This is a weird one for me.

When the first Wreckfest(back then Next Car Game) launched as a crowdfunded game 12(?) years ago as an early access title it made sense. Flat Out as a franchise wasnt in their hands anymore and it hit rockbottom. So to develop a new game in a genre which had no competitor at the time with the community was compelling. Ngl the development was rocky at times. But in the end they made a super good game. THQ Nordiq got on board and with that funds for very big improvements in the tech it dearly needed. At times the game barely ran on high end PCs. But the engine got optimized so well it started to run well on the (now)last-gen consoles, then the switch and even mobile phones. But with that came also a lot of additions i really disliked. The physics got nerfed for the consoles but also on the PC, DLC galore, FOMO weekly events, the pretty realistic(ish) focus on folk racing shifted more into Flat Out 2 madness. The current game is very different to 1.0 . Not all for the better IMHO(!)

Either way: They again have a franchise with name recognition, they have a decently modern engine and game with lots of content to build upon and a publisher with funds. I dont see why an early access is needed? Especially in this super bare bones form with barely any cars or tracks(some even lifted from the last game) and nothing(!) else. I’ve put hundreds of hours into the last game. I still love it. Also i could really use finally a fresh new racing title after all the disappointments in the last years. But this… in this form isnt it. Especially knowing the community feedback might get thrown out in the future when the money man make decision. Meh