Wreckfest 2 is out now, but only in early access and only on PC. It went on sale on Steam on 20 March 2025 and costs $34.99 in the US. There is no release date for the full 1.0 version yet, and no release date for PS5 or Xbox Series X|S either. Both console versions are announced. Neither can be bought.
Below is what the game is, what each early access update added, what it costs, what PC you need, how it differs from the first Wreckfest, and whether I would buy it today.
Checked on 15 October 2026 against the US Steam store page for Wreckfest 2 (appid 1203190), Bugbear and THQ Nordic announcements on Steam up to 14 October 2026, the official site wreckfest2.thqnordic.com, the PlayStation Store and the Xbox store. Where something is not published, I say so instead of filling the gap.
What Wreckfest 2 is
Wreckfest 2 is a full contact racing game from Bugbear, the Helsinki studio behind the first Wreckfest and the FlatOut series. THQ Nordic publishes it.
You race old, dented cars on circuits, figure 8s, dirt ovals and crazy tracks with crossing traffic. Or you skip the racing and fight in derby arenas until one car is still moving. Bugbear says it rebuilt its physics engine for this game, with more detailed component damage than Wreckfest 1.
It is an arcade racer with a lot of simulation under the bonnet. Weight, momentum and damage matter. A bent wheel or a broken engine changes how the car drives for the rest of the race.
This is the one racing game where contact is the point. Real racing teaches you the opposite. You spend years learning when to stay out of trouble and when a move is on. That judgement still works here. Knowing who is about to get hit, and not being the car next to them, is half of a good result in a game like this.
Early access status in October 2026
The game is still in early access. The Steam store lists it under the Early Access genre, and the official site says "PC Early Access".
When it launched, Bugbear wrote on the store page that it expected "a minimum timeframe of 12 months" in early access, and that the real length depends on community feedback. It is now 19 months in. No 1.0 date has been announced.
What Bugbear says the full game will add over the early access version:
- A career mode. Bugbear has written two dev blogs about it (January and February 2026). It is built around three player profiles Bugbear calls the Racer, the Crasher and the Bonebreaker, and it adapts to which one you are in each event.
- Mod support through the Steam Workshop.
- More languages. Steam lists English only today.
- Skill based matchmaking and server queues for online play.
None of those four were in the game when I checked, going by the store page. Update 8 added player progression, which is a step towards the career.
Steam reviews were Mostly Positive, 72% of 3,673 English reviews, and Mixed (67% of 126) over the last 30 days.
Every early access update so far
Bugbear keeps the roadmap on the Steam store page and adds each update as it ships. This is what each content update brought, from that list.
| Update | Date | Main additions |
|---|---|---|
| Early access launch | 20 Mar 2025 | 4 cars, Scrapyard, Speedway and Sandpit maps, a stunt sandbox, racing and derby, 24 car online lobbies |
| Content Update 1 | 13 May 2025 | 2 cars, a folk race track, a rallycross track, friend invites, DLSS and FSR, controller rumble |
| Content Update 2 | 26 Jun 2025 | 2 vehicles (one is a motorhome), a banger racing dirt oval, a derby arena, Last Man Standing mode, engine stalls |
| Content Update 3 | 28 Aug 2025 | 2 cars, new tracks and reverse layouts, AI difficulty levels, player reporting, SimHub telemetry |
| Content Update 4 | 3 Nov 2025 | Crap-it customization tool, Buggy, Crash Canyon 2.0, handling and tyre changes, multi monitor support |
| Content Update 5 | 15 Dec 2025 | 2 cars (one is a minivan), Moorfeld track, Challenge Mode with 10 challenges, multiplayer Cup Mode, mud on cars |
| Content Update 6 | 5 Mar 2026 | 3 vehicles including a school bus, Dalsbanen track, waypoint races, car upgrades, adjustable differential, suspension and gearbox |
| Content Update 7 | 19 May 2026 | 3 vehicles, Mora Raceway, suicide race mode, tuning system with saved presets, cockpit camera only lobbies |
| Content Update 8 | 30 Jun 2026 | Player progression, minimap, 2 cars, new waypoint and suicide races, quick tuning, paint job sharing by file |
| Content Update 9 | 15 Oct 2026 | Announced on Steam for today, "with a twist". Contents not published when I checked |
Each update was followed by one to five patches. Count the cars on that roadmap and you get 21 vehicles before Update 9. I list every one, with its class, in the Wreckfest 2 car list.
Wreckfest 2 release date on PS5 and Xbox
There is no console release date.
What is official:
- PlayStation Store. The Wreckfest 2 page is live as "Announced" and says the release date is to be determined. You can add it to your wishlist. There is no price and no pre-order.
- Xbox store. The page exists, optimised for Xbox Series X|S, with no price and no date. It is not on sale.
- THQ Nordic. The official site lists Windows, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S as platforms, but only the Steam version can be bought.
- The launch press release (20 March 2025) said the price will rise "until the full 1.0 release on PC and consoles". That reads as consoles arriving with 1.0, not before it. Nobody has given a date for either.
No PS4 or Xbox One version is listed anywhere I checked. If you see a firm console date on another site, look for the source. I could not find one from Bugbear, THQ Nordic, Sony or Microsoft.
The Xbox store listing mentions split screen, and the official site promises it for the full game. I cover what that means, and crossplay, on the crossplay and split screen page.
How much is Wreckfest 2?
Wreckfest 2 is $34.99 on Steam in the US, with no discount on when I checked. It has one edition. There is no deluxe edition, no season pass and no paid DLC.
The price has already gone up once:
| Date | US price | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Mar 2025 | $29.99 | Early access launch, 20% off until 3 April 2025 |
| 10 Feb 2026 | $34.99 | Price rise announced on 5 February, "to reflect the currently available Early Access content" |
The launch price was also €29.99 and £24.99. The February rise took the euro price to €34.99 as well. THQ Nordic said at launch that the price will "gradually increase" until 1.0, so buying early is cheaper than buying at release, if you are going to buy it anyway.
Steam also sells two bundles that include it:
| Bundle | Contents | US price |
|---|---|---|
| Wreckfest Franchise Bundle | Wreckfest, its Season Pass 1 and 2, Wreckfest 2 | $83.66 |
| JDM: Japanese Drift Master x Wreckfest 2 | Wreckfest 2 and Japanese Drift Master | $62.98 |
One thing to ignore: the "Driver's License DLC" Bugbear posted on 1 April 2026. It was an April Fools joke. Steam lists no DLC for the game.
PC requirements
Straight from the Steam store page. Both tiers are for 1080p.
| Minimum (30 fps, low preset) | Recommended (60 fps, high preset) | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit | Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit |
| CPU | Core i5 8600 / Ryzen 5 3500, 6 cores | Core i7 9700 / Ryzen 5 3600X, 6 cores |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| GPU | GTX 1060 6 GB / RX 580 | RTX 3070 / RX 6800 XT |
| DirectX | 12 | 12 |
| Storage | 15 GB | 15 GB |
Bugbear's note on both tiers says the requirements "will be lowered during the early access phase". They have not been changed on the page yet. An RTX 3070 for 60 fps at 1080p is a lot to ask, so if your PC sits near the minimum, read the recent Steam reviews on performance before you buy. DLSS and FSR upscaling with frame generation arrived in Update 1, which helps.
There is no Mac or Linux version listed. If you want to run your own server for a league, the dedicated server guide covers it.
What changed from Wreckfest 1
Going by what Bugbear lists, these are the real differences:
- Physics and damage. A rebuilt engine with deeper component damage. The first game's damage was already its best feature, so this is where the sequel has to be better.
- Customization. The Crap-it tool (Update 4) lets you build and paint your banger, and paint jobs can be shared as files since Update 8.
- Setup. Adjustable differential, suspension and gearbox (Update 6), then a tuning system with saved presets (Update 7).
- Modes. Challenge Mode, waypoint races and suicide races are new. Last Man Standing is back.
- Tech. DirectX 12, DLSS and FSR, multi monitor support and SimHub telemetry, which matters if you run a dashboard or a bass shaker.
And what Wreckfest 1 still does that the sequel does not, yet:
- A career mode. Wreckfest 1 has one. Wreckfest 2 has player progression and a career in development.
- Mods. Wreckfest 1 has Steam Workshop support. Wreckfest 2 does not, yet.
- Content. Wreckfest 1 has had years of updates and two season passes. Bugbear said it plainly at launch: do not expect early access to be as full as Wreckfest 1 after nearly a decade.
Wreckfest 1 is $29.99 on Steam, five dollars less than the sequel.
If you play on a wheel, Update 5 Patch 1 raised the default force feedback strength because it felt weak. My wheel and controller settings are on the Wreckfest 2 wheel settings page, and if you own the Logitech RS50, the RS50 settings by game page has my numbers for the first Wreckfest.
Is Wreckfest 2 worth it?
It depends on what you want from it.
Buy it now if you want online races and derbies with friends. That has been in the game since day one, with 24 car lobbies, and there are 21 vehicles and a long list of tracks to do it with. The price is going up, so if you are sure, early is cheaper.
Buy it now if you care about the damage model. That is the reason this series exists, and it is the part Bugbear has worked on in almost every update.
Wait if you want a single player career. It is not in the game. Wreckfest 1 at $29.99 has one today.
Wait if you play on console. There is nothing to buy, and no date. The PlayStation Store lets you wishlist it, so you hear when that changes.
Wait if your PC is near the minimum spec. The official requirements are high for 1080p and the promised reduction has not happened yet.
Bugbear's own disclaimer on the store page says the same thing more bluntly: if you expect a finished game with dozens of tracks and a full career, buy at 1.0. I agree with them. The early access version is a good multiplayer game with an unfinished single player side.
If you are new to dirt and contact racing and want something else to compare it with, my rallycross games guide covers the off road side, and the budget wheels list has the cheap wheels I would pair with a game like this.
More Wreckfest 2 guides
- Wreckfest 2 car list: every vehicle in the game so far.
- Wreckfest 2 wheel settings: wheel, force feedback and controller settings.
- Wreckfest 2 crossplay and split screen: crossplay, split screen and VR.
- Wreckfest 2 dedicated server: how to host your own server.
FAQ
Is Wreckfest 2 out?
Yes, in early access on PC through Steam since 20 March 2025. The full 1.0 release has no date yet.
When is the Wreckfest 2 full release date?
Not announced. Bugbear expected at least 12 months of early access, which has passed. The career mode and mod support are still to come before 1.0.
Is Wreckfest 2 coming to PS5?
Yes, it is announced for PS5. The PlayStation Store page says the release date is to be determined, and there is no price or pre-order.
Is Wreckfest 2 coming to Xbox?
Yes, for Xbox Series X|S. The Xbox store page is up but has no date or price. No Xbox One version is listed.
How much is Wreckfest 2?
$34.99 on Steam in the US. It launched at $29.99 and went up on 10 February 2026. THQ Nordic says it will keep rising until 1.0.
Does Wreckfest 2 have a career mode?
Not yet. Update 8 added player progression. A full career mode is in development and Bugbear has described it in two dev blogs.
Does Wreckfest 2 have DLC?
No. Steam lists no DLC and the game has one edition. The "Driver's License DLC" from 1 April 2026 was an April Fools post.
Is Wreckfest 2 better than Wreckfest 1?
On physics, damage and customization, Bugbear's changes are big. On content, the first game still has more, plus a career and mods. If you want a complete game today, Wreckfest 1 is cheaper and finished.