The Project Motor Racing 2.0 update represents a significant enhancement following a troubled launch.

      Giants Software

      The most significant news and reviews about cars, no nonsense.

      Our free daily newsletter delivers the stories that matter directly to you every weekday.

      Project Motor Racing, the spiritual successor to Project CARS, was released last November in—a sentiment I express with no pleasure—a dire state. The game had performance issues, frequent crashes, an unremarkable appearance, and clunky driving mechanics. There was nothing to recommend it, and it was evident that the racing simulation required considerable refinement before it was ready for players. How much refinement, exactly? Approximately four months, it appears, as a major 2.0 patch was released today, significantly enhancing the experience.

      Admittedly, the initial standard was low, but everything about PMR has improved, to the extent that anyone who previously enjoyed Project CARS should think about acquiring it now, particularly if they passed on it in November (or likely refunded it), for its current sale price of $30.

      One of the most notable changes—and thankfully not the only one—becomes obvious right away upon launching version 2.0. The user interface, which seemed like a placeholder and barely functional at that, has undergone a complete redesign. While it may not be the most visually appealing UI I have encountered, it is much simpler, aesthetically pleasing, and easier to use.

      The new UI is a stark improvement compared to the original design. The game now effectively indicates which option you are highlighting, which is crucial to avoid inadvertently restarting a completed session. (Unfortunately, there is still no confirmation after making such selections, which is definitely needed!) PMR’s menus function better overall and are now more comfortably scaled for smaller or more distant displays. Developer Straight4 Studios has informed us that the UI was a major point of frustration among players since the launch, prompting this impressively swift change.

      Performance appears to be more stable now as well. While it's not perfectly smooth—switching views or resuming from a paused state can sometimes cause stuttering—I was able to play the game on mostly maximum settings at 1440p with a steady 90 frames per second, which was only disrupted when many cars were onscreen simultaneously. I'm satisfied with that, considering my RX 9070 and Ryzen 5800X3D PC isn't exceptionally powerful. This was my first time launching PMR since its initial week, so I suspect previous patches have contributed to this improvement.

      The Mazda MX-5 Cup car received the most extensive upgrades in its physics, featuring new suspension, aerodynamics, differential, and tire models, which feel fantastic. Adam Ismail.

      Beyond the interface, the most significant advancement is the new tire model included in various vehicle categories. Straight4 suggested I first test the 2000s N-GT class, as it effectively showcases all the improvements made for the driving experience. I intended to do so anyway, as it’s likely my favorite selection of cars on the roster.

      Driving the Viper Competition Coupe at Sebring was noticeably improved. The “stickiness” I criticized at launch has significantly decreased, allowing for greater driver confidence in steering with the throttle (as long as it’s not on the first lap—PMR is unforgiving with cold tires).

      Essentially, you now receive greater warnings before losing traction in a way that can't be recovered, fundamentally altering my driving style. I was enjoying myself almost instantly, a stark contrast to my feelings on the first day. Let's hope these physics enhancements are applied to every class without too much delay.

      A pack featuring Japanese GT500 cars, which encompasses a range of Super GT vehicles from the early 2000s, including the Toyota Supra and R34 GT-R, to the recent Honda Civic Type R and Nissan Fairlady Z, will be available for purchase on March 31. Giants Software.

      There are still a few rough edges. I noticed some minor graphical issues with the sky while driving laps at Sebring, which appeared as shimmering clouds. FSR upscaling doesn’t function properly in this game, at least on my setup, resulting in pronounced ghosting trails. Additionally, I wish track limit penalties were more reasonable. However, it’s evident that a tremendous amount of work has gone into reaching this state for PMR, and it was clearly worthwhile.

      There's much more to explore that I haven't covered. The career mode now features real-world sponsors; there are new detailed widgets for the HUD illustrating the inner workings of the powertrain and ECU; track art, vegetation, and environmental lighting have been improved; and AI has been further balanced, to name just a few other enhancements. The outcome is the game that Straight4 and the publisher Giants ought to have released initially, or at least allowed themselves the necessary time to complete. The 2.0 update for Project Motor Racing is now live across all platforms.

      Have a tip? Contact tips@thedrive.com.