At first glance, early access sounds like a win-win: players get the game early, developers get support and feedback. But for sim racing, it’s proving to be a dead-end street. This video breaks down how recent titles like Le Mans Ultimate, Assetto Corsa Evo, and Rennsport have all stumbled under the weight of early access—not for the same reasons, but all leading to the same result: community disappointment. Meanwhile, other genres thrive in early access. So what’s different about sim racing?
• Why doesn’t innovation in sim racing mesh well with the early access model?
• How do players treat sim racing early access titles differently than experimental games like The Bizarre or Deadlock?
• Is the constant comparison to iRacing, ACC, or AC1 making things worse for these newer games?
• And is early access just a desperate cash grab in a genre where competition leaves no room for half-finished projects?
The core argument here is sharp and unavoidable: early access in sim racing doesn’t allow for creative runway like it does in rogue-likes or PvP MOBAs. Instead, it puts unfinished games into direct competition with refined, decade-old giants—where they get picked apart, player bases evaporate, and hype dies before the 1.0 even arrives. It’s not just risky—it might be fundamentally flawed.
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As the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season gets underway, The Daily Downforce is once again tracking how fans feel about race broadcasts throughout the year, just as we did last year. This ratings tracker exists to capture fan feedback in a clear, consistent way across the entire season for each TV partner.
After each Cup Series race weekend, we will post a fan poll asking one simple question: “How would you rate this weekend’s Cup Series broadcast?” And fans can vote and comment based on their overall viewing experience. This article will be updated weekly with the most recent race’s numbers added to the tracker.
Participation is quick and open to everyone.
| Week | Network | Race | Votes | Good | Average | Bad | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FOX | Bowman Gray Clash | 368 | 16% | 43% | 42% | Check the Poll HERE |
| 2 | FOX | Daytona 500 | 989 | 42% | 46% | 12% | Check the Poll HERE |
| 3 | FOX | Atlanta | 771 | 43% | 43% | 14% | Check the Poll HERE |
| 4 | FOX | COTA | 918 | 25% | 53% | 23% | Check the Poll HERE |
Remember to follow The Daily Downforce on X to catch each weekly poll, share your thoughts, and be part of the conversation.
Two NASCAR Cup Series crew members for Ross Chastain’s No. 1 team were suspended following the race at Circuit of the Americas
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On February 17, Ubisoft released a trailer that confirmed that NASCAR would be included in The Crew Motorfest’s next season update. Details were limited at the time, but in a press release issued today, Ubisoft revealed the full details of the update ahead of its March 4 launch.
Ubisoft says drafting will affect car speed and help save fuel, implying that drafting will be a huge factor in the game, at least with these cars. You can check out this and much more on Ubisoft’s official post linked below
Earlier this Tuesday, the official The Crew Motorfest account clarified confusion around the NASCAR bundles. The Crew Credit (CC) bundles only include cosmetic team liveries, not additional cars. The 3 base Next Gen cars (Ford Mustang Dark Horse, Toyota Camry XSE, and Chevrolet ZL1) are part of the free Season 9 update and can be purchased separately.
Mitch Rasmussen, NASCAR’s Senior Director of Interactive, said in the press release:
We’re excited to bring our iconic brand to life in The Crew Motorfest. This collaboration represents another important step in our strategy to bring NASCAR into the digital spaces and places where next generation fans spend their time, giving players new ways to interact with the culture and communities they love.
The content arrives as part of Year 3 Season 9 and is officially licensed by NASCAR. You can watch the first trailer and learn more in the article linked below
What do you think about this? Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
