Hamster used the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase to announce a highly anticipated release: Rave Racer, the third entry in the Ridge Racer series, will arrive on February 26, 2026 via the Arcade Archives collection. Originally released in arcades in 1995, this title never received a true home console conversion, making this announcement a major event for arcade racing fans.

31 Years of Waiting for a Port

Developed by Namco on the System 22 hardware, Rave Racer was initially planned for a PC release shortly after its arcade debut, but the project was ultimately canceled. Since then, the only way to play it outside of arcades was through the Ridge Racer Arcade 1Up cabinet. Fans of the series have therefore had to wait more than three decades to finally enjoy this classic at home in a faithful version.

From a technical standpoint, Rave Racer was a showcase for its time, featuring highly detailed environments thanks to impressive texture mapping for the mid-1990s. The game stood out for its consistent 60 frames per second performance, crucial for arcade-style drift gameplay where precision is everything. The legendary “City” and “Mountain” tracks offered varied challenges that left a lasting impression on an entire generation of players.

The Authentic Arcade Experience

This Arcade Archives re-release will bring back the original experience along with the collection’s usual features: CRT-style screen filters, quick save functionality, and full customization of difficulty settings. Purists will be able to relive the authentic arcade feel, while newcomers can discover one of the finest representatives of 1990s arcade racing.

Source: Time Extension / Retrogamer.cc