It is not every day that a 30-year-old racing franchise comes back from the dead, and it is even rarer for it to look this stylish. At The Game Awards 2025, developer Milestone dropped the story trailer for Screamer, a reboot of the 1995 MS-DOS classic. But forget the pixelated polygons of the past—this new iteration is a full-throttle dive into a futuristic, neon-soaked anime world that looks like Initial D met Cyberpunk 2077.
Set to launch on March 26, 2026, Screamer is ditching the pure simulation route for something far more aggressive. The game promises a mix of high-speed arcade action and a surprisingly deep narrative centered on a ruthless tournament. If you miss the days when racing games had actual characters and plots (looking at you, Need for Speed: Underground), this might be exactly what you have been waiting for.
The Story: Win at All Costs
The trailer introduces us to the “Screamer Tournament,” a mysterious and deadly competition organized by an enigmatic figure known only as “Mr. A.” Unlike most racing games where the story is an afterthought, Screamer seems to put its narrative front and center. We are introduced to five distinct teams, each with their own motivations ranging from revenge and greed to pure ambition.
One of the standout factions revealed is Team Kagawa-Kai, a group of racers who value precision and honor. On the flip side, we have the Anaconda Corp, who are all about winning through brute force and money. The cutscenes are animated by Polygon Pictures (Ajin, Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters), giving the game a legitimate anime pedigree that sets it apart from the realistic visuals of Gran Turismo or Forza.
Gameplay: The Echo System
What makes Screamer unique isn’t just its look; it is the “Echo System.” This new mechanic turns racing into a combat sport. Cars are equipped with technology that allows them to generate resources called Sync and Entropy. You will need to juggle these to activate boosts, shields, and offensive “Strikes” to knock rivals off the track.
The trailer showed off the “Overdrive” mechanic, a state of “full-throttle chaos” where speed limits vanish and aggression is rewarded. It sounds like a spiritual successor to combat racers like Burnout, but with a tactical layer that requires you to manage your car’s energy systems while drifting at 200 mph.
Release Date and Platforms
Screamer will be hitting the starting grid on March 26, 2026. It is confirmed for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store).
With its unique blend of 90s nostalgia, anime storytelling, and combat-racing mechanics, Milestone is taking a massive gamble. But in a genre often dominated by sterile simulations, a game with this much personality is a welcome breath of fresh, nitrous-filled air.
Conclusion
Milestone is best known for their realistic motorcycle sims like Ride and MotoGP, so seeing them pivot to an anime arcade racer is a pleasant surprise. Screamer looks fast, loud, and unapologetically cool. Whether the combat mechanics can match the style remains to be seen, but for now, color us intrigued.
FAQs
When does Screamer come out?
The game releases on March 26, 2026.
What platforms will it be on?
It will be available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Is this a remake of the 1995 game?
It is a “reimagining” or reboot. It shares the name and arcade spirit but introduces a completely new anime art style, story, and combat mechanics.
Is there multiplayer?
Yes, the game supports up to 16 players in online multiplayer, as well as local 2-player split-screen.
Who is doing the animation?
The animated cutscenes are produced by Polygon Pictures, a well-known Japanese animation studio.