Project Motor Racing Struggles to Cross the Finish Line in Spiritual Successor to Project CARS
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Project Motor Racing arrives as the spiritual successor to Project CARS, offering a refreshing single-player focus without live-service monetization, but severe AI issues, bugs, and a lack of depth hold it back from greatness.
For racing enthusiasts looking for a dedicated single-player experience free from the aggressive monetization, mandatory subscriptions, and live-service treadmills dominating modern gaming, Project Motor Racing looked like an easy win on paper. Developed by Straight4 Studios, essentially a reformed version of the team behind the beloved Project CARS series, this spiritual successor aims to pick up where Project CARS 2 left off. The game wisely bypasses free-to-play chicanery and avoids the pitfalls of multiplayer-only focus. Instead, it offers a refreshing single-player career structure featuring flexible starting budgets, multiple save slots for family sharing, and customizable payout systems that let players tailor in-game credit earnings to their preferred playstyle.
Unfortunately, execution stalls badly on the asphalt. According to a recent review by Luke Reilly on IGN South Africa, the game in its current state is hindered by a mountain of technical hurdles and frustrating design choices. Players are met with erratic artificial intelligence that routinely ignores human drivers on the track, alongside an uneven penalty system that frequently ruins clean races. Toss in peculiar physics quirks and a sparse management suite that lacks basic customization features like custom team liveries or sponsor logos, and the overall package feels rough around the edges. While mod support is a heavily touted feature, the core racing loop currently struggles to deliver a reliable experience.
For a community that values deep simulation and polished progression without predatory microtransactions, Project Motor Racing is a tough recommendation right now. It boasts a solid foundation and some genuinely smart quality-of-life ideas, but the frustrating on-track chaos and bugs mean players might want to wait in the pits for major updates. Developers have already started pushing patches, including free content drops and technical fixes, so there is still hope that the garage can turn things around before this title secures a permanent spot in the back of the grid.
Tags: Project Motor Racing, Racing Games, Simulation, PC Gaming, Console Gaming
Original article: IGN South Africa