JDM: Japanese Drift Master has found itself in hot water after a recent social media post rubbed a lot of racing fans the wrong way. A small marketing stunt from the team has angered a lot of fans.
The controversy kicked off when the game’s official account made a direct comparison to Forza, suggesting players wouldn’t need Forza Horizon 6 as they already have JDM. While bold marketing isn’t new in the racing genre, this particular callout didn’t land the way the developers may have hoped.
Who needs Forza when you already have JDM: Japanese Drift Master? Drift Japan streets TODAY!
— Japanese Drift Master (@Japanese_Drift) January 14, 2026#ForzaHorizon6 #FH6 #JapaneseDriftMaster #DriftMaster #GamingLeak #JDMGang #CarGames pic.twitter.com/oDdi7JrNlL
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Fans Push Back On The Forza Comparison
The reaction was swift. Many players felt that directly poking at Forza was unnecessary, especially given its reputation for polish, scale, and technical depth. Some fans called the post amateurish, arguing that JDM, while popular, still isn’t nearly big or polished enough to compete with Forza.
Fans were quite brutal in the comments, thrashing JDM. There are many outlining issues with the game, such as a poor physics model and terrible wheel compatibility.
the game is unplayable with wheels fix your physics
Others argued that despite the issues in recent Forza Horizon entries, the polish and quality of these games are unmatched, and JDM can’t compete with that.
A popular reply argued that it was a good idea to use the hype around Forza Horizon 6 for promotion, but the execution was terrible. A simple change of phrasing could have resulted in the same reach but in a positive light. The comment explains it better.
This is such bad marketing.
Yes, you’ve got the attention you wanted but really all you had to was word this in a more respectful manner.
“Can’t wait for Forza? Why not jump into JDM: Japanese Drift Master TODAY!”
Simple, effective, classy.
Not exactly rocket science.
It’s not say that JDM is a bad racing game trying to compete with Forza. JDM is a great game; the Japanese settings, focus on street car culture, and simcade physics are appreciated by the fans. But it’s still nowhere near the level of a Forza game.
However, the backlash highlights how sensitive racing fans are to marketing claims, especially when legacy franchises are involved.
For now, the situation serves as a reminder that hype is a double-edged sword. If JDM wants to win over skeptics, most fans seem to agree the best move is simple: let the gameplay do the talking, not the comparisons
