Coming up on five years since its launch in 2020, Project CARS 3 will reach the end of its life and be delisted from all digital storefronts on August 24.
The news comes directly from its digital storefront listings, clarifying all product sales will end on August 24 at 23:59 UTC in an identical statement on Steam, the PlayStation Store, and the Xbox Store. DLCs purchased before this date will still be available.
That’s not quite the whole deal either as, in addition to digital sales of the game ending, PCARS 3’s online servers will be terminated six months later on February 24, 2026. Following this date, the game will only be playable offline.
It’s not clear what’s prompted publisher Bandai Namco to take this action, though as it comes almost exactly five years to the day since the game’s launch it’s within reason to presume that there was a limited lifespan on at least some of the car and track licensing in the game.
When the game released on August 25, 2020, it did so to very mixed receptions, with the consensus being it didn’t quite live up to what the previous games set in motion. Despite pre-launch promises of being “all the sim you could ever want”, PCARS 3 veered too heavily into the realm of a confused simcade racer, failing to live up to the standards of its predecessors, which resulted in its polarizing reactions.
The series was set to return to its acclaimed simulation roots with Project CARS 4, however — after Slightly Mad Studios was bought up by Codemasters and EA subsequently bought Codies — EA canned plans for the sequel in November 2022, along with essentially shuttering Slightly Mad Studios and ending the series.
With the previous two PCARS titles also being delisted in 2022, when the third iteration bows out next month it’ll mark the end of the once-promising franchise after ten years.
While this spells the end for the Project CARS franchise, there is a glimmer of hope on the other side. Its spiritual successor, Project Motor Racing releases on November 25 and is being helmed by former staff members of Slightly Mad Studios, including Ian Bell, in the new Straight4 Studios.
Powered by the GIANTS game engine used for GIANTS Software’s own Farming Simulator series, PMR will feature more than 70 GT-class racing machines, including the “golden age of GT racing”, and 27 laser-scanned track venues from around the world. The upcoming racer will also support modding efforts, including cars, tracks, and even the underpinnings of the game itself.
DLC efforts have already been detailed for PMR, with 30+ new machines and 4 new venues on the docket throughout the game’s first year of release. To say there’s a lot riding on Project Motor Racing would be an understatement, and we can’t wait to see what it brings to the table.
With Project CARS 3 quickly approaching the horizon, if you’re looking to play the game for yourself you may want to act fast. Though at its current price — still selling at full whack — we would caution waiting for a potential sale leading up to its delist date.
Farewell, Project CARS.
