{
  "schemaVersion": "1.3",
  "id": "nascar-26",
  "slug": "nascar-26",
  "product": "NASCAR 26",
  "title": "NASCAR 26",
  "job": "Is the date real, do they need to spend, what can they skip.",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-09-16",
  "timezoneNote": "Hold both Standard date strings: Steam and Xbox Wire brand September 17, 2026; publisher site and Xbox / PlayStation store labels brand September 18, 2026 (Xbox/PS OriginalReleaseDate 2026-09-18T04:00:00Z = 2026-09-17 23:00 CT). Gold Edition early access begins September 15, 2026.",
  "lifecycle": {
    "postedAt": "2026-09-16",
    "announcedPlatformReleases": [
      {
        "platform": "Xbox Series X|S",
        "date": "2026-09-18",
        "notes": "Store label 9/18/2026; Display Catalog OriginalReleaseDate 2026-09-18T04:00:00Z. Xbox Wire weekly list printed September 17. Gold early access from 2026-09-15.",
        "sourceIds": [
          "xbox-store",
          "xbox-wire",
          "xbox-gold"
        ]
      },
      {
        "platform": "PlayStation 5",
        "date": "2026-09-18",
        "notes": "Store Release 9/18/2026 04:00 AM UTC. Gold early access from 2026-09-15 (72-hour early access copy).",
        "sourceIds": [
          "playstation-store",
          "playstation-gold"
        ]
      },
      {
        "platform": "PC (Steam)",
        "date": "2026-09-17",
        "notes": "Steam brands Sep 17, 2026. Gold early access from 2026-09-15.",
        "sourceIds": [
          "steam",
          "iracing-preorder"
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "disclosure": {
    "text": "No paid links on this page. If a Need line later carries a paid link, it will be marked here."
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "xbox-wire",
      "label": "Xbox Wire — Next Week on Xbox (Sep 14–18)",
      "url": "https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/09/11/next-week-on-xbox-new-games-for-september-14-to-18/"
    },
    {
      "id": "xbox-store",
      "label": "Xbox Store — NASCAR 26",
      "url": "https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/nascar-26/9pfkg4bsv6pn"
    },
    {
      "id": "xbox-gold",
      "label": "Xbox Store — NASCAR 26 Gold Edition",
      "url": "https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/nascar-26-gold-edition/9nm8k3rrtjtv"
    },
    {
      "id": "iracing-preorder",
      "label": "iRacing — NASCAR 26 gameplay trailer / pre-orders",
      "url": "https://www.iracing.com/nascar-and-iracing-studios-debut-official-gameplay-trailer-open-pre-orders-for-nascar-26/"
    },
    {
      "id": "iracing-launch",
      "label": "iRacing — NASCAR 26 launches today",
      "url": "https://www.iracing.com/start-your-engines-nascar-26-launches-today-on-pc-playstation-5-xbox-series-xs/"
    },
    {
      "id": "iracing-studios",
      "label": "iRacing Studios — NASCAR 26",
      "url": "https://iracingstudios.com/game/nascar-26/"
    },
    {
      "id": "nascar26-videos",
      "label": "NASCAR 26 — videos hub",
      "url": "https://nascar26.com/videos/"
    },
    {
      "id": "steam",
      "label": "Steam — iRacing Studios NASCAR 26",
      "url": "https://store.steampowered.com/app/4883590/iRacing_Studios_NASCAR_26/"
    },
    {
      "id": "playstation-store",
      "label": "PlayStation Store — NASCAR 26",
      "url": "https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP1456-PPSA37433_00-NASCAR26BASEGAME"
    },
    {
      "id": "playstation-gold",
      "label": "PlayStation Store — NASCAR 26 Gold Edition",
      "url": "https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP1456-PPSA37433_00-NASCAR26GOLDEDIT"
    },
    {
      "id": "youtube-trailer",
      "label": "NASCAR 26 The Game — Official trailer",
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj1Id3s-Cwg"
    },
    {
      "id": "playstation-m2-ssd",
      "label": "PlayStation Support — add an M.2 SSD to PS5",
      "url": "https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/hardware/ps5-install-m2-ssd/"
    }
  ],
  "official": [
    {
      "id": "platforms",
      "label": "Launch platforms",
      "value": "Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC via Steam. Not Nintendo. Epic Games Store not first-party-confirmed.",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "xbox-wire",
        "xbox-store",
        "playstation-store",
        "steam",
        "iracing-studios"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "price-standard",
      "label": "Standard price",
      "value": "$59.99",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "Official SRP on iRacing pre-order post and Xbox / PlayStation / Steam.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "iracing-preorder",
        "xbox-store",
        "playstation-store",
        "steam"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "price-gold",
      "label": "Gold Edition price",
      "value": "$79.99",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "Game + Season Pass; 72-hour / 3-day early access from September 15. Benefit copy varies slightly between iRacing July post and some store pre-order blurbs — hold both published strings.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "iracing-preorder",
        "xbox-gold",
        "playstation-gold"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "esrb-category",
      "label": "ESRB rating",
      "value": "E",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "From Xbox Store (EVERYONE). Dedicated esrb.org page not located. Hold storefront letter.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "xbox-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "esrb-descriptors",
      "label": "ESRB descriptors",
      "value": "Alcohol Reference",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "Interactive elements also listed: Users Interact.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "xbox-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "publisher",
      "label": "Publisher / developer",
      "value": "iRacing Studios",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "xbox-store",
        "steam",
        "iracing-studios"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "game-pass",
      "label": "Xbox Game Pass",
      "value": "Not day one",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "Xbox Wire entry has no Game Pass day-one tag. No Included with Game Pass badge on Standard listing. Console online multiplayer may still require a Game Pass Essential/Premium/Ultimate subscription for multiplayer access, not the game entitlement.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "xbox-wire",
        "xbox-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "install-size",
      "label": "Install size",
      "value": "Steam 65 GB minimum; 100 GB recommended",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "Xbox and PlayStation install sizes not published on opened pre-order storefront pages.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "steam"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "media": {
    "trailer": {
      "label": "Official trailer",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "kind": "youtube",
      "youtubeId": "Hj1Id3s-Cwg",
      "pageUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj1Id3s-Cwg",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "youtube-trailer",
        "iracing-preorder"
      ]
    },
    "still": {
      "label": "Official still",
      "src": "/media/nascar-26/official-still.jpg",
      "credit": "Xbox Store / iRacing Studios",
      "pageUrl": "https://store-images.s-microsoft.com/image/apps.58463.14203672373758581.03d35ba7-df68-40ce-b5d1-076ad7e34494.69315223-b11f-41d4-a15c-cef6912278c1",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "xbox-store"
      ]
    }
  },
  "decisions": [
    {
      "id": "buy-now-set",
      "item": "Buy-now set",
      "verdict": "empty",
      "rationale": "Nothing currently earns a yes for a paid buy-the-game slot. Empty buy slots are intentional. No catalog. No affiliate slots until a line is a yes.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [],
      "affiliate": null
    },
    {
      "id": "game",
      "item": "NASCAR 26 Standard ($59.99)",
      "verdict": "fork",
      "rationale": "Official SRP is $59.99 on Xbox, PlayStation, and Steam. Not on Game Pass day one. No Nintendo path. Standard calendar date still carries a Sept 17 vs Sept 18 store-label conflict — quote each store’s own string.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "xbox-store",
        "playstation-store",
        "steam",
        "xbox-wire",
        "iracing-studios"
      ],
      "affiliate": null
    },
    {
      "id": "gold",
      "item": "Gold Edition ($79.99)",
      "verdict": "fork",
      "rationale": "Confirmed at $79.99 with Season Pass and 72-hour / 3-day early access from September 15. Worth it only if early access or Season Pass matter; Standard is the cheaper full-game path. Gold benefit copy differs slightly across iRacing and some store blurbs — hold both published strings.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "iracing-preorder",
        "xbox-gold",
        "playstation-gold"
      ],
      "affiliate": null
    },
    {
      "id": "ps5-ssd-sn850x-1tb",
      "item": "PS5 WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe with heatsink 1 TB",
      "verdict": "yes",
      "rationale": "Need if the PS5 is full.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "playstation-m2-ssd"
      ],
      "affiliate": {
        "present": false,
        "href": null,
        "note": "No paid link."
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "ps5-ssd-sn850x-2tb",
      "item": "PS5 WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe with heatsink 2 TB",
      "verdict": "yes",
      "rationale": "Larger option if the PS5 is full.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "playstation-m2-ssd"
      ],
      "affiliate": {
        "present": false,
        "href": null,
        "note": "No paid link."
      }
    }
  ],
  "openHoles": [
    {
      "id": "date-sep-17-vs-18",
      "question": "Does any first-party source reconcile Steam / Xbox Wire September 17 with publisher / Xbox-PS store September 18 for Standard?",
      "status": "unknown",
      "notes": "Working lock: Steam and Wire brand Sept 17; publisher and Xbox/PS store labels brand Sept 18 (UTC 04:00 = Sept 17 23:00 CT). Hold both; do not flatten without a timezone note.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "steam",
        "xbox-wire",
        "xbox-store",
        "playstation-store",
        "iracing-studios"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "esrb-org",
      "question": "What is the dedicated esrb.org page URL for NASCAR 26?",
      "status": "unknown",
      "notes": "Storefronts show Everyone / E with Alcohol Reference and Users Interact. Dedicated esrb.org listing not located. Hold store E wording.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "xbox-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "xbox-install-size",
      "question": "What is the Xbox install size?",
      "status": "unknown",
      "notes": "MaxDownloadSize not published on opened pre-order SKUs.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "xbox-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "ps-install-size",
      "question": "What is the PlayStation 5 install size?",
      "status": "unknown",
      "notes": "Not published on opened PlayStation Store US product pages.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "playstation-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "gold-benefit-copy",
      "question": "Which Gold Edition benefit string is authoritative: iRacing July post ($10,000 / 1,000 rep / four DLC packs) or store pre-order blurbs (5,000 / 500 / Kyle Larson)?",
      "status": "unknown",
      "notes": "Hold both strings as published.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "iracing-preorder",
        "xbox-gold",
        "playstation-gold",
        "steam"
      ]
    }
  ]
}