PC2 Project CARS 2: New Screenshot and What We Know So Far...

[Paul Jeffrey]

Slightly Mad Studios have released the final image from their mystery Twitter teaser, showing off an atmospheric wet circuit under lights during evening conditions.

As we mentioned in an earlier article, SMS have been tweeting a countdown of reveal images from the new game as they build up promotion prior to Project CARS 2 hitting our shelves. So far we have seen official images from a range of weather conditions, including night and snow, as well as some impressive looking visuals throughout the game. Coupling this together with various other leaked previews and last month's game introduction leak, it looks like players are in for another visual treat with Project CARS 2.

So what do we know about Project CARS 2 so far? Looking around the internet I've managed to pull together all the information I can lay my hands on, but be warned - not all of the information comes from official sources and could easily be subject to change. Oh and it's taken me ages to find from loads of different places, so please don't ask for links as to where I got it from, because it was all over! I've tried my very best to ensure what I've noted down here was backed up with either screenshots or comments from people in the know.. so it (should) be reasonably reliable...

CARS
According to the official Project CARS website we can expect upwards of 200 vehicles shipping with the initial release. Due to the way gaming works nowadays and the ever present need to continue bringing in income, one would be safe to say this number will be padded out somewhat with post release DLC packs, as was the case with the original title. I've heard rumours that up to 50 additional cars might be added post release. So what cars have we seen so far?

• McLaren P1
• McLaren P1 GTR
• McLaren F1 GTR
• Ford GT 2017
• Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo
• Mini Countryman Rallycross
• Ford Raptor Truck / F-150
• Pagani Huayra BC
• Pagani Zonda R
• BMW 320 Turbo Group 5
• Ford Capri Zakspeed
• Formula Ford
• Ferrari 288 GTO
• Nissan 240Z Fairlady
• Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe
• Porsche 918 Spyder
• Chevrolet Corvette C.7R
• Ferrari La Ferrari
• Jaguar XJ220S
• Ford Fiesta WRX
• Ford Focus RS 2010
• Ford Sierra Cosworth
• Arial Atom
• KTM X-Bow
• Mercedes A-Class
• Volkswagen Polo WRC/WRX?
• Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
• Lamborghini Veneno
• Porsche 935/7 "Moby Dick"
• Ford Escort (Mexico?)
• Potentially entry level oval stockcar based on the 1990 Caper Monterrey from PC1

Tracks
Again the official website for Slightly Mad Studios is used for reference here, and they claim that the new Project CARS title will contain no less that 50 unique locations covering over 200 different layouts, including for the first time loose surface racing and snow conditions. We don't know much about the tracks but here's what I can uncover so far:

• Sampala. A winding road covered in snow and ice as seen in the recent leaked game intro
• Brands Hatch. Not sure if it's to be the Indy layout or the full GP version - or both
• Classic Daytona Beach Road Course
• Mugello
• Monaco
• Fuji
• Texas Motor Speedway
• Spa
• Historic Monza
• Historic Le Mans
• Sachsenring
• Indianapolis Motor Speedway
• Historic Phoenix
• Brannochbrea
• Laguna Seca
• Hell Rallycross track in Norway
• Wildcrest (fantasy RX track)
• Long Beach

Features

• Although not actually officially confirmed, with VR usage growing considerably in the gaming industry in general and with Project CARS 1 having done such a good job of implementing support in the original release (including status as Oculus launch title) it's probably fair to say the new game will contain support for at least some of the Virtual Reality headsets. It is less clear how much support will be given to console VR versions of the game.
  
• According to the official notes from SMS we can expect eight different disciplines of racing in the new title. With Rallycross having already been teased plus circuit racing to and the previously leaked stockcar and Indy news, I suspect oval racing will also feature in a prominent way. As for the other five different disciplines, other than something around ice it remains a bit of a mystery.
  
• eSports Racing - yep it's popular nowadays and will be an integral part of Project CARS 2 "from day one". We expect this functionality to have broadcasting capabilities and some kind of driver matchmaking feature to allow drivers of certain earned skill points to be matched with equal ranked drivers. Expect something similar to what iRacing have in place, but with a bit more gloss.
• Enhanced weather effects. Again taking the leaked intro video as reference, it looks like PC2 will be going all out in an effort to impress with the weather in game. From the leaked intro it looks like we will be getting snow this time, plus a more dynamic wet weather puddle build up and changeable wind directions. "We'll now have it sunny in one part but there might be a rain cloud a few corners away"
• Dynamic weather seasons. You will now be able to set the game to simulate seasons and such things as foliage off track will change colour to represent the new season.
• Dirt can be dragged onto the racing surface and can only be cleaned by cars running over the affected area.
• Triple Screen support confirmed.

Other

• Judging by a recent Tweet from the official Project CARS account it looks like former BBC Top Gear Stig Ben Collins has been secured to add voiceover audio for the new game. For those who only know Collins from his Top Gear duty in the white suit, the 41 year old Brit is a rather accomplished racing driver in his own right, with seven victories and a championship trophy in the 2003 ASCAR championship standing out as some of his many career highlights.
  
• It is expected that SMS will continue to use professional racing drivers to aid the development of the new game. We know Nicolas Hamilton has been retained as a consultant for PCARS 2 but other names have not yet been revealed. New for 2017 DTM driver Rene Rast has posted a video of himself driving Spa in PCARS 2 so it wouldn't be a great stretch of the imagination to see him playing some part in the ongoing game development.

We will continue to bring you all the latest news and rumours with regards to Project CARS 2. If you have some information to share you think might be of interest feel free to post in the comments section below or drop me a PM directly.

Project CARS 2 is due for release on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC probably during the fourth quarter of 2017.

Check out the Project CARS forum here at RaceDepartment for all the latest news and discussions regarding Project CARS on both PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Browse out modding database, engage with the community or join in one of our many League and Club Racing events. Its all here at RaceDepartment.

So after everything we know so far and the latest reveal images, are you looking forward to PCARS 2? Do you think the game will be able to pick up where the original left off, or will this be a sizeable step up from its predecessor? Let us know in the comments section below!

 

[samcar304]

As someone who was extremely excited for PCARS. I mean really excited... Me and my friends used to watch videos of the early access in our french lessons when we should have been doing work. Although almost 3 years passed until i finally got to play the game... PCARS for me was extremely enjoyable yes it did not have the best physics simulation compared to the other titles i played but for me the Career progression sold it. I am a big fan of the FIFA series where you take your player on a journey up the ranks to the best team to win trophies. Very similar to the F1 career too. I love this about games and being somewhat immersed in a career ladder really made me enjoy the game.

Will i buy PCARS 2 probably... I just hope they learn their lesson from the past game. (Regarding Bugs.

 

[Paul Jeffrey]

Early warning: I'm prone to getting over excited

Must admit I'm looking forward to this one a lot. Never found myself enjoying PCARS 1 to be honest, despite being exceptionally excited during the build up phase. For me I didn't really encounter too many bugs because to be honest I parked it before I had the chance to encounter anything serious bug wise. I simply couldn't get on with the game. I didn't like the feel of the cars at all (despite a hell of a lot of tweaking and using various tips / Jake Spade Tweaker files etc) it never felt right to me.

I just didn't like the game for some reason, it never felt like a proper simulation to me (despite what the previews and advertising stated). I've gone back to it many times, including after getting VR, but it never sticks around for long on the HDD.

Now don't get me wrong I'm not bashing the game at all, it just wasn't for me.

Now I'm excited all over again for PCARS 2, and I sincerely hope from the bottom of my heart it will live up to what I want it to be. Whatever way you cut it, it's looking good from what we've seen so far and it's always good news to have something new on the horizon to look forward to. So fingers crossed it ticks enough boxes for enough people to be a good entry into the sim racing landscape.

I'm just happy we live in a world where new stuff keeps coming out. Keeps me excited and happy and at the end of the day that's why we have hobbies, to be happy

 

[Matt Beers]

Im definitely looking forward to this I love racing games it's all I play! Just happy to have multiple games coming out Dirt 4, GT Sport, Forza 7 etc!

 

[tpw]

Well the bugs/FFB/AI got the better of me after a few months of pCARS1, but I still fire it up every now and then to marvel at how graphically accomplished it is.

If pCARS2 can: get some real feeling of weight and weight transfer into the driving; consolidate the FFB into a few useful non-cryptic sliders; sort out the homicidal (esp openwheel) AI who refuse to respect drivers / track limits / laws of physics; and sort out some of the egregious bugs that ruined pitstops and career progression etc then I'll be more than willing to give it a go.

In the mean time I'm gonna let the hype train pass me by.

 

[Gargos]

I will not pre-order this and will wait to see how this game works before I commit to it. Watching paying customers get ripped apart by the CEO himself and his cronies when they tried to get legitimate help from their website for a completely broken and unplayable game early on was absolutely disgusting.

 

[Boby Kim]

For console players this title is going to rock. 200 cars...50+ tracks...best graphics ever seen...dirt on the track. I think im going to sell my PC incl the complete Race seat and go for a PS4 pro. On the couch doing 5 lap races. Makes life so much more easy

 

[Harry308]

I'm only assuming the force feed back and physics will be no where in the vicinity of a racing SIM, leaving it to be just a racing GAME again like the first one.

Not for me even though it looks visually good, they should put a bit more work into the FFB and physics and take a bit out of the visuals to give it a better balance.

 

[Kurupt CDN]

The features listed sound promising, if the game can be released with a good base ffb and improved ai i might consider giving sms a second chance....a pre launch demo would be fantastic

 

[Deleted member 241736]

Thx Paul Jeffrey for all those detail Informations around our lovley Sim hobby.
Pcars2: Well I'm fall in love with AC, a lot of invest and fun, so it would be hard accept a maybe better pcars. Similar to all the girls around, a lot of nice ones but at least one in love

 

[Adam#81]

Yes because the same people who do graphics are the same people doing the physics... I.. eh nvm.

 

[Rupe Wilson]

I always like to try before buying. no demo, no play, no spend..

 

[Fonsecker]

I always like to try before buying. no demo, no play, no spend..

Buy it on steam, you can test it for at least two hours. So should be no problem.

Long Beach? Great! it´s a insta buy for me!

 

[Paul Blythe]

I'll reserve judgement until it's actually available and playable ...

 

[F_B]

Missing

Features

• Good FFB out of the box! We reduced the gazillions of FFB options to just 5 important sliders so that you can adjust it to your liking

 

[resmania]

Ian Bell Q&A session in on going at gtplanet.

 

[Rupe Wilson]

Buy it on steam, you can test it for at least two hours. So should be no problem.

Id still like a demo.
I have just read about steam returns after your post.
Thanks for the heads up,

 

[AadHofman]

Ian Bell Q&A session in on going at gtplanet.

What we want to happen is that we don't need to build in subtle understeer for controllability to allow the average person to enjoy the experience on a game pad. I personally have put away my wheel for pCARS2. I'm using a pad exclusively and I'm insisting that we retain the dynamics of the car but allow the player to control such things as sharp front end turn in and on the apex and on-throttle balance with full throttle oversteer and opposite lock controllability (if that makes sense)... That was our aim 2 year ago and I think we've achieved it. I think it's a very affirming experience for pad users now.

It figures.

 

[Dataman]

Before buying PCars, I will look, the settings page of the cars (today is a scandal a page like this), the possibilities of the multiplayer and the FFB. For the rest I trust them?

 

[MerrixSS]

Interested to see how well this runs in VR. The original Project Cars doesn't perform as well as some other titles like Assetto Corsa or RaceRoom, but it is still a good experience. Fingers crossed they support VRworks and/or LiquidVR as it would be nice to push the visual fidelity further.