Project CARS 2 Deluxe Edition

Project CARS 2 Deluxe Edition is a PC circuit-racing simulator from Slightly Mad Studios, built around realistic car behavior, changing track conditions, and a broad mix of motorsport disciplines. The title has not been replaced by a new rebrand on Steam; its important current storefront status is that the game is delisted, while previously purchased copies remain the relevant way to access the complete experience.

A multi-discipline racing simulator

Project CARS 2 is not an open-world driving game. Its structure centers on closed-circuit competition, timed sessions, championships, practice runs, qualifying, and race-day strategy. The cockpit perspective is the natural fit, but the game also supports external cameras for players who prefer a wider view of the car and track.

The driving model focuses on weight transfer, braking stability, throttle control, tire grip, aerodynamic load, and surface changes. A late brake application can unsettle the car, while excessive throttle on corner exit can produce wheelspin or oversteer. Assists make the game more approachable, but the core loop rewards players who learn each vehicle rather than relying on a single universal setup.

Its roster covers more than traditional sports-car racing. Players can move between GT racing, prototypes, open-wheel cars, touring cars, stock cars, karting, rallycross, oval racing, and historic machinery. That variety changes the rhythm of each event: a stable GT car asks for different inputs than a lightweight formula car or a loose-surface rallycross vehicle.

LiveTrack 3.0 and changing race conditions

The defining technical system is LiveTrack 3.0, which connects weather, time of day, track temperature, surface moisture, and evolving grip conditions. A race can begin on a dry circuit and develop into a tire-management problem as rain arrives. The important point is that weather is not merely visual decoration; it changes braking distances, corner entry speed, tire choice, and race strategy.

Project CARS 2 also models dynamic puddles, wet-line behavior, tire wear, fuel use, and changing atmospheric conditions. AI drivers respond to these factors with altered braking zones, throttle behavior, and tire strategy. This gives longer races more structure than simply completing a fixed number of laps in unchanging conditions.

Damage can affect both the appearance and mechanical behavior of the vehicle. Players can adjust damage settings to suit their preferred experience, but leaving damage active makes contact, off-track excursions, and aggressive curb usage meaningful parts of race management.

Career progression and competitive modes

The main single-player path is the Career Mode, commonly presented as an Ultimate Driver Journey. It lets players build a motorsport identity across different disciplines instead of locking the entire campaign to one manufacturer or series. Progress depends on results, consistency, and choosing events that match the driver's preferred style.

A secondary factory-driver path adds manufacturer-focused competition for selected brands. Outside career progression, players can create custom race weekends, practice sessions, qualifying formats, championships, and endurance events. This makes the game useful both as a structured career and as a flexible simulator for repeatable custom races.

Online play includes Online Championships, public and private racing, leaderboards, and a Competitive Racing License system. The license tracks elements such as driving safety and competitive strength, helping servers filter or organize races around cleaner competition. PC multiplayer also supports dedicated-server options, which remain a significant part of the game's enthusiast ecosystem.

Players who enjoy technical GT competition but want a more specialized championship framework can compare the approach with focused PC GT simulations such as Assetto Corsa Competizione. Project CARS 2 is broader in vehicle types and racing disciplines, while that comparison is more tightly centered on GT3 and related endurance racing.

What the Deluxe Edition includes

The Deluxe Edition was positioned as the complete premium package rather than a different game engine or separate campaign. It includes the base game together with the Season Pass, the Season Pass Bonus, and additional premium content associated with the Deluxe offering.

The post-launch content expands the roster with licensed cars, tracks, liveries, and career events. Named content associated with the package includes the Ferrari Essentials Pack, Spirit of Le Mans Pack, Porsche Legends Pack, Fun Pack, Japanese Cars Pack, and motorsport bonus content. Exact entitlement can depend on how an older key or account package was activated, so the in-game DLC list is the reliable check for an existing owner.

Because the game is delisted, the Deluxe label now has a different meaning for PC players. It identifies the historically complete edition, not a currently refreshed storefront product. There is no verified modern rebrand such as a remastered edition, free-to-play transition, or replacement product using the Project CARS 2 name.

Who should play Project CARS 2?

Project CARS 2 is a strong fit for players who want varied motorsport classes, realistic track behavior, and enough setup depth to spend time improving both driving technique and car configuration. It suits wheel-and-pedal users especially well, but the gamepad experience was deliberately improved and remains viable with suitable assists and controller settings.

The game is less suitable for anyone looking for instant arcade handling, open-world exploration, licensed street cruising, or a simple upgrade-driven progression system. Cars differ substantially, weather can punish poor preparation, and longer races ask players to think about tires, fuel, traffic, and pit timing.

Its most committed audience is the player who enjoys learning a circuit through repetition. The reward is not a scripted story. It is the improvement loop of finding a better braking point, preserving the tires, adapting to rain, and finishing a race without throwing away a strong result.

PC features, input, and localization

The PC version was distributed through Steam and supports keyboard and mouse input, gamepads, steering wheels, pedals, and specialized racing hardware. Wheel configuration can be adjusted per control, while force-feedback settings allow players to tune how strongly the car communicates surface changes, curbs, and loss of grip.

PC-specific presentation options include virtual reality support for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, configurable triple-screen output, and support for high-resolution multi-monitor setups. The game also includes broadcast and director-oriented tools, live timing information, replay presentation, and custom-livery import support on PC.

The original PC release uses the Steam platform and its associated account infrastructure. No current official rebrand or replacement launcher has been verified. Multiplayer availability can also depend on the condition of the legacy online service and the servers or communities players choose to use.

Interface and subtitle localization covers English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. English is the verified spoken-audio language for the PC edition.

Project CARS 2 Deluxe Edition FAQ

Is Project CARS 2 Deluxe Edition still the current Steam name?

Project CARS 2 Deluxe Edition remains the name used for the historical premium package. It has not been verified as renamed to a newer edition. The key current status is delisting from digital storefronts because licensed car and track agreements expired.

Can existing owners still play Project CARS 2?

Previously purchased owners can continue using the installed game and its included content. The delisting changed purchase availability, not the basic identity of the game or the original offline racing structure.

Does the Deluxe Edition include the DLC?

The Deluxe package was sold with the base game, Season Pass access, Season Pass Bonus content, and associated premium additions. For an existing PC account, the Steam library and in-game downloadable-content menus are the safest way to confirm which items are attached.

Does Project CARS 2 support VR and racing wheels on PC?

Yes. The PC version supports VR headsets including Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, along with steering wheels, pedals, gamepads, and configurable force feedback. Triple-screen presentation and advanced display configuration are also supported.

Is there split-screen multiplayer on PC?

The core PC multiplayer design is online racing, private sessions, public servers, championships, and dedicated-server support. It should not be treated as a split-screen-focused racing game; players looking for local couch competition should verify the specific mode available in their existing build.

What is the real gameplay loop?

The loop is built around practice, qualifying, racing, setup adjustment, career progression, and repeat competition. The changing weather and surface model means mastery involves more than memorizing a dry racing line: players must also manage tire grip, braking conditions, fuel, damage, and evolving race strategy.