Project CARS

Project CARS came about in an unusual way – Slightly Mad Studios developed it partly with the financial support and feedback of a player community, who could test the game and influence its development years before official release through a paid-access system to development builds. It thus arrived on Xbox One as one of the most ambitious racing simulations of the generation, emphasizing a faithful physics model, dynamic weather changing in real time, and transitions between day and night that had a direct impact on track grip, visibility, and the choice of the right strategy.

The vehicle roster included hundreds of licensed cars across categories, from classic historic specials through GT cars to open-cockpit prototypes, and the game offered an elaborate career mode that guided players through progression across several motorsport disciplines, from single-seaters to endurance racing. The controls were designed primarily for players with a racing wheel, but also worked with a standard gamepad, albeit demanding greater feel and patience when searching for the limit of tire grip. It was precisely this difficulty and authenticity of the physics model that set the game apart from the more accessible arcade racers available on the same console.

On Xbox One the game visually impressed with its detailed rendering of weather and lighting, though the technical side suffered from occasional framerate dips in more demanding conditions with a larger number of cars on track. Reviews at the time praised the depth of the simulation and the scope of content, while also pointing out a less polished user interface and a steeper learning curve that could discourage genre newcomers. Nevertheless, Project CARS established itself as one of the most significant simulation titles of the early Xbox One era and paved the way for sequels that further developed and refined this concept, bringing it closer to a wider audience.

Why play it: For players seeking the depth of a racing simulation with detailed weather and lighting, Project CARS remains a significant title of the early Xbox One era, even though its steeper learning curve could discourage newcomers.