[3][4][5] A Player's Choice Edition was released in September 1998[6] for both DOS and Microsoft Windows.

The game was developed by Washington based MediaTech West, the same team that did XCar: Experimental Racing[7] in conjunction with Hot Rod Magazine.

[8][9] The game utilizes Bethesda's XnGine[10] It was originally scheduled to be released in November 1997.

[13] GameSpot said, "Burnout has such a refreshing feel and intense bursts of white-knuckled action that it's really worth sticking it out for a while.

"[17] Next Generation said, "The single race is nice for a quick, visceral moment, but the real game is competing in a season or going head-to-head with someone over a network – by far the most adrenaline-pumping way to play.