HOT WHEELS™ Infinite Rush · published
Welcome back everyone to Beyond the Track: The Dev Logs, where we take a deeper look at the features of HOT WHEELS™ Infinite Rush. I’m Domenico Celenza, the Game Director from Milestone, and today I'll be talking about the Hot Wheels collection and the Track Builder.
The collection in HOT WHEELS Infinite Rush is massive, with 150 Hot Wheels at launch, and more coming through post-launch DLCs. Choosing which vehicles would make the final roster wasn't easy. One thing was clear from the beginning: we wanted to listen to the community. We can confirm that Acceleracers™ and Highway 35™ World Race will be part of the collection. We've even included vehicles from both series that have never appeared in the Hot Wheels Unleashed games before.
The most challenging part of building the HOT WHEELS™ Infinite Rush roster was balancing gameplay and making sure every vehicle fit naturally into its vehicle class. As I mentioned in a previous episode, the game has four different vehicle classes, and our goal was to ensure the massive roster of Hot Wheels was evenly distributed across each class, while considering the shape, proportion, and personality of each vehicle.
This entire process ties into one of the core pillars of HOT WHEELS™ Infinite Rush: the vehicle collection. We wanted collecting to feel like part of the adventure. That’s why it is deeply connected to the game’s progression, and almost everything you do in the game will help expand your roster.Let’s discover the several ways you can collect Hot Wheels in-game. The first through gameplay, with a challenge-oriented spirit: racing Daredevils, defeating Rushers, or finishing events and activities will reward you with new Hot Wheels. The second is visiting the islands’ Dealerships and purchasing Hot Wheels with your hard-earned coins. There is one Dealership for each island and offers a different selection of Hot Wheels.
Within the main collection, there are also subsections dedicated to specific events or locations.
For example, there’s a mini collection for vehicles you can find in Wheelswood, or another tied to the Daredevils in Tentacle Bay. Completing each one rewards you with exclusive items, including Secret Tokens.
Those Secret Tokens are the key to unlocking one of the game's best-kept secret: the Secret Dealership.While researching Hot Wheels vehicles and playsets, we came across the Ultimate T-Rex Transporter.We loved the idea of a vehicle carrying Hot Wheels wherever it goes, and since there's also a die-cast version of it, it felt like the perfect fit for HOT WHEELS™ Infinite Rush. This special Dealership carries unique vehicles you cannot find anywhere else in the game, making every encounter a special moment for collectors.The most important thing to know about the Secret Dealership is that it never stays in one place for long. It appears only at specific locations and times across the islands. You can't miss it: its distinctive music and glowing lights will let you know it's nearby.Another way to earn Secret Tokens is by completing optional, challenging special events. We wanted the game to be accessible to everyone, offering multiple ways to collect vehicles, including ones for those willing to explore every aspect of the game and every corner of the archipelago
Now, let’s talk about the Track Builder. We know this is one a fan-favorite feature, so rather than changing what already worked in the Hot Wheels Unleashed games, we evolved it to fit the Hot Wheels-sized world of the game. It now expands upon three main pillars, let's take a look at each of them.
The first, and probably the most important one, is the adaptive snapping tool. We wanted building tracks to feel as intuitive as possible. Instead of manually adjusting every piece to match the terrain, the tool automatically adjusts the height of each piece, snapping it directly to the ground. This also lets you take full advantage of the environment. In Wheelswood, for example, you can easily create tracks that follow the city's roads. In Tentacle Bay, the same tool automatically adapts your track to the island's hills and uneven terrain, without having to adjust every single piece yourself.The second pillar builds on that idea. If your track crosses objects in the environment – such as buildings, poles, traffic lights, or trees – you don't have to change your design. The game automatically removes those elements to make room for your track. Our goal was to make sure your creativity was never limited by the environment.Lastly, the third pillar is the addition of virtual opponents. In the Hot Wheels Unleashed games one of the biggest limitations to the Track Builder was that virtual opponents couldn't race on player-created tracks. This time, we've introduced dedicated markers. By placing them along your track, you can define the racing line, the acceleration and the braking areas that virtual opponents will follow. The track-making process is still the same, but once you’ve finished your design, you can place these markers and test out the track to validate it for sharing.
The first validation step is simple: complete the track once yourself.
Doing so allows you to upload the track, share it, and make it available for online multiplayer and Time Attack races. However, if you want your track to support Quick Races against virtual opponents, an optional second validation step is required. The game simulates a full 12-car race, letting you watch the vehicles in action and adjust any section of the track if needed.
Once every vehicle successfully completes the track, it becomes fully validated for virtual opponents as well.
And that's a wrap for Beyond the Track: The Dev Logs. On behalf of the entire Dev Team, thank you for coming along with us. Soon, HOT WHEELS™ Infinite Rush will finally be yours, and we can’t wait to see what you’ll discover beyond the track. See you on September 10!