Project Motor Racing arrived in fall 2025 with high expectations as Straight4 Studios’ spiritual successor to Project CARS. But it’s been a flop.
The feature list was strong, with more than 70 cars, 27 laser scanned tracks and a physics package aimed at serious sim racers. The Project Motor Racing launch, however, fell short. Force feedback lacked detail, GT3 cars were unstable under braking, AI drivers caused chaos and online servers suffered from crashes and desyncs.
Performance issues also hit mid-spec PCs. Community frustration peaked and the developers issued a candid message acknowledging engine-level problems.
Patch 1.5.0.0 landed on 25 November as a first response. It delivered major force feedback changes with safety tweaks, improved brake feel and fixes for steering input glitches after challenges. GT and NGT physics were smoothed, rogue throttle spikes were removed and downshifts were refined. ]
Visual updates included corrections for cars such as the Mazda 787B and Porsche 962C, plus sharper textures for modern GT3 machinery. Online systems gained better lobby messaging, reduced track loading timeouts from 180 to 90 seconds and improved damage repair synchronisation.
Stability fixes removed career softlocks and setup exploits. AI remained untouched, but the foundation became more stable.
Patch 1.5.0.1 addresses AI and GT3 handling
The follow-up Patch 1.5.0.1 rolled out globally on 28 November and brought the changes players had been waiting for. AI behaviour improved with better lateral awareness, cleaner restarts and more reliable collision avoidance.
GT3 physics received a broad unification of steering, tie rods and damping, with grip falloff adjustments for more consistent behaviour. Default setups were revised based on player feedback. LMDh classes saw updates to cold tyre performance and traction control, and the Valkyrie became easier to drive. Server performance improved with cleaner matchmaking and better lobby fetch logic.
Hardware compatibility expanded with support for new pedal and wheel systems. Track updates ranged from reduced surface glare at the Nordschleife to restored garages at Zolder. The overall package was a significant second step in stabilising the game.
A meaningful recovery but not the finish line
Reaction across X on 29 and 30 November suggested that Project Motor Racing is moving in the right direction. Testers praised more stable AI races, improved car balance and more natural load transfer, with some comparing GT3 behaviour to iRacing.
Controller users reported better precision. Traxion gg highlighted direct improvements to the previously erratic GT3 handling and inconsistent AI. MySimRig named Project Motor Racing its update of the week in a roundup of 59 titles.
Not all issues are gone. Some players reported PC crashes, force feedback on certain Thrustmaster wheels remained unreliable and performance dips continued on lower end hardware. The developers promised further AI work and a December roadmap.
Patch 1.5.0.0 began the turnaround and Patch 1.5.0.1 consolidated it. Reports from early testing indicate a significant improvement in force feedback, GT3 control, AI behaviour and online reliability. Single player is now far more usable and online lobbies are filling again.
Project Motor Racing has evolved from a troubled launch into a title worth following closely. December’s updates will determine whether it can fully deliver on its promise.
Simracing community barometer and verdict
Project Motor Racing, launched on November 25-26, 2025, as the spiritual successor to the acclaimed Project CARS series, has faced overwhelming community backlash for delivering a profoundly unpolished experience that starkly contradicts its pre-release hype of cutting-edge physics, 70+ cars, and 27 laser-scanned tracks.
Steam user reviews sit at “Mostly Negative” with just 22% positive from 684 ratings, while Metacritic and sites like IGN, Top Gear, and Traxion.gg label it a “mess,” “let-down,” and “early access” feel, citing feeble force feedback lacking immersion, erratic GT3/LMDh handling with snap oversteer, brain-dead AI causing constant collisions, dated visuals and reused audio from 2015, server crashes, and missing features like proper multiclass or tire wear.
X and Reddit echo refunds en masse, with influencers and testers decrying it as “broken,” “unplayable,” and “the worst sim ever,” especially on consoles with 16-car grids. Patches 1.5.0.0/1.5.0.1 (Nov 25-28) improved FFB nuance, GT3 stability, AI awareness, and servers somewhat yielded “playable” single-player for some and 20-30% lap consistency gains, but critics insist core flaws persist, visuals underwhelm even on high-end rigs, and it’s far from iRacing/ACC rivals at $60-70.
Devs admitted “effing up” and pledged fixes, but consensus holds: massive potential squandered by rushed release, now a “wait for sales/deep discounts” title amid eroding trust.
Verdict: Avoid buying Project Motor Racing at full price right now; wait for several more major patches and a deep discount, because despite recent improvements, it remains a frustratingly unfinished and underwhelming experience compared to established rivals.