• by Tanya Gazdik , May 14, 2025

Nissan has launched a video game that aims to honor Tokyo’s iconic gaming culture.

Nismo Electric Racer Tokyo was developed in an 8-bit visual style and is a retro-inspired game, the kind found in video arcades in the 1980s and 1990s. 

It was created in collaboration with Japanese Illustrator Kentaro Yoshida to mark the arrival of the FIA Formula E World Championship to Japan for the team's home race in Tokyo on May 17-18. 

All cars in the championship are powered by electricity, with the series acting as a competitive platform to test and develop the latest in electric technology.

Formula E promotes the adoption of sustainable mobility in city centers in a bid to combat air pollution and lessen the effects of climate change, according to the automaker.

In the video game, players take control of a stylized Nissan Formula E car racing through a Tokyo cityscape featuring Mount Fuji and cherry blossom trees.

Players can get behind the wheel on their PC or mobile and navigate a Tokyo street circuit at 200 mph (322 kph) to simulate the high-speed excitement of Formula E.  

The game is available to play at www.NismoElectricRacer.com and launches alongside a 90s-inspired video game advertisement, blending gameplay with real-life race footage.The automaker is promoting the game on social media platforms including TikTok and Facebook. 

Nissan Formula E Team drivers Oliver Rowland and Norman Nato are set to register their highest scores ahead of the E-Prix, with fans able to test themselves against the professionals and post their own scores to the leaderboard.

Yoshida, the illustrator, is known for his pastel toned style, bold line-work and quirky characters. This is his first foray into designing for the gaming world.

Yoshida also designed the exterior of one of Nissan’s race cars -- a design that will be unveiled during an event on May 14 at Nissan's Global Headquarters in Yokohama and also across Nissan social channels.

Nissan made its all-electric racing debut in 2018, becoming the first and only Japanese manufacturer to enter the series.

In March 2024, the automaker announced its long term commitment to Formula E, becoming the first manufacturer to sign on to race through 2030, reinforcing its pledge to its Ambition 2030 electrification targets.

As part of its goal to achieve carbon neutrality across its operations and the life cycle of its products by 2050, Nissan intends to electrify every all-new vehicle offering by the early 2030s in key markets.