Project CARS Download Size Listed for Xbox One Version

The Xbox Store revealed the download size for the Xbox One version of Project CARS ahead of its release. The racing simulator required 18.13 GB of storage space on the console, a figure that provided context on the game’s scope and its demands on player hardware.

File Size in Context

The 18.13 GB figure was noteworthy when compared to other major racing titles on the Xbox One at the time. Forza Motorsport 5, for instance, required a substantial 50.54 GB, and the open-world racer Forza Horizon 2 took up 38.21 GB. The smaller size of Project CARS was a welcome detail for players managing the console’s standard 500 GB internal hard drive. In the early years of the console generation, digital game sizes were a significant concern, with large installations quickly consuming available space. While Microsoft enabled support for external hard drives to expand storage, a more compact installation meant players could keep more games installed without an immediate need for extra hardware. A physical disc version was also confirmed to be available at retail for those who preferred it.

A Community-Funded Vision

Project CARS stood out for its development and funding model. The project was financed by its developer, Slightly Mad Studios, in partnership with the gaming community. This approach bypassed the traditional publisher-centric funding model, where a single company provides the budget in exchange for creative control. Instead, the studio raised funds directly from fans and racing enthusiasts. This method allowed for a collaborative and transparent development process. The community of backers could play early builds, provide direct feedback, and witness the game’s evolution, ensuring the final product aligned with the expectations of its core audience. This grassroots approach demonstrated how crowdfunding could enable independent studios to tackle large-scale projects that might otherwise be considered too niche for a major publisher.

Multi-Platform Release and VR Ambitions

The game’s launch was planned across multiple platforms. The North American release date was set for May 12, 2015, for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. Slightly Mad Studios also announced plans to bring Project CARS to SteamOS and the Nintendo Wii U later in 2015. Porting a graphically intensive simulation to the Wii U was seen as an ambitious technical challenge. Further demonstrating its forward-looking design, Project CARS was developed with virtual reality in mind. The studio confirmed support for two prominent VR headsets of the era: the Oculus Rift for PC and Sony’s Project Morpheus, the codename for PlayStation VR. This commitment placed Project CARS among the first major titles to embrace emerging VR technology, promising a new level of immersion for the racing genre.

Developer and Distribution

While Slightly Mad Studios led development as an independent entity, the studio partnered with Bandai Namco for distribution. This arrangement allowed the developer to maintain creative control over the project while using Bandai Namco’s established global network to handle the logistics of bringing physical retail versions to store shelves worldwide. This hybrid model of independent development paired with a major distribution partner was an effective strategy for getting an ambitious, community-backed game into the hands of a mainstream console audience, ensuring it appeared alongside titles from the industry’s largest publishers.