Project Cars 2 demo offers three high-end machines on Austria's Red Bull Ring

The high-fidelity racing sim Project Cars 2 is an outstanding game, but its hardcore commitment to realism isn't for everyone. Is it for you? There are two ways to find out: You can pick it up in the Steam Autumn Sale, where it's currently 40 percent off—that's $36—or you can just snag the newly released demo for free. 

The demo features three cars—the Ferrari 488 GT3, Lamborghini Huracán LP610-4, and Formula Renault 3.5—running on the Red Bull Ring racetrack in Austria. It will also support VR on the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, the same as the full game. 

"The three different types of cars have been precisely chosen to offer both a glimpse at the diverse motorsport disciplines available in the full game, as well as the sublime physics and handling of the in-game vehicles. The two track variations, set in a stunning landscape, highlight the visual and handling impact of the peerless weather simulation that racers will discover in Project Cars 2," developer Slightly Mad Studios said

"The three scenarios in the demo will test players with escalating challenges, allowing them to experience class-leading physics in various cars and varying conditions, and give them a taste of what there is to be experienced in the full game." 

The full version of Project Cars 2 has more than 180 cars, nine racing disciplines, and 140 "living" tracks with localized weather conditions and dynamic day-to-night transitions. It's also "the most demanding sim racer that I've ever played," as our reviewer said. So maybe that demo is a good idea. 

Andy Chalk

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.