cutscenes and a conversation system, as in JDM: Japanese Drift Master. A multiplayer mode is also planned, with details to be announced later.

The project was originally planned as an expansion pack for JDM: Japanese Drift Master, but became a spin-off during development and later grew into a larger ambitious project. The game can be enjoyed without playing the previous title, but it contains Easter eggs and homages for fans.