While the Electronic Arts sports lineup for the 2010 series has been confirmed, one series unlikely will not get a 2010 release. Despite the fans’ wishes, NASCAR and Electronic Arts have been unable to yet reach a license agreement going forward, so this means that at least for the time being there will be no NASCAR 2010 release from EA.

Prior to the news that NASCAR 2010 would not be released, Electronic Arts did release a new NASCAR game for the Nintendo Wii called NASCAR Kart Racing that is targeted at a family audience and the title will remain exclusive for the time being to the Wii platform.

Depending on whom you listen to regarding the future of NASCAR video game licensing, it seems that EA and NASCAR have not been able to come to an arrangement that works for both sides. Some have suggested that NASCAR would prefer to perhaps do a non-exclusive license, which would open the possibility for another company to build a NASCAR title for consoles, as well; the thought being that with multiple titles this could increase the chances for more revenue.

It is pretty well known that EA would prefer to have an exclusive license with NASCAR. While the majority of the rest of the world outside the U.S. does not have much interest in the oval track stock car series and most prefer the high tech sound of a Formula One engine, the loss of the NASCAR series in North America will be missed, as it is quite popular.

NASCAR’s strategy to perhaps go the non-exclusive route might, in fact, not really be wise over the long haul. While there are clearly racing-oriented video game developers who could build a NASCAR title, we not sure that this would lead to more sales. In fact, it just might splinter those gamers looking to buy a NASCAR title into two factions, leading to neither developer being able to recoup their costs and making no money on a NASCAR game.

While this is certainly a blow to those NASCAR video game fans, we do predict that some agreement will take place and that we will see NASCAR video games again, but it is just not likely that it will be this year. In the meantime, however, this does open the door for the still unannounced Formula One video game from Codemasters that recently acquired the official Formula One video game license to take center stage with a release this year; but currently the studio has not released any specifics on when the new Formula One video game could be expected. (We do hear some rumbling that Codemasters would like to see it ship in October 2009, if at all possible.)