4 Times Automotive-based Brands Appeared In Non-racing Games

The most logical genre for car manufacturers and automotive brands to feature in is racing games - but there are other crossovers as well. Here are a few of them.

If you think about cars in video games, the obvious genre to put them into is racing games and simulations. In gaming, the genre is one of the oldest, with the earliest examples released around 1970. Different sources cannot seem to agree which was the very first title, but the point still stands - racing games are almost as old as video games as a whole.

But that does not mean that car and automotive brands are simply appearing in this genre only - especially not in recent years. Many have found ways to promote their cars, racing series or even movie franchises in games that are not about racing first and foremost.

The latest example is Porsche, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of its Carrera Turbo in a non-racing game. But we shall get to that.

The Ferrari 296 GTB found its way into Fortnite in 2021. Image: Epic Games

1 - Ferrari In Fortnite​

The popularity of Fortnite remains enormous: The battle royale game had over 200 million players in August 2024 and has seen several cooperations with well-known companies, influencers, and even Lewis Hamilton, who is available as a player skin in the game.

One of the most remarkable tie-ins has to be Ferrari, though. Quite possibly the most famous car brand in the world is actually in Fortnite, and not just with a player skin or other cosmetic items. Instead, the Ferrari 296 GTB - the basis of the Italian manufacturer's current GT3 racer - can be driven by players since 2021.

This crossover was possible due to the Ferrari car configurator running on Unreal Engine - just like Fortnite does. As a result, getting the model into the game was a relatively simple process.


Image:

2 - Formula One In Rocket League​

While car-based, Rocket League is not a racing game - but it still makes sense for car brands to appear in the game. Essentially car football (or soccer) in a futuristic setting, the game has seen several real-life crossovers in its lifespan that made it hard to pick one. Lamborghini, McLaren, Aston Martin and more are part of Rocket League - as are several movie franchises like Jurassic Park, Fast & Furious, or Knight Rider.

And in 2021, even F1 got in on the fun. With the release of the F1 2021 Fan Pack ahead of the 2021 Monaco Grand Prix, players got access to a generic 2021-spec F1 car, a set of Pirelli tires, F1 team liveries, and an F1 engine audio option.

A 2022 version of the pack was released ahead of that year's Miami Grand Prix, containing updated versions of the 2021 pack's items. The pack is the final F1-themed one to date, with players wondering when (or if) another version of it might launch.

3 - NASCAR In Roblox​

Available on a number of platforms and even on mobile devices, the focus of Roblox is clearly its online multiplayer. Basically, the game is a platform for players to create their own games within via Roblox Studio - naturally, car enthusiasts did just that. The most popular one is titled Driving Empire, which is an open-world game all about cars and racing them.

For this game within a game, there is an official NASCAR partnership. Accordingly, you can find a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 stock car, custom liveries, Goodyear tires, and even the Daytona International Speedway with an accompanying event. Adding to this is NASCAR-themed player apparel.

In fact, the NASCAR update to Driving Empire has launched only recently on August 23, 2024. Of course, players should not expect realistic handling or even speeds - when we tried the NASCAR, we reached over 430 kph (267 mph) on a straight once. Still, it is an interesting tie-in to see.


Image: Porsche/Driving Empire

4 - Porsche In Roblox​

Finally, the most recenet appearance of a car manufacturer in a non-car game (strictly speaking, anyway) is Porsche within Roblox and the aforementioned Driving Empire. The German sportscar manufacturer joined the game on August 30 to celebrate 50 years of the Porsche 911 Turbo.

This includes a special in-game event that has players collect parts of the anniversary 911 Turbo 50 Years model to build the car themselves. Additionally, the Porsche 911 Turbo No. 1 has been added, with four more models of the Stuttgart-based brand on their way and set to release in the next few days. Players can also keep their eyes peeled for Porsche-themed items for their characters.

The Roblox/Driving Empire integration is not the first of its kind for Porsche. If you happened to be at gamescom 2024, chances are you will have passed by the massive stand that Porsche and Overwatch had set up - one of the in-game characters, Pharah, can acquire a custom Mech that is based on the design of the electric Macan. A full-size recreation of this Mech was on show at gamescom.


Stellar Cosplay in Pharah cosplay at the Porsche/Overwatch booth at gamescom 2024, the Porsche-branded mech in the background. Image: Porsche Newsroom

Of course, this list is far from exhaustive - which improbable car brand/game crossover do you remember, and which is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!