Project CARS 3

Project CARS 3 is a racing video game developed by Codemasters subsidiary Slightly Mad Studios and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It was first released on 28 August 2020 for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. The game was poorly received by the public, being criticized for a departure from its features compared to its predecessors. It is the last mainline instalment in the Project CARS series as the development for the fourth installment was cancelled by Slightly Mad's owner, Electronic Arts in November 2022.

Project CARS 3
North American cover art of Project CARS 3 featuring a Chevrolet Corvette C8, Mercedes-AMG GT R and Honda NSX
Developer(s)Slightly Mad Studios
Publisher(s)Bandai Namco Entertainment
SeriesProject CARS
Platform(s)
Release
  • WW: 28 August 2020
Genre(s)Motorsport Simulator
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay

Project CARS 3 introduces more customizable cars that are available to race over 140 global circuits. The game also features 24-hour cycles, various seasons, and weather effects.[1] The career mode has been rebuilt, with the artificial intelligence being enhanced. The game also support VR on PC.[2] According to CEO of Slightly Mad Studios Ian Bell, the game is a spiritual successor to the Need for Speed: Shift series, which was also developed by Slightly Mad Studios.[3] Having been acquired by British video game developer and publisher Codemasters, which is known for the Formula One series, Colin McRae Rally series and the Dirt series, in November 2019, Project CARS 3 is expected to share some elements from Codemasters' similar genre video game series TOCA, or Grid. The game received its first game trailer on 3 June 2020.[4] The game also features a refined multiplayer mode.[5]

Unlike its predecessors, this game does not feature tyre wear or fuel depletion, and as such, there are no pit stops. This has prompted heavy criticism from fans of the series.[6]

Development and release

Project CARS 3 is still developed by Slightly Mad Studios and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment.[7] The development began in the fall of 2018 after the commercial success of Project CARS 2.[8] Instead of switching to parent company Codemasters's Ego engine, the game is still powered by the same engine as its predecessors.[9] The game was released on PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One on 28 August 2020.[10][11]

New content includes cars such as the Audi TTS, Koenigsegg Jesko, Lotus Evija and the Bugatti Chiron, plus circuits such as Autódromo José Carlos Pace, Circuito de Jerez and Tuscany.

Reception

Project CARS 3 received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[23][24]

IGN's Luke Reilly said that: "Project CARS 3 is a racer so fundamentally different from its immediate forerunners it's bordering on unrecognisable. It abandons the sim racing sensibilities and adopts a radically different driving feel and a new career mode mostly made up of snack-sized racing and driving challenges. There's never a time when it feels like an actual sequel to Project CARS 2 – and that is disappointing."[16]

Jacob Hull from Push Square gave a score of 6/10, claiming: "Project CARS 3 marks a significant departure for the series, abandoning most of its sim heritage in favour of arcade racing. Offering a variety of different cars and tracks, there's plenty of content on offer, making for a fun distraction, but it lacks the excitement we expect from wheel-to-wheel racing. It takes inspiration from all over the place, but it's perhaps most closely aligned with Sony's own DriveClub. It would seem, then, that the PS4 cycle is ending the way it began. We're just not sure we'd pick this over what's come before."[19]

The PlayStation Official Magazine UK said it was a "patchy, unbalanced, and shallow racer with obvious technical issues". GameSpot criticised the AI, but said it had "a more arcade style of racing is one that makes the series approachable for the first time."[15]

Sales

The game reached number 5 in the US physical sales chart, and 17 in the UK, selling 86% less than the previous game.[25] The PlayStation 4 version of Project CARS 3 sold 2,404 copies within its first week on sale in Japan, making it the twenty-fourth bestselling retail game of the week in the country.[26]

Awards
Year Award Category Result
2020 Gamescom 2020 Best Simulation Game Won

References
  1. Robinson, Andy (3 June 2020). "Project Cars 3 will feature a new Career Mode and customisation options". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  2. Lawler, Richard (4 June 2020). "'Project Cars 3' trailer has some sim racing fans worried". Engadget. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  3. Patrick, Kyle (2 January 2019). "Ian Bell Expands on Project CARS 3 Approach: 'Less Sandbox, More Fun'". GTPlanet. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  4. Robinson, Martin (4 June 2020). "Project Cars 3 takes the series in a new direction". GTPlanet. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  5. Stocksdale, Joel (4 June 2020). "'Project CARS 3' revealed with more customization than ever before". Autoblog. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  6. Allen, James (29 June 2020). "Project CARS 3 won't have pit stops, tyre wear or fuel consumption". TeamVVV.com. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  7. Robinson, Martin (2 January 2019). "Project Cars 3 announced for Xbox One, PS4 and PC later this year". GamesRadar+. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  8. Evans, Andrew (31 December 2018). "Project CARS 3 Will Be a 'Spiritual Successor to Shift'". GTPlanet. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  9. Reilly, Luke (4 June 2020). "Project CARS 3 Promises to Be More 'Democratic, Welcoming, Supportive'". IGN. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  10. Kim, Matt (4 June 2020). "Project CARS 3 Announced for PS4, Xbox One, and PC". IGN. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  11. "Project CARS 3 launches August 28". Gematsu. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  12. "Project Cars 3 for PC reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  13. "Project Cars 3 for PS4 reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  14. "Project Cars 3 for Xbox One reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  15. "Project Cars 3 Review – into the Horizon".
  16. Reilly, Luke (26 August 2020). "Project CARS 3 Review". IGN. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  17. de Izokay, L'avis (27 August 2020). "Test : Project Cars 3 : Coup de frein pour la simulation de Slightly Mad". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  18. Issue#180, Sep 18, 2020, p.78
  19. Hull, Jacob (26 August 2020). "Project CARS 3 Review (PS4)". Push Square. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  20. GameCentral (27 August 2020). "Project Cars 3 review – best of both worlds". Metro. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  21. Rivers, Buck (25 August 2020). "Project CARS 3 review: A fun but drastic shift into reverse". Screen Rant. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  22. Bohn, Jacob (24 August 2020). "Review: Project CARS 3". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  23. "Project CARS 3 for PlayStation 4 reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  24. "Project CARS 3 for PC reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  25. "UK Charts: Soft week for physical sales despite new releases". 31 August 2020.
  26. Romano, Sal (September 17, 2020). "Famitsu Sales: 9/7/20 – 9/13/20". Gematsu. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
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