It’s always exciting to see new racing simulators as Project Motor Racing and RENNSPORT, entering a genre that’s usually dominated by giants like Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon from Microsoft, Gran Turismo from Sony, and titles like Need for Speed and F1 from Electronic Arts. True sim racing experiences, especially the “sim or sim-arcade” hybrids don’t arrive very often.
This time, we have two very distinct projects: Project Motor Racing, published by GIANTS Software, and RENNSPORT, backed by Nacon (former BigbBen Interactive).
RENNSPORT – The Prodigy of Esports
I’ve been following RENNSPORT since its closed beta in 2023, though I didn’t expect it to arrive on consoles so soon. From the beginning, it was clear that this racing simulator was designed with esports in mind, competitive grids, online focus, and crossplay between platforms.
Developed in cooperation between Polish studio Teyon (RoboCop: Rogue City, Terminator: Resistance) and the German startup Competition Company, RENNSPORT delivers a robust sim experience. Built in Unreal Engine 5, the visuals are impressive, though not as visually stunning as Forza or Gran Turismo. That said, anyone who truly loves sim racing knows that the real beauty is in the driving feel, and in that regard, RENNSPORT absolutely delivers.
One of its strongest points is accessibility. You can tweak traction control, braking power percentage, acceleration sensitivity, and AI difficulty. These options make the game adaptable to different skill levels. After a few hours, you’ll likely feel comfortable pushing harder, braking later, attempting riskier overtakes, and trusting the car more.
Now, for the downsides.
The biggest issue is the always-online requirement, even for single-player modes. Server stability can also be inconsistent. I was disconnected from several single-player races due to server problems. While crossplay between Xbox, PlayStation, and PC is a strong feature, finding populated races during weekday evenings was sometimes difficult. Weekends were a completely different story, with much healthier player numbers.
Content is another area that still feels limited. The game includes categories like GT3, GT4, and Hypercars, but with a relatively small selection of manufacturers (BMW, Mercedes-AMG, Audi, Aston Martin, Porsche) and limited liveries. However, updates are ongoing, and more content is clearly planned. Although the selection of circuits is limited, they are of good quality, with tracks such as Daytona, Road Atlanta, and Monza.
Project Motor Racing – For the More Experienced Driver
When GIANTS Software, famous for Farming Simulator, announced Project Motor Racing, I was intrigued and slightly concerned. Using the Farming Simulator engine for a racing simulator? That sounded risky.
But curiosity won.
Developed by British studio Straight4, this is a far more hardcore racing simulator than a sim-arcade experience. While it plays well on a controller, it demands much more skill and patience from the player.
Visually, the game is impressive, especially the car models, track detail, and dynamic weather systems. While Forza and Gran Turismo still lead in overall visual polish, Project Motor Racing shines in atmosphere and realism.
Accessibility options are present but they seem less effective, traction control, ABS adjustments and AI racing drivers error frequency. But even with assists maxed out, this is not a game you instantly “click” with. It requires practice. Real practice.
The content variety is strong. Categories include GT3, GT4, MX-5 Trophy, GTO, and more, with manufacturers like Chevrolet, Nissan, Mazda, Porsche, BMW, Audi, Lamborghini, and Acura. The range of eras and car types adds depth and replayability.
Track selection is solid as well, featuring circuits like Sebring, Spa-Francorchamps, San Marino, and an unofficial version of Interlagos.
Online play is available with crossplay, but similar to RENNSPORT, finding populated lobbies can sometimes be difficult. The simulation itself is constantly evolving. For example, recent updates improved the GT3 class significantly, making the handling more refined and realistic.
While controller support works well, I suspect a steering wheel setup would truly elevate the experience here.
So, What’s the Final Verdict?
Both RENNSPORT and Project Motor Racing are excellent additions to the world of racing simulators.
- What RENNSPORT lacks in content, it makes up for with accessibility and intuitive driving feel.
- What Project Motor Racing gains in depth and variety, it balances with a steeper learning curve.
Both are living projects, constantly updated and supported by passionate communities and developers.
If you’re a fan of sim racing, or simply love racing games that reward skill and precision, both deserve a place on your wishlist.
And honestly? It’s a great time to be a racing fan.
And I’ll be talking about them on my bi-weekly podcast called Mega Busters (only in Portuguese). Here are the links: Youtube and Spotify.
