# Wreckfest 2
**Wreckfest 2** is a demolition-derby-themed racing game developed by Bugbear Entertainment and published by [THQ Nordic](https://www.edgepedia.org/thq-nordic), released in Steam Early Access for PC on March 20, 2025 as the sequel to the 2018 game [Wreckfest](https://www.edgepedia.org/wreckfest).[1](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1203190/Wreckfest_2?l=english) It is built on an overhauled physics engine intended to deliver higher crash fidelity and more intricate component damage simulation, and a full release for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S is planned at a later date.[1](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1203190/Wreckfest_2?l=english) • [2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4kO-aUjUBU)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Early Access release | March 20, 2025, PC via Steam[1](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1203190/Wreckfest_2?l=english) |
| Developer / publisher | Bugbear Entertainment / THQ Nordic[1](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1203190/Wreckfest_2?l=english) |
| Launch content | 3 maps with multiple tracks, 4 cars, racing and derby modes for up to 24 players, and a sandbox test track[1](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1203190/Wreckfest_2?l=english) |
| Planned Early Access length | A minimum of 12 months, with the real duration dependent on community feedback[1](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1203190/Wreckfest_2?l=english) |
| Pricing | $34.99 on the Steam store, with the price planned to increase over the Early Access phase[1](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1203190/Wreckfest_2?l=english) |
| Steam reception | 72% of 3,586 English reviews positive; recent reviews mixed at 66% of 142[1](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1203190/Wreckfest_2?l=english) |
| Full version plans | Career and multiplayer modes, deep customization, modding support, and localization into many languages[1](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1203190/Wreckfest_2?l=english) |
## Background and release
The game entered Steam Early Access on March 20, 2025. Its release trailer made a point of showing unfinished elements, including greybox assets, physics glitches, and a fatal error message, alongside the destruction technology; the voiceover described the phase as a time for "testing, learning... and lots of fixing."[3](https://www.gamesradar.com/games/racing/devs-behind-beloved-destruction-focused-racing-game-wreckfest-launch-the-sequel-in-early-access-with-a-trailer-full-of-physics-glitches-and-fatal-error-messages/)
The approach repeats the development model of the original game, which began as the early-access project "Next Car Game" and took four years for Bugbear to bring to version 1.0 as Wreckfest.[3](https://www.gamesradar.com/games/racing/devs-behind-beloved-destruction-focused-racing-game-wreckfest-launch-the-sequel-in-early-access-with-a-trailer-full-of-physics-glitches-and-fatal-error-messages/) Bugbear's Steam Early Access statement says the studio expects a minimum timeframe of 12 months for Wreckfest 2, while noting that the real duration can vary because development depends on community feedback.[1](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1203190/Wreckfest_2?l=english)
## Gameplay and technology
The game offers full-contact racing and demolition derby modes on courses that include high-speed circuits, crazy courses with obstacles, jumps, intersections, and oncoming traffic, and dedicated derby arenas.[1](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1203190/Wreckfest_2?l=english) The vehicles are old, dented, and patched-together banger-style cars rather than supercars, and each carries a health bar of sorts that depletes as parts are damaged.[1](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1203190/Wreckfest_2?l=english) • [4](https://gamingbolt.com/wreckfest-2-early-access-review-flat-out-of-launch) Bugbear rebuilt its physics simulation engine to take advantage of modern hardware, and the game's damage model has been described as more detailed than the original Wreckfest's.[1](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1203190/Wreckfest_2?l=english) • [5](https://www.pcgamer.com/the-best-racing-games/)
The initial Early Access version contained single-player and multiplayer racing and derby with up to 24 players plus bot support, three maps (Scrapyard, Speedway, and a Sandpit remake of a Wreckfest 1 track) with multiple route layouts, four cars, basic paint customization, a garage, a first version of replay mode with photo mode, and leaderboards.[1](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1203190/Wreckfest_2?l=english) A sandbox test track with ramps and loopings demonstrates the destruction capabilities of the upgraded technology.[1](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1203190/Wreckfest_2?l=english)
## Early Access development
Bugbear has delivered content updates roughly every one to two months during Early Access. Content Update #1 (May 13, 2025) added two cars, a folk race course, a rallycross course, DLSS and FSR upscaling support, and controller rumble.[1](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1203190/Wreckfest_2?l=english) Later updates added Last Man Standing mode and engine stalls (#2, June 26, 2025), AI difficulty settings and SimHub telemetry support (#3, August 28, 2025), the Crap-it customization tool for paint, weathering, and decals along with the Crash Canyon 2.0 track (#4, November 3, 2025), Challenge Mode with 10 challenges and mud accumulation on cars (#5, December 15, 2025), basic car upgrades and adjustable differential, suspension, and gearbox settings (#6, March 5, 2026), a [car tuning](https://www.edgepedia.org/car-tuning) system with saveable presets (#7, May 19, 2026), and player progression and a minimap (#8, June 30, 2026).[1](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1203190/Wreckfest_2?l=english)
The full 1.0 version is planned to differ from Early Access by adding a completely revamped career mode that adapts to individual playstyle, skill-based matchmaking and server queues for online racing, special challenges with unconventional vehicles, Steam Workshop mod support, and full car customization from performance to cosmetics.[1](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1203190/Wreckfest_2?l=english) A development blog published in early 2026 covered the upcoming career mode.[6](https://thqnordic.com/news/game/wreckfest2)
## Reception
At launch, the game's Steam reviews stood at 73% positive, with praise for the driving model and damage system alongside complaints that the game was extremely barebones and reports of crashing issues.[3](https://www.gamesradar.com/games/racing/devs-behind-beloved-destruction-focused-racing-game-wreckfest-launch-the-sequel-in-early-access-with-a-trailer-full-of-physics-glitches-and-fatal-error-messages/) Later, the store page listed English reviews as Mostly Positive, with 72% of 3,586 reviews positive, while the most recent 142 reviews were Mixed at 66% positive.[1](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1203190/Wreckfest_2?l=english)
Reviewers have been consistent about the content gap. [PC Gamer](https://www.edgepedia.org/pc-gamer) wrote that the early access debut was barely more than a demo in size, while praising the markedly improved trackside detail and the satisfying damage model.[7](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/racing/theres-barely-more-than-a-demo-in-wreckfest-2s-early-access-debut-but-i-cant-stop-playing-it/) GamingBolt called the $29.99 launch price a hard sell in the game's current state even with handling and crash physics feeling good.[4](https://gamingbolt.com/wreckfest-2-early-access-review-flat-out-of-launch)
## System requirements
The Steam page lists minimum requirements of a 64-bit [Windows 10](https://www.edgepedia.org/windows-10) or 11 system with a 6-core Core i5 8600 or Ryzen 5 3500 CPU, 8 GB RAM, a GTX 1060 with 6 GB VRAM or RX 580, DirectX 12, and 15 GB of storage, targeting 1080p at 30 FPS on low settings. Recommended specifications are a Core i7 9700 or Ryzen 5 3600X, 16 GB RAM, and an RTX 3070 or 6800 XT for 1080p at 60 FPS on high settings. Bugbear states these requirements will be lowered during the Early Access phase.[1](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1203190/Wreckfest_2?l=english)
## References
1. [Wreckfest 2 on Steam, store page and Early Access details](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1203190/Wreckfest_2?l=english)
2. [Wreckfest 2 - Official Early Access Content Update 1 Overview Trailer, GameTrailers on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4kO-aUjUBU)
3. [Devs behind beloved destruction-focused racing game Wreckfest launch the sequel in early access, GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/games/racing/devs-behind-beloved-destruction-focused-racing-game-wreckfest-launch-the-sequel-in-early-access-with-a-trailer-full-of-physics-glitches-and-fatal-error-messages/)
4. [Wreckfest 2 Early Access Review - Flat Out of Launch, GamingBolt](https://gamingbolt.com/wreckfest-2-early-access-review-flat-out-of-launch)
5. [The best racing games on PC, PC Gamer](https://www.pcgamer.com/the-best-racing-games/)
6. [Wreckfest 2 - News, THQ Nordic](https://thqnordic.com/news/game/wreckfest2)
7. [There's barely more than a demo in Wreckfest 2's early access debut, PC Gamer](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/racing/theres-barely-more-than-a-demo-in-wreckfest-2s-early-access-debut-but-i-cant-stop-playing-it/)
8. [Which one should I buy?, Wreckfest 2 General Discussions, Steam Community](https://steamcommunity.com/app/1203190/discussions/0/573794228177513114/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Video games and digital play › Games and gameplay › Individual game titles › Individual PC and computer-platform game titles › Racing and driving titles*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license