After more than two years of closed and open betas, Rennsport has announced a November 13 release date for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Launching as a free-to-play sim racing game, like RaceRoom, the title is also exiting Early Access on PC. But after a rocky Early Access period, we have serious concerns about this final launch.
The Early Access Problem
Initially, Rennsport entered Early Access with tons of hype and backing from major esports organizations like ESL, with the promise of being the premier sim racing esports platform. What followed has been disappointing. Despite millions in prize pools and massive events hosted by ESL during the Rennsport ESL R1 competitions, the sim has struggled with optimization issues, strange handling, limited content, and a player base that never really seemed to grow.
Performance problems plague the experience. Frame drops, stuttering, and inconsistent force feedback have been common complaints throughout Early Access. Many sim racers report the game still doesn’t feel polished enough for a full release, even after 2 years in early access.
During those two years, the content offering didn’t grow as much as many would have wanted, remaining thin. While Rennsport has added cars and tracks since Early Access began, the roster still feels limited compared to established competitors like iRacing, Assetto Corsa Competizione, Le Mans Ultimate, etc.
Why We’re Skeptical
After more than two years, the game isn’t in great shape on PC. Why should console players expect a smooth experience that’s more polished with less power at launch? The fundamental issue with the sim remains regardless of platform optimization.
On top of all of this, the sim seems to be more micro transaction riddled than ever, with Counter Strike Strike GO style skins being sold at nearly $10 a piece.
To us, the November 13 date feels rushed. The PC version still needs work, yet the developers are now splitting resources to launch on two additional platforms without ever resolving many of the underlying handling and content issues.
Our Take
We want Rennsport to succeed; the more good sim racing games on the market, the better. Competition in the sim racing space is good for everyone. But launching on consoles while the PC version still has fundamental issues feels premature, and like they simply had a contractual due date they had to hit.
If you’re interested in Rennsport, our advice is simple: wait. Let early adopters be the guinea pigs. See how the launch goes, read reviews, and watch for community feedback before jumping in, and DO NOT PRE-ORDER THE DELUXE EDITION, or any version that requires spending anything additional .
We’ll be watching the November 13 launch closely and will provide our full assessment once we’ve tested the console versions.
You can check out Rennsport’s official website here.