Wreckfest 2 is getting a test drive before it enters Xbox racing scene

Wreckfest 2's early access beta has been announced by developer Bugbear for PC only. Frankly, thank goodness my favorite racer is getting test-driven first!

Kes Eylers-Stephenson

Published 11 Feb 2025

Wreckfest 2's early access beta has been announced as PC only on Thursday, March 20, 2025, but I think this is a pretty good thing for the eventual Xbox Series X|S version of the game. The first entry was one of the best Xbox racing games and, for my money, was the outstanding arcade racer of the last generation. So, keeping an eye on how Bugbear Entertainment's new entry gets on will give us a great indication of what to expect.

PC is taking the sequel for a spin and priming Xbox for the best experience

You can bookmark the Wreckfest 2 achievements on site right now ahead of launch
Bugbear Entertainment is opening the doors for a PC Early Access Beta
Thank goodness, because the complex destruction sim has live up to one of the best racing games on Xbox

Just in case you aren't aware of what I'm banging on about, Wreckfest is a sim-cade-style racing game from the Xbox One generation. It combined semi-realistic handling mechanics with some serious car destruction physics and the results were spectacular. The sequel is overhauling said physics engine and giving us a new damage simulation model. You can get a sneak peek in the early access trailer.

Beginning on Thursday, March 20, 2025, on Steam, it'd be nice to see it on Xbox Series X|S in that Early Access form — but I think it's probably for the best to let the PC crowd give Wreckfest 2 a test drive first. With Wreckest 2 relying on complex particle effects and simulation models, we've seen similarly destruction-powered racing games like BeamNG struggle even on monster PC rigs let alone on consoles.

If we get a better-optimized version of the game thanks to early access on PC, I'd rather skip the testing and get right into the full game on launch whenever it releases in the future (no official release date just yet!). Does my opinion ring with the sound of copium? Yes, but needs must, fellow racers.

In any case, I think the game is looking full of the fun that made the first game so special. We're getting a better mix of courses this time around from launch, with traditional racing circuits, obstacle courses, and busier tracks with intersections and traffic. You might remember that a few of the best obstacle tracks were later additions to the game, so seeing them at launch is a great sign.

So, we'll get to peek at those in the beta alongside the new customization options, something I'm particularly curious about. The first game offered a small but well-crafted array of cosmetic and tuning-related upgrades. Bugbear is bringing this back, so I'll be keeping an eye on whether they've added depth to the system beyond simple stat boosts.

The Early Access also gives players the chance to test out revamped game modes, challenges, and tournaments, and allows Mod Support. The single-player is the real kicker here because Bugbear has stressed that they revamped the rather linear campaign of the first entry. Skill-based matchmaking is on the docket for multiplayer — always a controversial one — but I'm hoping it'll wheedle out the racer-wreckers that don't fit the vibe of this particular 'fest.

In any case, I'll be keeping a close eye on how Wreckfest 2 unfolds and you can play the first game right now with Xbox Game Pass. I'd probably stick it amongst the best Game Pass games, actually — I'll chat to staff writer Tom about getting it on there! So, are you disappointed to be missing out? Or, will you be waiting to see how it unfolds and hoping it makes for a better-optimized game? Let me know in the comments below, TA racers!

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Written by Kes Eylers-Stephenson

Editor-in-Chief Kes helps write Xbox and Microsoft news but also explores Xbox games like The Witcher IV, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and Kingdom Come Deliverance II using years of experience in RPGs and action-adventure games. He also helps cover the best Xbox and Game Pass games, though he tends to gravitate towards playing on PlayStation!