News Project CARS now on track for Q2 2014

Those of you who are hotly anticipating Slightly Mad's Project CARS will no doubt be disappointed to learn that the ambitious crowd-funded racing simulation will no longer be meeting its target release date later this year.

​This was already announced a while back, but a specific time slot wasn't disclosed. However, a WMD forum moderator has now confirmed that the plan is to release Project CARS in Q2 2014, so we will have to wait at least a year from now for the final version of what has become one of the most anticipated racing game releases thanks to its mesmerising graphics and unique WMD funding system that gets players actively involved with the development and access to regularly released builds. 

Reasons for the delay have not been cited, although its unconventional development which relies on users as much as the developers is most likely to blame. Slightly Mad Studios is also still under an ongoing investigation with the FSA about the logistics of its ambigious public investment scheme too, so this could be another factor to consider.  

Delaying Project CARS to Q2 2014 could be detrimental however, as the competition now has the opportunity to pull ahead and steal the limelight. Its direct competitor in the PC sim market Assetto Corsa will now presumably get a head start if it's still on schedule for a 2013 release, but more pertinent is the fact that the next generation consoles will have been out for a few months by this point, with frontrunners such as Evolution Studios' Driveclub and the possibility of Forza Motorsport 5 launching the next Xbox setting new benchmarks for racing games. Project CARS has always looked leaps and bounds ahead of the current crowd, but whether or not it will look as dazzling and revolutionary up against its glistening next generation rivals remains to be seen. At this rate, Gran Turismo 6 could even be out by the time Project CARS pulls up.  

Of course, this also raises the possibility of Project CARS being a next generation title on PS4 and the next Xbox console. While Slightly Mad is remaining silent on the subject maintaining that Project CARS is currently slated for PC, PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii U, it would certainly make sense given that both consoles have specifications comparable to a high-spec gaming PC, i.e. the platform that Project CARS has principally been designed for.

It begs the question, though – is it still worth releasing a semi-skimmed version of Project CARS on the decrepit current consoles a year from now or should Slightly Mad pour their efforts into porting a full fat version onto next generation hardware to fulfill its lofty potential? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, on our Facebook page or on our forum. 

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