{{short description|2018 racing video game}} {{Infobox video game | title = NASCAR Heat 3 | collapsible = | state = | image = NASCAR Heat 3 Cover.jpg | caption = Cover art featuring [[Hendrick Motorsports]] drivers | developer = [[Monster Games]] | publisher = [[704Games]] | series = [[NASCAR Heat (series)|NASCAR Heat]] | engine = [[Unity (game engine)|Unity]] | platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]]<br>[[PlayStation 4]]<br>[[Xbox One]] | released = {{Video game release|NA|September 7, 2018|EU|September 7, 2018}} | genre = [[Racing video game|Racing]] | modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]] }} '''''NASCAR Heat 3''''' is a [[racing video game]] simulating the [[2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series|2018]] [[NASCAR Cup Series]] and feeder competitions. It was developed by [[Monster Games]] and published by [[704Games]]. It is the sequel to ''[[NASCAR Heat 2]]'', and was released in North America and Europe on September 7, 2018 for the [[PlayStation 4]], [[Xbox One]] and [[Microsoft Windows]] via [[Steam (service)|Steam]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Errington |first1=Tom |date=July 7, 2018 |title=NASCAR Heat 3 game release date revealed |url=https://www.autosport.com/gaming/news/137276/nascar-heat-3-release-date-revealed |website=[[Autosport]] |accessdate=July 12, 2018 |archive-date=July 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711062034/https://www.autosport.com/gaming/news/137276/nascar-heat-3-release-date-revealed |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Hendrick Motorsports]] drivers [[Jimmie Johnson]] (his first cover since NASCAR The Game 2011 and NASCAR 06 Total Team Control), [[Chase Elliott]], [[Alex Bowman]] and [[William Byron (racing driver)|William Byron]] are featured on the cover.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Khan |first1=Zarmena |date=July 8, 2018 |title=NASCAR Heat 3 Releasing on Consoles and PC This September |url=http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2018/07/08/nascar-heat-3-announcement/#/slide/1 |website=PlayStation LifeStyle |accessdate=July 12, 2018 |archive-date=July 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712183312/http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2018/07/08/nascar-heat-3-announcement/#/slide/1 |url-status=live }}</ref> The game features a new fictional [[Dirt late model]] series titled the Xtreme Dirt tour which is part of an enhanced career mode.<ref name="Achievements">{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Rebecca |date=July 10, 2018 |title=NASCAR Heat 3 Gets Xtreme Dirt Tour |url=https://www.trueachievements.com/n33516/nascar-heat-3-gets-xtreme-dirt-tour |website=[[TrueAchievements]] |accessdate=July 12, 2018 |archive-date=July 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712152118/https://www.trueachievements.com/n33516/nascar-heat-3-gets-xtreme-dirt-tour |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Gameplay== ===Career=== Like ''[[NASCAR Heat 2]]'', the career mode option for the game includes the option to play in the [[Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series]], [[NASCAR Xfinity Series]] and [[NASCAR Camping World Truck Series]]. Additions for the third installment include a new fictional Dirt late model series and the option to manage your own team in NASCAR national series competition.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 7, 2018 |title=704Games Announces details, cover for NASCAR Heat 3, coming Sept. 7 |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2018/07/07/704games-announces-details-cover-nascar-heat-3/ |website=[[NASCAR|NASCAR.com]] |accessdate=July 12, 2018 |archive-date=July 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712183835/https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2018/07/07/704games-announces-details-cover-nascar-heat-3/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Xtreme Dirt Tour emulates the feel of local dirt track racing, with a variety of new tracks. Notable new tracks include a dirt version of [[Bristol Motor Speedway]] (which before it was run in both the Cup and Truck series in 2021 and is only playable for the Xtreme Dirt Tour) and tracks that originally featured in ''[[NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona]]'' that have received graphical updates.<ref name="Dirt">{{cite web |last1=Good |first1=Owen S. |date=July 7, 2018 |title=NASCAR Heat 3 deals the dirt to consoles this fall |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/7/7/17544432/nascar-heat-3-preview-dirt-tracks-career-multiplayer |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |accessdate=July 12, 2018 |archive-date=July 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712183901/https://www.polygon.com/2018/7/7/17544432/nascar-heat-3-preview-dirt-tracks-career-multiplayer |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Charlotte Motor Speedway]] road course is also available to play at in the [[Bank of America Roval 400]] event.<ref>{{cite web |last=Beaver |first=Dan |date=July 8, 2018 |title=NASCAR Heat 3 available in September |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nascar-heat-3-available-september-210012628.html |website=[[Yahoo! Sports]] |accessdate=July 13, 2018 |archive-date=July 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713042237/https://sports.yahoo.com/nascar-heat-3-available-september-210012628.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Esports=== In 2019, [[NASCAR]], the [[Race Team Alliance]] and [[704Games]] created the eNASCAR Heat Pro League, an esports league for NH3. Interested players needed to qualify for a draft through a special set of online races. The draft was made up of teams owned by prominent NASCAR figures.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 6, 2018 |title=NASCAR, RTA, 704Games announce eSports League |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2018/12/06/nascar-race-team-alliance-704games-collaborate-nascar-esports-league/ |website=[[NASCAR|NASCAR.com]] |accessdate=February 17, 2019 |archive-date=February 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217142704/https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2018/12/06/nascar-race-team-alliance-704games-collaborate-nascar-esports-league/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Efforts were made to bring in nontraditional NASCAR demographics, such as shorter races.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Good |first1=Owen S. |date=January 2, 2019 |title=The newest esports league might be the future of stock car racing |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/1/2/18165409/nascar-heat-3-enascar-pro-league-esports |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |accessdate=February 17, 2019 |archive-date=February 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217142448/https://www.polygon.com/2019/1/2/18165409/nascar-heat-3-enascar-pro-league-esports |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Downloadable content=== As part of the cover deal, [[Hendrick Motorsports]] released free DLC packs after the game's release. Paid DLC packs were available from publisher [[704Games]].<ref name="Dirt" />
===Online servers=== On April 30, 2021, the online servers for ''[[NASCAR Heat 2]]'' and ''NASCAR Heat 3'' were shut down.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nascarheat.com/sunsetting-nascar-heat-2-and-nascar-heat-3-online-servers/|title=Sunsetting NASCAR Heat 2 and NASCAR Heat 3 Online Servers|date=16 April 2021|publisher=[[704Games]]|access-date=June 25, 2021|archive-date=25 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625202840/https://nascarheat.com/sunsetting-nascar-heat-2-and-nascar-heat-3-online-servers/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Reception== {{Video game reviews | MC = (PS4) 64/100<ref name="mc-ps4">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/nascar-heat-3/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |title=NASCAR Heat 3 for PlayStation 4 Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=February 15, 2022 |archive-date=February 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216043022/https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/nascar-heat-3 |url-status=live }}</ref><br/>(XONE) 68/100<ref name="mc-xone">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/nascar-heat-3/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one |title=NASCAR Heat 3 for Xbox One Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=February 15, 2022 |archive-date=February 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216044506/https://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-one/nascar-heat-3 |url-status=live }}</ref> | GI = 7.5/10<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Kato |first1=Matthew |title=NASCAR Heat 4 Review – Finding Some Grip |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/review/nascar-heat-3/finding-some-grip |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913043025/https://www.gameinformer.com/review/nascar-heat-3/finding-some-grip |url-status=live |archive-date=September 13, 2018 |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |date=9 September 2018 |access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref> | HCG = 3.5/5<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wells |first1=Cory |title=Review: NASCAR Heat 4 |url=https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-nascar-heat-3/312009/ |website=Hardcore Gamer |date=12 September 2018 |access-date=13 February 2022 |archive-date=15 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215202239/https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-nascar-heat-3/312009/ |url-status=live }}</ref> }} ''NASCAR Heat 3'' received "mixed or average" reviews according to review aggregator [[Metacritic]].
Matthew Kato of ''[[Game Informer]]'' stated that while the game did have the needed ''NASCAR'' feel to it, it was lacking just about everywhere else, including rivalries, paint schemes, graphics, improved yet faulty [[Artificial intelligence in video games|AI]], online, gameplay, and career mode.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Kato|first=Matthew|title=NASCAR Heat 3 Review - Finding Some Grip|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/review/nascar-heat-3/finding-some-grip|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913043025/https://www.gameinformer.com/review/nascar-heat-3/finding-some-grip|url-status=live|archive-date=September 13, 2018|access-date=2022-02-15|magazine=Game Informer|language=en}}</ref>
===Awards=== The game was nominated for "Game, Franchise Racing" at the National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 11, 2019 |title=Nominee List for 2018 |url=http://navgtr.org/archives/3566/ |website=National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers |accessdate=February 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190213220549/http://navgtr.org/archives/3566/ |archive-date=February 13, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.nascarheat.com/}}
{{NASCAR video games|state=autocollapse}} {{Monster Games}}
[[Category:2018 video games]] [[Category:704Games games]] [[Category:Inactive multiplayer online games]] [[Category:Monster Games games]] [[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]] [[Category:NASCAR video games]] [[Category:Online games shut down in 2021]] [[Category:PlayStation 4 games]] [[Category:Racing video games]] [[Category:Split-screen multiplayer games]] [[Category:Video games developed in the United States]] [[Category:Video games set in the United States]] [[Category:Windows games]] [[Category:Xbox One games]]