01 / CIRCUIT ’86
JEROME JOHNSON
Different cars. Same roads. Respect always.
IN-DEVELOPMENT PLAYTEST夜は、ここから。
NIGHT BAY IS CALLING
OWN THE NIGHT.
A city to explore. Rivals to beat. A car to make your own.
Welcome to NightShift ’86.
WINDOWS PCBUILT FOR
THE NIGHT SHIFT.
THE NIGHT SHIFT.
Independent. In development.
Made by Darkspring Games.
OPEN-WORLD EXPLORATION86RIVAL RACING86BUILD YOUR GARAGE86DAY / NIGHT / WEATHER
01 / FIND YOUR STREETS
ONE BAY.
YOUR WAY.
From downtown neon to dockside meets and mountain switchbacks. Night Bay is a Japanese-inspired world built for the drive, not just the finish line.
TOKYO / HIKARI DISTRICT
STREETS WITH
AN ATTITUDE.
Find your line through downtown, pass the Shibuya-inspired crossing, and discover the home of Circuit ’86. Meet the scene and earn your place in it.
THE FIRST CHALLENGEJEROME
JOHNSON
JOHNSON
Every reputation starts somewhere.
DAIKOKU / THE WATERFRONT
WHERE THE
CREW MEETS.
Highways overhead. A car meet around the corner. Cruise the docks, visit the garage, or take on Daikoku Run when you're ready for Rudy.
THE DOCKSIDE RIVALRUDY
TOSH
TOSH
Same skies. Different roads.
FUJI TOUGE / HIGHER GROUND
LESS ROOM.
MORE NERVE.
Leave the skyline behind and head for elevation. Tight corners and mountain roads make Fuji Touge a different kind of test. Ren is waiting up there.
THE MOUNTAIN RIVALREN
TAKAHASHI
TAKAHASHI
Some drive for points. He drives because it feels alive.
SUZUKA / CIRCUIT DISTRICT
TAKE IT TO
THE LIMIT.
A Suzuka-inspired circuit, connected to Night Bay. Explore it in free roam, then bring what you've learned to the grid for a showdown with your rivals.
THE BIG RACEONE GRID.
ALL RIVALS.
ALL RIVALS.
Your reputation brought you here. Your driving does the rest.
A fictional world inspired by Japanese car culture. Locations are game interpretations, not exact real-world recreations.
02 / NAMES YOU’LL REMEMBER
RESPECT IS
NOT GIVEN.
Meet the faces behind the races. Build your reputation, earn the next challenge, and work your way through Night Bay’s rivals.
02 / DAIKOKU RUN
RUDY TOSH
Music fuels more than engines.
03 / FUJI TOUGE
REN TAKAHASHI
It’s not over yet. This is just the beginning.
Original rival ID artwork · promotional character art
03 / MAKE IT YOURS
EARN IT. BUILD IT.
DRIVE IT.
Your winnings belong in your next build.
Your next build belongs on the road.
A GARAGE OF YOUR OWN
Choose your ride, earn race winnings, and grow your collection. Start your journey with the Eclipse, Impreza, or 350Z.
STYLE MEETS PERFORMANCE
Paint and wheel finishes, underglow, decals, and performance upgrades. Build something that feels like yours.
RUN IT YOUR WAY
Set up a free race with your choice of laps, rivals, difficulty, weather, and time of day. Or take a drive with no finish line.
04 / YOUR NEXT NIGHT STARTS HERE
KEYS. IGNITION.
ITCH.
PRIVATE PLAYTESTWINDOWS PC · KEYBOARD / CONTROLLER
One home for your game and future updates.
Install and launch NightShift ’86 with the itch desktop app.
Already have itch? “Play NightShift ’86” opens the app. Your browser may ask for permission.
Watch for your browser’s “Open itch” prompt.
If nothing opens, install the itch app first, then try again. You can also open your itch library or use the game-page link below. This website can’t check whether the app is installed.
Invite required. These buttons do not grant playtest access. Already invited? Sign in to the itch account that claimed your invitation.
Open the game page on itch.io- 01 / CLAIM YOUR INVITE
GET ON THE LIST.
Open the personal itch invitation sent by Darkspring Games. Claim it with your itch account. Keep that link private.
- 02 / INSTALL THE APP
SET UP YOUR GARAGE.
Download the itch app for Windows and sign in with the same account. Find NightShift ’86 in your library and install it.
- 03 / HIT THE STREETS
MAKE IT A NIGHT.
Launch from your itch library or the button above. Return to the app when a new playtest build is available.
BEFORE YOU ROLL OUT
PIT STOP.
A few things worth knowing.
Can anyone download the playtest?
Not yet. NightShift ’86 is an invitation-only playtest. You’ll need a personal itch invitation from Darkspring Games and an itch account to claim it. This website does not issue invitations or unlock the download.
Why does the game page say “not found”?
The itch page is restricted. Make sure you’ve claimed your invitation and signed in with that same itch account. If the page still isn’t available, contact the person who invited you. Don’t post your invitation link publicly.
What do I need to play?
The current playtest is a downloadable Windows PC game, not a browser game. Keyboard and controller input are supported. Final hardware requirements haven’t been published yet, and performance may vary while development continues.
Is this a finished release?
No—this is an independent game in active development. Visuals, handling, and features can change between builds. The artwork on this website sets the mood; it isn’t a promise of in-game graphics.
How do I get updates or send feedback?
Keep your installed copy in the itch app and check it when a new build is announced. Send feedback to the person who invited you. Your car, track, weather, and a short clip or screenshot can help reproduce an issue.