Project CARS 3

Project CARS 3 is a continuation of the racing series from the British studio Slightly Mad, which many remember from the excellent Need for Speed: Shift and, alas, the infamous Fast & Furious Crossroads. Fortunately, the third part of Project CARS inherited more from Shift than from the failed movie attraction, but it was not without controversial moments.

Project CARS 3 Free Steam Account

It’s interesting to watch Slightly Mad Studios develop their main racing series. The first part, financed through Kickstarter, immediately declared itself as one of the most beautiful and realistic races. The second fixed the main drawback of the original – the lack of content – and worked on minor flaws. But by the third part, the realization came: simply improving the formula will no longer work. As a hardcore simulator, the series has already found its audience. Something fresh is needed.

Project CARS 3 is trying to become more accessible to a wider audience. The main emphasis is on training. Previously, the player was simply thrown into the main menu, leaving him to figure everything out on his own. Now, the first hours are spent under the sensitive guidance of the game: it explains the mechanics in detail, helps you get used to it, and does not overload you with difficulties from the first minutes. Yes, the interface may still seem cumbersome, but overall, Project CARS 3 is much more friendly to beginners.

For example, visual markers have appeared on the tracks: a red exclamation mark warns that you should slow down before a turn, and a blue arrow hints that you can safely press the gas – there is a long straight section ahead. Of course, these tips can be turned off, but if you have no experience in realistic racing, it is better to leave them on – it will be much easier to get used to it.

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Project CARS 3’s Redesigned Career: A Step Forward or a Step Back?

One of the main innovations was a completely redesigned career, which is now much closer to the mass player. Let’s remember Project CARS 2: then the races on pre-set cars. Did you win the race? Well done, here’s the next track. And so on until the final cup… This is precisely why the career in the previous part looked bland and monotonous.

Now everything is different. The career, each of which includes three different races, and they are crowned by a multi-component championship. The car is no longer imposed – the choice is up to the player. True, at first you will have to take into account the limited budget: only a few models are available. Yes, yes, an economic system has been added to the game, which we already talked about in our preview.

At first glance, everything is simple, but even this degree of freedom is a step forward compared to the minimalism of its predecessors. And there is also a system of improvements. Want to make your iron horse faster? Change:

• tires – for better traction,
• brakes – for more effective deceleration,
• body parts – for reduced weight and improved aerodynamics,
• and other parts that affect handling and speed.

This is not deep tuning with dozens of sliders, but the customization options have expanded significantly.

There are also some arcade mechanics. The game now has a level system that rewards progress: as the pilot levels up, new cars, customization elements, and access to more difficult competitions are unlocked. And it is not necessary to participate in all the races in a row – it is enough to complete key tasks and level up.

Of course, for hardcore players this may look like “casualization”. Indeed, many innovations are borrowed from arcade racing. But Project CARS 3 has not abandoned its racing spirit: each track has strict requirements for the class of cars, and the right choice and improvement of cars become an important part of the strategy. And no one has canceled the ability to return to completed races to get the best result on a high difficulty. The single-player mode has become more diverse, but, alas, the game is still far from the level of a full-fledged campaign, like in F1 2020. Compared to its competitors, the career in Project CARS 3 still looks a bit simple. However, progress is evident – and this can no longer fail to please.

What’s changed in Project CARS 3: difficulty, car fleet and VR mode

At first glance, it may seem that Project CARS 3 has lost its hardcore, but this is not so. Already at the training stage, the player is offered a choice between several difficulty levels, which differ not only in the behavior of the AI, but also in the available assistants in control. If you turn on the “Professional” mode, the game turns from a conditional arcade into a real car sim test, merciless to those who are not ready for realistic driving. The developers promised to improve the physics, and it really has changed, although not dramatically. The real difference can be felt only at the maximum difficulty level, while in the “Beginner” mode, most cars behave similarly.

Another important aspect is the variety of cars. There is certainly a choice, and everyone will be able to find something to their liking. However, the developers still made some cuts. For example, there are no more karts in the game. However, this is logical: in Project CARS 2, they were used extremely rarely – they appeared only a couple of times in the career, and almost no one drove them in online races. But the main thing is the overall reduction in the car fleet. If in PC2 you could drive 180 cars, then in PC3 there are 120 left. The loss is noticeable, but, apparently, it was done for better balance.

Ultimately, tried to make the game more accessible to a wider audience, but at the same time retained the spirit of a simulator for hardcore racers. All auxiliary functions can be turned off, and then the gameplay will begin to resemble Project CARS 2. If you are a beginner or just want a comfortable experience, you can use:

• Automatic assistants (anti-slip, ABS, stabilization);
• Simplified physics (less harsh drifts and control);
• Reduced aggressiveness of AI opponents;
• Softer car damage settings.

But if the second part seemed too difficult for you, then the third version will probably be easier to master. The developers did not forget about VR support. The tested press version already had compatibility with SteamVR and Oculus, which allowed you to feel the whole atmosphere of racing in a virtual reality helmet. The sensations are amazing, but the difficulty also increases: control is only available in the first person view, so you will have to get used to it.

Project CARS 3 Multiplayer: Dynamics, Tournaments and Awards

The career mode in Project CARS 3 is just a warm-up before entering the real competition arena. Like the previous part, the game relies on multiplayer: special races and major tournaments are held every day, in which racers from all over the world participate. The developers have long proven that they can create a high-quality online experience, and this part is no exception.

To get into some competitions, you need a car of a certain class. Of course, you can earn it and upgrade it in other online matches, but it is still useful to go through a career – it makes it easier to prepare for more serious races. However, those who play from time to time may face an unpleasant situation: more experienced opponents with powerful cars will have a clear advantage. But the developers took this nuance into account. The list of competitions always includes modes in which only the skill of the driver is important, and not the level of his garage. You can participate in such races even without the right car.

The main innovation in the multiplayer is the seasonal system, which makes racing even more exciting. During the month, players earn points by participating in daily races, and then receive rewards – in-game currency, exclusive customization elements and other useful bonuses. By completing daily tasks, you can earn credits faster, which will help you upgrade your car and reduce the gap with top players.

Is Project CARS 3 worth playing?

When the first part of Project CARS was released in 2015, it immediately set a new standard in racing graphics. Two years later, the sequel not only maintained the bar, but also raised it higher, adding realistic weather and improved detail. But the third part… has hardly changed. Yes, the lighting has become a little brighter, but if you turn off the interface, the difference between the games can only be seen in screenshots.

Of the major innovations, perhaps only the dynamic change of time of day and seasons affecting the tracks. The rest of the changes are so imperceptible that you have to look for them with a magnifying glass. But the system requirements have grown, which raises a logical question: maybe Project CARS has nowhere else to develop? Nevertheless, the game still looks amazing. Thanks to excellent optimization, Project CARS 3 remains one of the most beautiful races on the market. After all, it is based on the second part, which the developers polished almost to a shine.

Project CARS 3 is not a revolution. The controls, tracks, graphics – all of this is just a slightly updated version of what was before. However, the developers have made an important step towards a new audience. Now even beginners will feel progress in the career mode, regardless of their place. And hardcore players will appreciate fresh challenges.

1. An updated career mode that is suitable for both beginners and veterans;
2. Dynamic change of time of day and seasons on the tracks;
3. Improved optimization, despite the increased system requirements;
4. A new seasonal system in multiplayer, making races more accessible.

Multiplayer is still a battleground for experienced racers, but the season system has made it easier to find races by level.

There was no breakthrough, but the game has not lost its charm. Perhaps the next part will bring us something truly new.

Project CARS 3 System Requirements

How to play Project CARS 3 for free on Steam via VpeSports

Are you ready to feel like a real racer in the exciting world of Project CARS 3? This bright and dynamic racing game is already available to you absolutely free! Just register on our website, log in to your account, and you can immediately go to the tracks full of speed, drive and realistic emotions. For your convenience, we have prepared Project CARS 3 in the free steam account section along with clear and simple instructions for launching. You will not have to waste time on complex settings, because we have done everything so that you can immediately plunge into the atmosphere of exciting races.

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If suddenly something seems complicated or you have questions, be sure to visit the “Complete Guide to the Free Game” section. We have carefully collected useful tips, simple recommendations and clear instructions there so that your start in Project CARS 3 is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.