The release of CarX Drift Racing 3 is due on December 5. Here's everything we know about the game so far!
The CarX franchise is amongst some of the most popular arcade racing and driving series across all major platforms. The unique handling physics encourages repeated play, and particular assists make it a fantastic game for introducing a racing wheel into your setup.
CarX Drift Racing 3 has been about as elusive as GTA VI, but at last, there is a release date: 5th December 2024. The title will first be released on Android and iOS platforms, with a console and PC release to follow in 2025.
Despite the unusual decision to release such a long-awaited title like CarX Drift Racing 3 on mobile platforms before PC or console, most of their original playerbase came from the original mobile app.
Weight reduction is also being revamped, including the ability to drift and crash your cars without body panels attached. This new element looks tied to the latest damage model, meaning you can practice without worrying about totalling your fancy new bodykit.
Every aspect of a CarX vehicle that you can tune or adjust
The paint booth has also received a significant upgrade with an array of new features and elements that extend its field of use. With the new levels of customisation, the paint booth will be the place to make your car stand out in online car meets and drift competitions.
Customisation improvements will also impact the brand-new 3D models of vehicles and individual parts like engines and exhausts. Laser scanning technology, more commonly used in titles like iRacing and Assetto Corsa Competizione, has created highly-accurate engine models based on prototypes.
1980s Time Attack campaign
1990s Time Attack and Drift campaign
The cars were getting faster and more advanced, and other brands worldwide, such as Ford and even BMW, had started to get involved. Drifting, as a sport, was born. Formula DRIFT has these drivers to thank for a lot of the series' success.
2000s 'Early Drift' campaign
2010's Advanced Drifting campaign
The second trailer shows precisely how detailed the impressive damage system is. Repeated impacts and panels flying off are very impressive for a game designed, first and foremost, around mobile platforms.
It is not just vehicle damage that has been changed and adapted for the new game; the tyre-damage model is carried over from CarX Drift Racing 2 and has a significant list of updates and visual changes. Players will have to manage their tyre sets in competitive modes. However, there will always be a steady stock of standard tyres, so players will never entirely run out of options, even if they exhaust all of their custom sets.
New visual tyre degradation
With the damage model now opening the door to a much more realistic drifting experience that punishes small mistakes with significant consequences, the online modes will wreak havoc without turning off damage. It can be managed in conventional racing simulators like iRacing and Automobilsta 2. But it could spell disaster in an arcade-style title like CarX Drift Racing 3.
Selection of cars available at launch
During a Q&A session earlier in the year, the CarX team confirmed they have no plans to include SUVs or off-road vehicles. It might seem like common sense, but having a modern drifting and racing game without trucks or SUVs is a real rarity. This promise keeps the CarX Drift Racing series rooted in its history without being held back from progressing the franchise.
With CarX Drift Racing 3 focusing on the track side of drifting, Formula Drift content may make its way into the game. The likely additions could involve some iconic AdamLZ cars or perhaps some championship-winning vehicles like Chelsea DeNofa's 2023 title-winning Ford Mustang RTR.
The variety of cars is expanding further in CarX Drift Racing 3
If making your own tracks is not your speed, there are plenty of confirmed locations in the real world, stretching from Japan to Germany. Despite the list looking somewhat limited, there are undoubtedly more locations to come post-release.
Are you looking forward to CarX Drift Racing 3? In the comments below, let us know which car you want to build into your ideal drift missile first!
The CarX franchise is amongst some of the most popular arcade racing and driving series across all major platforms. The unique handling physics encourages repeated play, and particular assists make it a fantastic game for introducing a racing wheel into your setup.
CarX Drift Racing 3 has been about as elusive as GTA VI, but at last, there is a release date: 5th December 2024. The title will first be released on Android and iOS platforms, with a console and PC release to follow in 2025.
Despite the unusual decision to release such a long-awaited title like CarX Drift Racing 3 on mobile platforms before PC or console, most of their original playerbase came from the original mobile app.
Tuning & Upgrades
The most loved aspect of the CarX franchise, upgrading and customising your drift car, is set to be even better in the game's third iteration. Custom tyres, the potential for second-hand panels and an expanded list of upgradable parts are just the start.Weight reduction is also being revamped, including the ability to drift and crash your cars without body panels attached. This new element looks tied to the latest damage model, meaning you can practice without worrying about totalling your fancy new bodykit.
Every aspect of a CarX vehicle that you can tune or adjust
The paint booth has also received a significant upgrade with an array of new features and elements that extend its field of use. With the new levels of customisation, the paint booth will be the place to make your car stand out in online car meets and drift competitions.
- Colour Sliders – An almost unlimited array of choices
- Individual Part Painting – Repaint individual components like bumpers or rear wings
- Chassis Customization – Paint your car's chassis a different colour from the body panels
Customisation improvements will also impact the brand-new 3D models of vehicles and individual parts like engines and exhausts. Laser scanning technology, more commonly used in titles like iRacing and Assetto Corsa Competizione, has created highly-accurate engine models based on prototypes.
Single-Player Campaigns
The game features five distinct campaigns dedicated to specific drifting eras. They all provide various driving techniques and drifting tips. The theme behind these campaigns is the history of drifting, making it a perfect place to start if you are new to the discipline.1980s: Time Attack
This being the first campaign, the focus is on learning basic car handling and introducing you to the game's driving physics. You will mirror real-life practices of the era where drifting is not required, as the races are classic Touge runs. Players will experience time attack challenges in the style of some of Japan's pioneering drivers that eventually took Togue and drifting worldwide.1980s Time Attack campaign
1990s: Time Attack and Drift
Perhaps the most iconic era for drifting, especially in Japan, the 1990s campaign represents the transition period from Japanese Touge to a track-focused tournament-style drifting experience. This campaign teaches the basic technique of drifting and the fundamentals of car control, with appropriate challenges to accompany it.1990s Time Attack and Drift campaign
2000s: Early Drift
Eventually, when you reach the Millennium campaign, you will encounter specialised drift challenges. This era is when drifting started to expand worldwide as a motorsport discipline rather than just a grassroots sport.The cars were getting faster and more advanced, and other brands worldwide, such as Ford and even BMW, had started to get involved. Drifting, as a sport, was born. Formula DRIFT has these drivers to thank for a lot of the series' success.
2000s 'Early Drift' campaign
2010s: Advanced Drifting
At least for now, the 2010s is the final campaign in the single-player menu. It will advance your technical drifting ability and get you competition-ready. The representation of drifting's incredible evolution in the modern era provides increasingly complex challenges to ensure you are at your best for what comes afterwards—the online mode and competitions.2010's Advanced Drifting campaign
Comprehensive Damage Model
Perhaps the most talked-about aspect of the new title is the extensive damage model, which looks to bridge the gap between titles like Wreckfest and BeamNG.drive. Other people have compared it to BeamNG.drive, but that is asking a lot from a game on mobile that has only been in development for just over two years. BeamNG is nearly twelve years old!The second trailer shows precisely how detailed the impressive damage system is. Repeated impacts and panels flying off are very impressive for a game designed, first and foremost, around mobile platforms.
It is not just vehicle damage that has been changed and adapted for the new game; the tyre-damage model is carried over from CarX Drift Racing 2 and has a significant list of updates and visual changes. Players will have to manage their tyre sets in competitive modes. However, there will always be a steady stock of standard tyres, so players will never entirely run out of options, even if they exhaust all of their custom sets.
New visual tyre degradation
With the damage model now opening the door to a much more realistic drifting experience that punishes small mistakes with significant consequences, the online modes will wreak havoc without turning off damage. It can be managed in conventional racing simulators like iRacing and Automobilsta 2. But it could spell disaster in an arcade-style title like CarX Drift Racing 3.
Cars
When CarX Drift Racing 3 releases to mobile platforms on the 5th of December, you will have a wide range of vehicles. The game will debut with thirty cars to use and drift; however, many more are expected throughout the game's life cycle.Selection of cars available at launch
During a Q&A session earlier in the year, the CarX team confirmed they have no plans to include SUVs or off-road vehicles. It might seem like common sense, but having a modern drifting and racing game without trucks or SUVs is a real rarity. This promise keeps the CarX Drift Racing series rooted in its history without being held back from progressing the franchise.
With CarX Drift Racing 3 focusing on the track side of drifting, Formula Drift content may make its way into the game. The likely additions could involve some iconic AdamLZ cars or perhaps some championship-winning vehicles like Chelsea DeNofa's 2023 title-winning Ford Mustang RTR.
The variety of cars is expanding further in CarX Drift Racing 3
Tracks & Locations
CarX Drift Racing 3 focuses on delivering a track-based experience over the more conventional street drifting style of titles like Forza Horizon. Alongside this track-based rhetoric, CarX 3 introduces an in-depth track designer for the first time in the franchise's history. This new revolutionary feature allows the player to design layouts and Togue runs.If making your own tracks is not your speed, there are plenty of confirmed locations in the real world, stretching from Japan to Germany. Despite the list looking somewhat limited, there are undoubtedly more locations to come post-release.
Are you looking forward to CarX Drift Racing 3? In the comments below, let us know which car you want to build into your ideal drift missile first!
