When Tides Turn, a newly formed independent studio led by Criterion Games co founder Fiona Sperry, has officially revealed Wreckreation 2, an open world arcade racing game currently in development for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. The announcement signals a return to the kind of high speed, contact heavy racing that fans of the genre have missed in recent years.
Described as a contact heavy arcade racer, Wreckreation 2 will drop players into a large city featuring urban districts, docks and a sprawling airport. Races are built around speed, aggressive driving, shortcuts, crashes and takedowns, encouraging players to read their opponents and pick the right moment to strike. The formula will feel instantly familiar to anyone who spent time with the Burnout series.
Built alongside its community
Beyond the racing itself, Wreckreation 2 will include vehicle progression and a set of creative tools that let players build, customise and share their own routes, events and challenges. When Tides Turn says the game is being shaped directly by its community, with player feedback already influencing vehicle handling, progression systems, in game events and the overall design of the open world.
Studio head Fiona Sperry explained that the team has spent the last six months speaking directly with players about what they want from a modern arcade driving game, and that Wreckreation 2 is the direct result of those conversations. She noted that community input has already helped shape key aspects of the experience, from handling and progression through to events and world design, and stressed that the studio is building the game with players rather than simply for them.
A team with deep arcade racing roots
Wreckreation 2 marks the first project from When Tides Turn, a studio made up of developers who previously worked on several arcade racing titles, including the Burnout series. The team says its goal is to craft a modern arcade driving experience centred on high speed action, vehicle combat and ongoing collaboration with its player base.
No release date has been confirmed yet. Players interested in following the game’s progress can already wishlist Wreckreation 2 on Steam to receive development updates and learn about upcoming beta tests and playtest opportunities.
