October the 23rd, 2026 – The Croatian studio MipMap is currently developing the digital version of the award-winning and wildly popular HEAT board game.
The Croatian studio MipMap has joined forces with Asmodee, whose portfolio includes some of the world’s best-known board games. Sinisa Malus reports for Poslovni that the Croatian independent video game development studio Mipmap Digital, in cooperation with the international company Asmodee (whose portfolio includes some of the world’s most famous board games such as CATAN, Ticket to Ride and Dobble) is developing the official digital adaptation of the award-winning board game HEAT: Pedal to the Metal, published by Days of Wonder. The digital version of the game will be available on Steam as well as on devices running iOS and Android.
putting a digital spin on a 60s wonder
Set in the golden age of motor racing back during the 1960s, HEAT: Pedal to the Metal is a board game by Asger Granerud and Daniel Pedersen in which victory depends not only on speed, but also on timely decisions and judging how much the engine can be pushed. Players use cards to manage speed, successfully negotiate corners and compete against friends, computer-controlled opponents and players from around the world.
One of the main challenges for the talented Croatian development team was to transfer the experience of playing HEAT at the table onto screens of different sizes. The digital adaptation features three-dimensional depictions of four tracks located in the USA, France, Great Britain and Italy. Players will be able to race against computer-controlled opponents known as Legends, organise local races with friends, take part in championships that include garage upgrades, sponsorships and different weather and track conditions. Cross-platform play will also be available, along with private rooms and automatic player matching. The Legends expansion will be included free of charge from day one, and additional official expansions are planned after launch.
The cooperation between Mipmap Digital and Asmodee began with a simple conversation at the SPIEL Essen 2024 fair. The Croatian studio approached Asmodee representatives with the idea of a digital adaptation of HEAT, and the first meeting gradually grew into a collaboration with Days of Wonder on the development of the game. One of the main challenges for the development team was to transfer the experience of playing HEAT at the table onto screens of different sizes. The digital adaptation remains faithful to the rules and visual identity of the original game, while using the possibilities of the digital format for clearer presentation of information, camera focus on key moments of the race and automation of certain parts of the game.
a major partnership
“Two years ago, we went to SPIEL 2024 hoping to start a conversation about the possibility of a digital adaptation of HEAT. Returning to this year’s fair, now that the game is in development, is therefore particularly significant for us. HEAT has a very distinctive identity, both visually and in the way it is played, and we have worked closely with Days of Wonder to transfer everything that makes this game special into the digital version,” said Joško Mikuličić, director and co-founder of Mipmap Digital.
“We’re extremely pleased to be working with Croatia’s Mipmap. An exciting and distinctive board game like HEAT deserves the best possible digital adaptation. We’re more than sure that Mipmap, owing to its experience and passion for HEAT, will create an outstanding digital experience for players and further enrich the experience of playing this board game,” said Christian Dunn, Head of Interactive Content Licensing at Asmodee.
who are mipmap?
Mipmap Digital is otherwise independent Croatian video game development studio specialising in digital adaptations of board games. The studio was born out of a shared love of games and the well-known problem of board game enthusiasts: finding the time, place and company for joint play. Drawing on experience in video game development, the team decided to make favourite board games more accessible in digital form while retaining their distinctive characteristics.
Mipmap Digital’s portfolio includes digital adaptations of the board games Roll Player, Point Salad and Canvas, while HEAT: Pedal to the Metal is currently in development. Asmodee is one of the world’s leading companies in the board game industry, dedicated to connecting people through games and stories. With over 2,200 employees worldwide, the company has one of the largest portfolios of board games.
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