Daytona USA

This article is about the 1994 arcade game. For the former museum, see Daytona 500 Experience. For the 2001 video game, see Daytona USA 2001.

Daytona USA
An arcade cabinet with a car in front of a large screen, surrounded by words.
Daytona USA arcade flyer with the deluxe cabinet pictured
Developer(s)Sega AM2
Publisher(s)Sega
Director(s)Toshihiro Nagoshi
Producer(s)Toshihiro Nagoshi
Yu Suzuki
Designer(s)Makoto Osaki
Yukinobu Arikawa
Programmer(s)Daichi Katagiri
Koki Koiwa
Hideomi Miyauchi
Composer(s)Takenobu Mitsuyoshi
SeriesDaytona USA
Platform(s)Arcade, Sega Saturn, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 (PSN), Xbox 360 (XBLA), Xbox One
Release
  • JP/NA: March 1994
  • WW: April 1994
Sega Saturn
  • JP: April 1, 1995
  • NA: May 11, 1995
  • EU: July 8, 1995
Windows PC
  • JP: September 27, 1996 (Enhanced Board version)
  • EU: November 14, 1996
  • NA: December 1996
  • JP: December 6, 1996
PlayStation 3
  • NA: October 25, 2011
  • JP: October 26, 2011
  • EU: November 23, 2011
Xbox 360
  • WW: October 26, 2011
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade systemSega Model 2

Daytona USA[a] is an arcade racing game developed by Sega AM2 and released by Sega in March of 1994. Inspired by the popularity of the NASCAR motor racing series in the US, the game has players race stock cars on one of three courses. It was the first game to be released on the Sega Model 2 arcade system board. Daytona USA is one of the highest-grossing arcade games of all time.

Sega partnered with GE Aerospace to develop the Model 2, which renders 3D graphics capable of texture filtering and texture mapping. Daytona USA was developed by AM2 after a meeting of the heads of Sega's regional offices to decide on a game to debut the Model 2 hardware. The concept was suggested by Tom Petit, president of Sega's American arcade division, with input from AM2 director Toshihiro Nagoshi, who became the game's director and producer. Sega aimed to outperform Namco's Ridge Racer (1993). The developers researched motorsports extensively; they mapped Daytona International Speedway, and their experience developing Virtua Racing (1992) helped with lighting and camera control.

Daytona USA was a critical and commercial success, praised for its graphics, soundtrack and gameplay. A conversion was made for the Sega Saturn in 1995. It was followed by sequels and enhancements for consoles and arcades. It has been frequently named one of the best video games of all time.
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