Wreckfest Coming to Console, New Stunt Game Announced

[Paul Jeffrey]

Bugbear Entertainment have announced Next Car Game: Wreckfest will be coming to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles in 2017.

Already developing nicely through the Steam Early Access programme, Next Car Game: Wreckfest developers Bugbear Entertainment have revealed plans to bring the title to the console audience. Due for release sometime in 2017, Wreckfest should be a popular addition to a console market that currently lacks a truly next generation destruction derby style racing game.

Although still very much in development for PC, this latest news could be very positive news for fans of Wreckfest. With many elements such as a proper career mode yet to be introduced, one would imagine an impending console port will positively influence the speed in which new features are implemented in Wreckfest. The game is already on very solid footing, with strong graphics and a sublime engine powering the advanced damage model, it should only be a matter of time until Wreckfest moves itself into more widely acknowledged circles.

Understandably the studio are reluctant to announce official release dates, however it is understood that a release during 2017 is planned.

No further details regarding the console version of Wreckfest are available at the time of publishing this article.

In other related news, Bugbear have announced a new stunt driving game is in development, initially named (unsurprisingly) - Stuntfest. The new Stuntfest game with have a host of interesting and unique vehicles. Stunt cars will of course be available to drive on release, but the studio have also announced weird and wonderful wheeled items such as shopping trollies and even a mobility scooter will be playable! One of the main features of Stuntfest will be the ability to create your own environments in which to drive. From the Bugbear release promo:

"Use Stuntfest’s ingenious built-in editor to create your own levels using the supplied gameplay rules and a huge amount of building blocks – track pieces, ramps, loops and all sorts of crazy contraptions ranging from giant toilets to crushing hammers, all designed for building an outlandish stunt challenges"

The new game will support Steam Workshop, allowing players to share their creations and download others unique takes on the stunt driving genre.

Initial Early Access release is planned for September / October 2016, with a full release due in 2017. Eager gamers can already pre order the title from the Bugbear website, affording the player different privileges depending on their level of investment.


Check out the Next Car Game: Wreckfest sub forum at RaceDepartment for all the news you need to know about this game. Have a chat with you fellow fans and find out what's happing in the world of Bugbear Entertainments current Destruction Derby style game.

Will you be looking to purchase Wreckfest once it releases on PC? Do you fancy checking out Stuntfest at the end of the year? Let us know in the comments section below!

 

[JeffL]

Don't know where this headed but there seems to be some real talent behind it,

 

[Cheesenium]

Wreckfest is always a game with a tremendous amount of potential. It just, Bugbear had been quite quiet for the past year or so.

Now, the basics are all pretty much nailed down. I think the game needs more polish and more content.

 

[FeltHat]

Already developing nicely through the Steam Early Access programme

what

 

[jlnprssnr]

Despite development being a bit slow, the only thing that was really lacking was transparency. So I'm glad they wrote where they're heading to at the moment. It's a broad vision to release the console version and another game, but could turn out well if they do it right. I think Stuntfest could find a huge audience on YouTube in the ranks of Beamn, kids love to see things crash. As f R Wreckfest, their status update published the same day is quite interesting, too.

 

[Paul Bennett]

Got this last Xmas sale it's pretty much simcade with wheel support as well, good for chill out times no worry about setups an lap times. It's been a tech demo all this time with devs trying stuff out, they rebuilt the physics engine which took a long time. The damage really makes it playable would be good if some other sims looked into this model. At last there's is a light at the end of this tunnel now, the devs can be very quite for ages then things like this pops up. The console release would a good move it's fits that market for the wreckers, but I hope they make the PC version solid before the release.

Would be great to see club races here would be a giggle

 

[Andreas Knöpke]

The game performs really poorly, has basically zero content and did not change much within the last 2 years.... this is very awkward news now.

 

[Sele1981]

Still waiting vor VR support. Would be damn fun.

 

[Paul Bennett]

Still a lot WIP agree , but the modding guys are busy. There's a UK banger mod soon using some of MadCowie's tracks from rF1.

 

[xnorb]

Wreckfest will make a great console title, but boy do they need lots of optimizing first. Stuntfest - if it's anything likeTrackmania's stunt mode with Wreckfest destruction i'm sold.

 

[Paul Jeffrey]

Agree development is slow, but for me its a far superior game that it was a couple of years back. Graphics have come on, for me at least it runs great, the physics have improved and the basics of a career mode / car upgrades are in place. Its not been done fast, but (eventually after some faltering bits) its come a long way.

Once finished, this could be very good indeed.

 

[thatmotorfreak]

If I wasn't an early backer, I don't think I'd trust Bugbear on yet another EA program seeing how they were pretty silent for long periods of time. I got the Master Blaster package during the pre-order campaign and I feel slightly regretful pouring that much money into this TBH

With that out of the way, I'm interested in the idea of a stunt-oriented game with Wreckfest physics. I had some fun with the sneak peek back then and the Santa game from last holiday.

 

[DriftMachine]

As slow as the development has been, I would expect them to struggle to deliver the code optimization for consoles in the intended time frame.

I am more concerned this means no more stuff being added to the game. It would seem that now they will be focused on optimizing the code for the consoles, instead of putting more content into the game.

It is a fun wrecking game with great physics, but the game desperately needs more content.

 

[BazzaLB]

how about fixing the grass graphic glitches that exist for GTX7xx class cards that have been acknowledged but never fixed.

 

[xnorb]

They are pumping out updates (either for the game or informational) every month now.

We're all referring to the disaster with the major physics update, which was a once-time issue. Yes, it lasted long, very long, and Bugbear was really bad at communicating during that time, but before and after that there was and is a constant progress and updates for Wreckfest.

For Stuntfest they will definitely have to up their game than just giving us an editor for the Tech Preview - else it will just become something for youTubers to make 2-3 episodes of "i yell every time my car gets wrecked" like they do in BeamNG. I mean, in the end it's a quick and easy way for Bugbear to make money, but i wish for more.

 

[jlnprssnr]

In case not everyone saw it, they published a Wreckfest status update the same day, too: http://www.wreckfestgame.com/wreckfest-status-update/

They discuss what they plan to do for tracks, cars, UI and career mode. I especially like the idea of higher performance versions of existing cars that'll also look more "badass", as in my opinion the exisiting cars are already quite nice and diverse. And many people will be glad to hear that they maybe will scrap the part repair system

 

[Jake Fangio]

Let's hope this game is in a finished state when it hits Consoles,unlike a recently released game that shall remain nameless...

 

[xnorb]

Without a publisher forcing the studio into a release date, this should be achievable

 

[DriftMachine]

And many people will be glad to hear that they maybe will scrap the part repair system

I hate the repair system. I really hope the scrap it and put their precious dev hours on something more important like more tracks with jumps and stuff.

 

[Roderick Kennedy]

Wow,two of my grandchildren love playing this with my wheel,a 6 year old girl,and a 10 year old boy.