After more than a decade building a dedicated following on PC, BeamNG.drive is finally heading to console. Developer BeamNG confirmed on 24 September that the driving simulator will launch on PlayStation 5 on 19 October 2026, following an initial console announcement earlier this year. The PS5 version arrives in Early Access, with development continuing alongside the console launch, and a new trailer accompanied the announcement, showing off the realistic vehicle physics, crashes and open world driving the game is known for.
Not your typical racing game
BeamNG.drive is less a traditional racer and more a vehicle simulation sandbox, built around a detailed soft body physics system that lets vehicles realistically react, deform and sustain damage in real time. Players can roam open environments in Freeroam mode, customise vehicles, compete in Time Trials, and take on a range of scenarios. An evolving Career Mode remains under active development as part of the game’s long running Early Access period.
The realistic crashes are likely what most players recognise from online clips, but there’s considerably more to the game than that. Vehicle customisation, a variety of driving disciplines, and the freedom to experiment with cars and environments have helped BeamNG.drive build a genuinely dedicated community since entering Steam Early Access back on 29 May 2015.
Over a decade of overwhelmingly positive reviews
The upcoming PS5 release brings a game with an exceptional Steam track record to console more than 11 years after its original PC debut. BeamNG.drive currently holds an “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating on Steam, with 97 percent of more than 210,000 English language user reviews rated positive. Recent reviews remain “Very Positive” too, showing the game is still landing well with players more than a decade after launch.
Its appeal goes well beyond spectacular crashes. Steam players regularly praise the game’s physics engine, vehicle customisation options and sheer freedom to experiment, while the developer has kept expanding and refining the game throughout its extended Early Access run. That long PC pedigree makes the PS5 debut one worth watching, particularly for console players who have seen BeamNG.drive’s physics and crash simulation online but never had a way to play it themselves.
Some features missing at launch
There will be some differences between the PC and PS5 versions at launch. BeamNG has confirmed that mods and VR support will not be available on PS5 initially, though the studio says it hopes to bring the platforms closer to feature parity over time.
PC players have something to look forward to as well, with BeamNG confirming that Version 0.40 is expected to arrive around the same time as the 19 October PS5 launch.
