cars Archives

AppWizard

June 13, 2026

Sim racing is flourishing, but what happened to the arcade racer?

The author began playing racing games at age five with Lego Racers on a Windows 95 PC, which sparked a passion for cars. They later played Gran Turismo 2 and invested in a Thrustmaster T150 RS racing rig during the pandemic, immersing themselves in Forza Horizon 4. The racing game landscape has shifted towards a dominance of sim racing, overshadowing traditional arcade racing games like Need for Speed and Burnout. Despite the rise of sim racing, it has alienated casual gamers, and even successful sim titles struggle to match the sales of older arcade franchises. Real-world motorsport has become more accessible, attracting new fans, and sim racing serves as an affordable entry point into motorsport. Representatives from the sim racing industry note that many newcomers may transition to real racing, exemplified by YouTubers who have moved from gaming to professional racing. The decline of traditional car games may reflect broader changes in car culture, with fewer young people obtaining driver's licenses, making sim racing a more viable option for motorsport engagement.

AppWizard

June 11, 2026

I was big into Clutch’s mix of story and racing styles, but the driving’s a lot simmier than I expected

Clutch is a cinematic open world action-driving game set in Monaco, where professional and underground street racing collide. It has sold over six million copies shortly after its release, making it the only racing franchise with sales comparable to major third-person action titles. The game features a narrative that follows siblings Theo and Cass Martial in the R1K racing league, incorporating fully motion-captured actors, cutscenes, and an expansive open world. Players engage in dynamic scenarios, including police chases and street racing with the Midnight Collective, where they can earn money for new cars and perform viewer-requested stunts. Clutch aims to blend narrative with gameplay, offering a vibrant experience that encourages player investment in the characters and their journeys.

AppWizard

June 11, 2026

Wash and Polish Rides! Car Wash Simulator Gets a PC Demo

A free demo of Car Wash Simulator is now available on PC, with the full version set to launch in 2026 for PC and later for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The game is developed by Majestic Twelve and published by Wildlands Interactive and Ultimate Games S.A. It features intricate car-cleaning mechanics, business management, and reputation-building strategies. Players can wash cars, upgrade equipment, and make strategic decisions that affect their reputation. The demo, available on Steam starting June 10, showcases key gameplay mechanics. The game supports multiple languages and is designed for a single player. Minimum system requirements for the demo include Windows 10 64-bit, Intel Core i5-7600K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 CPU, 8 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 or AMD Radeon RX 6600 GPU, and 10 GB of available SSD space.

AppWizard

June 9, 2026

Android Auto vs. Android Automotive: 5 major things that separate the two

Android Automotive is an operating system that runs directly on a vehicle's hardware, allowing access to features like navigation and music streaming without needing a smartphone connection. It manages various car functions, including climate control and seat ventilation, and can interact with Google’s Gemini for system control. In contrast, Android Auto mirrors a smartphone's interface on the car's display and primarily provides access to screen and audio output. Updates for Android Auto are managed through the smartphone, while Android Automotive updates are delivered by the vehicle manufacturer, which can vary in timeliness. Android Auto is widely available across many vehicles, whereas Android Automotive is less common and requires manufacturers to integrate it into the car's architecture.

AppWizard

June 9, 2026

You should back up your Forza Horizon 6 save before its latest bug brings you to tears

Forza Horizon 6 players are experiencing significant issues with save data loss, with many reporting that their progress is erased, particularly when using the Quick Resume feature on Xbox or encountering cloud save problems on PC. Certain vehicles, including the 2003 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning and 1994 Ferrari F355 Berlinetta, are suspected to be linked to these issues. Players are advised to avoid these vehicles and disable Quick Resume to mitigate risks. Regular backups of save files are recommended for PC users. In case of data loss, players can contact Forza Support to restore their inventory, but they will still need to restart the campaign and collect items again.

AppWizard

June 8, 2026

Marketplace Content: June 2026

Hourglass Studios has released the Ocean Expansion Add-on 3.0, featuring 84 marine creatures and an underwater vehicle. Tools by Misfits offers gadgets like night vision goggles and jetpacks. TNTgames' Living Dead add-on introduces undead mobs and a miniboss, the Skeleton King. Glowfischdesigns' Combat Utilities enhances combat with enemy health bars and off-hand weapons. SandBlock Studios' Stitched Monsters Add-on presents marionette-like creatures and crafting options. Ascent's Ultimate City Mash-up features a 2,000 by 2,000 urban world with over 30 vehicles. Logdotzip's Biome Weapons [DX] includes over 20 elemental weapons. 5 Frame Studios' Combine Mace allows weapon merging. Lifeboat's RVs offer outdoor exploration options. Dodo Studios' High School Roleplay provides interactive academic experiences. Blocky's Skyblock Lucky Block 2 adds random surprises to the skyblock format. Lifeboat's The Sky is Falling! challenges players with falling blocks. Honeyfrost's Ultimate PvP Texture Pack enhances visuals and user interface. Heropixel Games' Pastel Paradise features pastel-themed environments. 57 Digital's Wardens add-on offers ten unique skins, while ManaLabs' Strawberry Trends provides strawberry-themed skins. CupcakeBrianna's Cozy Cats HD Skin Pack includes ten cat skins. The Marketplace Pass includes 21 new add-ons, skin packs, texture packs, mini-games, and mash-ups.

AppWizard

June 7, 2026

Team Up, Rev Out in WheelMates on Sept. 7 for PC, Announced at Future Games Show

WheelMates, developed by Firevolt, will launch on September 7, 2026, on PC via Steam. The game features a Friends Pass allowing two players to play with one copy. A demo will be available starting June 7, showcasing gameplay mechanics such as scanning objects, uncovering memory cards, and using a Journal feature. Players will navigate a maze-like laboratory as RC cars, solving environmental puzzles in various rooms. The game supports enhanced controls, including free camera control and compatibility with Steam Deck. It will be available in 14 languages and has PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions in development.

AppWizard

June 4, 2026

New VR Games & Releases June 2026: Meta Quest, PC VR, PlayStation VR2, & More

- Fishing Party VR - June 1 (PC VR): A physics-based fishing simulation with twenty unique species across five locations. - Sky Legends: An Aeropostal Epic - June 3 (PC VR): An adventure game set in the early 1900s about an air mail transport company. - Outblast - June 4 (Quest, PC VR): A fast-paced arcade shooter against a rogue viral intelligence across five futuristic locations. - Sugar Madness - June 4 (Quest): An on-rails wave shooter where players defeat Dr. Sour and his sugary minions. - The Boys: Trigger Warning - June 9 (PS VR2): A stealth action game based on a comic and TV series. - Downtown Club (1.0 release) - June 11 (Quest): A competitive street racer launching its final version after two years in Early Access. - Spell Siege - June 18 (Quest): A gesture-based magic wave defense game where players earn 'Sou Essence' to unlock spells. - Starvault - June 18 (PC VR): A VR MOBA combining first-person shooter mechanics with hero-based combat, free to play on Meta Quest. - Project S - June 30 (Quest): A tabletop real-time strategy game inspired by classic RTS titles of the 1990s, with future DLC plans.

AppWizard

June 3, 2026

So long suckers! I am leaving to drink heavily and repair cheap cars in Poland

Josh Wolens has transitioned to a new life as a car mechanic near Białystok, where he enjoys vodka. He found inspiration in a game called Cheap Car Repair, which simulates car repair in a Polish village during the '90s. The game involves cutting corners in repairs, pocketing air filters, listening to Slavic pop music, and consuming vodka. It offers a comedic yet meditative experience, similar to Powerwash Simulator, focusing on the process of car restoration. A demo of Cheap Car Repair is available on Steam.

AppWizard

June 3, 2026

READY, SET, ACTION! SABER INTERACTIVE REVEALS STUNTMAN: HOLLYWOOD, A THRILLING NEW RIDE FROM THE CLASSIC ACTION-RACING GAME SERIES

Saber Interactive, in partnership with Universal Products & Experiences, announced the upcoming release of Stuntman: Hollywood during Sony’s State of Play Showcase. The game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, featuring a single-player experience that combines racing with cinematic elements. Players will take on the role of an aspiring stuntman, performing stunts inspired by popular films and TV shows from Universal Pictures and NBCUniversal. Key features include performing stunts in iconic scenes, mastering jumps and drifts to become a sought-after stunt performer, and driving legendary vehicles such as K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider and the Time Machine from Back to the Future. The game will soon be available for wishlisting on various platforms, with updates available on saber.games/stuntmanhollywood and social media.