Hot Wheels have been a part of our lives for many years now. They were first launched back in May 1968 as a direct competitor to the likes of Matchbox, and over the years have grown into something much more than just a company making small, diecast car models. In time, Hot Wheels quickly became something that even adults can enjoy, even if that does sound slightly surreal to hear. But as technology has moved on and what people do in their spare time has changed, Hot Wheels have had to move with the times.
The idea of a Hot Wheels video game might sound a bit crazy at first, but the concept really isn’t that out of this world. Over the years there has been a multitude of games released featuring Hot Wheels, for various platforms ranging from the Commodore 64 to Windows PC and even onto handheld consoles like the Nintendo DS. In September 2021 though, Hot Wheels released an all-new video game called “Hot Wheels Unleashed”, taking advantage of modern graphics and gaming technology to create a game that, like the die-cast cars and all the other things you can buy for them, looks like a lot of fun.
The Basics Of The Game
So, what exactly is the new Hot Wheels video game all about? Well, the basics are that the player takes control of a car from the third-person perspective, and there are a huge amount of vehicles from the Hot Wheels franchise that the player can take control of. On top of that, there are various tracks and locations in which the player can run their cars around, such as in the garage, the kitchen, and even the bedroom. To add even more enjoyment to the game, the player can also customize each and every vehicle to their own liking and even create their own tracks to play either solo, or online with friends.
The description for the game also states that the Hot Wheels Unleashed game has some of the most iconic and sought-after Hot Wheels vehicles ever for you to drive and “own”. In total, some 66 different cars were available for the game at the time of its launch, but as with a lot of games, that wasn’t the final content count for long. There have already been a few cars released as DLC, such as the 1963 Aston Martin DB5, released not long after the latest James Bond Film “No Time To Die” was released in cinemas.
Where You Can Play The Game
The release of the new Xbox Series X/S and Playstation 5 might have left Playstation 4 and Xbox One owners feeling like they wouldn’t be able to play the game. Well, as with a few new releases right now, if you own one of those consoles then you are in luck. As well as being released on the latest generation of gaming consoles, Hot Wheels Unleashed has also been made available on the previous generation of consoles as well as on PC, and even the Nintendo Switch.
Whilst it might not sound a lot at first, the release of the game on the previous generation of consoles is significant. Game makers right now will no doubt be aware that many people won’t have said a Playstation 5, due to their cost from new and that demand for them is so high among those who want the latest, next-gen consoles. Releasing the game on the previous generation is a shrewd move, as it will cater to a lot more players as well as ensure the older consoles can be used for a few more years by those who own them, meaning they, in turn, get more out of there money with them.
Rave Reviews So Far
Whilst the concept of a Hot Wheels game is nothing new, being able to get it right is quite tricky. Not every release has been a success. Thankfully though for Mattel, and the game's creators Milestone, the Hot Wheels Unleashed game has had a positive launch. On the Steam store for example, where players can buy the game for PC, the game has 1,130 reviews and the majority of those are listed as “very positive”. Many see the game as a fantastic arcade racer, allowing them to run their collections in the virtual world and bring back so many memories of Hot Wheels gone by.
The Perfect Marketing Tool
Not only does the new Hot Wheels game look like a lot of fun, but it is surely the perfect marketing tool for the brand. In a world where most younger people will probably spend their free time playing video games, Hot Wheels Unleashed is the perfect way of introducing the cars to a whole new audience, which in turn might boost sales of the real models themselves. Plus, as people collect, the game will allow them to run their cars without worrying about scratching or breaking their real models. It is a fantastic move by Mattel to release a new game with Milestone, and it looks like it will pay off handsomely.
Sources: Hot Wheels, YouTube, Steam Store, VG247