NIGHT-RUNNERS™ PROLOGUE
Released Feb 2024
Descend into the underworld of Japanese street racing. Set between 1990-2009, join the local street racing crews in their battle for territory control. Explore the real location open world(s), compete in wager races, battle other crews and upgrade your vehicles with detailed car customization.
94% positive · 23K reviews
Done
All announced content has been released
Medium confidence
Done
All announced content has been released
Medium confidence
Where to get it
Free on Steam
Evaluation
NIGHT-RUNNERS™ PROLOGUE launched on February 23, 2024. Following launch, the developer (PLANET JEM) was active through May 5, 2024, shipping a series of patches that added features such as GPS navigation, remappable controls, a difficulty slider, new songs, chassis rake handling adjustments, and various visual improvements. The most recent developer communication was on May 5, 2024 (Patch v1.3). Since then — over 13 months as of today — there has been complete silence from the developer across all channels. No new patches, announcements, roadmaps, or developer statements have appeared. There are no unreleased DLC listings on the store, no season pass, and no announced future content of any kind. The store description does not reference planned updates or ongoing development. This game is titled a "Prologue," which typically signals that it is a free or standalone introductory chapter ahead of a larger full release, but the developer has made no public statement about the full game's development status or timeline during or after the post-launch patch period. Given the complete absence of any post-May 2024 communication and no outstanding announced content, the game's content appears to have been completed as of the final patch on May 5, 2024.
Evidence
Patch v1.3 shipped with new handling options (chassis rake), 2 new songs, visual improvements, and bug fixes. This is the last known developer communication.
Patch v1.023 added remappable controls and Reshade visual effects, continuing the post-launch feature update streak.
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
PLANET JEM
Achievements
—
Platform
Windows
Controller
full support
Steam Deck
Playable
Players
Single-player
About this game
DESCEND INTO THE UNDERWORLD OF JAPANESE STREET RACING
Set in an unknown time between 1990-2009, you will navigate through the corrupt and shady power struggles of local street racing crews, all competing for control of their regions and to top the crew rankings.
- Extremely detailed customization, including Exterior, Interior, Wheels, Engine, and Handling
- Dynamic character dialogue; other racers will comment on your car, your recent races, new local records and your progression
- Full Photomode with VHS, old camera effects and motion blur
- Freely walk around your garage and the car meet (Parking Area) between races
- Adjustable screenshake and camera FOV
- Procedural game event scripting, high replay value
Inspired by the real life Japanese used car auctions, you will purchase your first vehicle by visiting the used car auctions and leaving with any decrepit car you can afford.
Walk around your safehouse and view all your hard-earned cars; change their oil, repair their engines and view their stats. Good maintenance will help your engine last longer after a long night of abuse and overheating.
Take parts off your cars, place them into storage and sell them for some extra cash or transfer them onto another vehicle you own. When you have some spare cash, take a trip to "Top Garage" to buy some new parts for your exterior, interior, wheels, engine and/or handling.
Progress through the underworld by entering a "PA"(Parking Area) and start negotiating wagers with any local crew members who care to race you. You are free to walk around any "PA" and bask in the thick atmosphere of smog and secondhand cigarette smoke.
The local racers are not impressed with newcomers and will make their disdain known. Impress them by winning and they will change their tone.
Earn cash by beating racers in 1vs1 wagers but be warned; these are real wagers and you will lose the money you bet if you lose the race! Some racers will take pity on you and give you a chance to win your money back by suggesting a 'double or nothing' race. It's your choice if you want to take that risk.
Are these done yet?
Last evaluated Jun 17, 2026
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