Updated with platform information.

Namco Bandai is serious about free-to-play. Tekken Card Tournament was the publisher's first attempt at transforming its fighting franchise into a F2P experience. Now, it plans on using the business model du jour for its most iconic racing series: Ridge Racer.

Ridge Racer: Driftopia is a free-to-play game coming from Bugbear, developer of so-so Ridge Racer Unbounded (pictured). Like every other F2P game, "there are elements that help speed up your experience with the game," a Namco Bandai spokesperson told us, admitting "that's ultimately what helps us drive that business."

Update: After being coy about the platforms, Namco Bandai has confirmed: "Ridge Racer Driftopia will be available on PS3 and PC later in 2013."