Burnout Legends Revive the Spirit of Racing with Wreckreation 2

Fiona Sperry is determined to revive the thrill of arcade racing games reminiscent of Burnout. After facing a significant setback when support for her last project, Wreckreation, was abruptly cut off, leading to its failure and the closure of her studio, she’s back with a new venture and a sequel, Wreckreation 2.

Sperry previously led the beloved Burnout series at Criterion Games, where she helped create high-octane racing experiences filled with spectacular crashes, from the original in 2001 to the iconic Burnout Paradise in 2008. Following EA’s decision to shift focus away from Burnout in favor of Need for Speed, Sperry left to co-found Three Fields Entertainment with fellow Criterion alumni. This indie studio gradually built its reputation with spiritual successors like Danger Zone and Dangerous Driving before launching the open-world Wreckreation last October.

However, disaster struck shortly after the game’s release. In December, Sperry revealed that support from THQ Nordic had been withdrawn, leaving the studio in a precarious position. She had to inform her team about potential layoffs, stating, “As an independent studio, we will not see revenue from game sales for the foreseeable future. We have had to self-fund most of this year and all of the post-launch content. Without the enthusiasm or financial support from our publisher to continue development, we simply cannot sustain the studio in its current form.” Despite these challenges, a small team at Three Fields managed to keep updates for Wreckreation coming, but the game never fully realized its potential due to its rocky launch.

Undeterred, Sperry has embarked on a new journey with a fresh studio, When Tides Turn, which includes several veterans from Three Fields. The team is currently developing Wreckreation 2 for PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X. While there’s no release date yet, When Tides Turn has already shared an early playable build of the game.

Wreckreation 2 stays true to the Burnout legacy, featuring fast-paced driving, responsive handling, aggressive AI, a robust boost mechanic, and dynamic crash physics. The goal is not just to win races but to send opponents crashing out of the competition.

This sequel leans even closer to Burnout Paradise than its predecessor. While Wreckreation featured a large rural map with a focus on user-generated content, Wreckreation 2 is primarily set in an urban environment. The demo showcases a compact downtown area, with plans to expand into docklands, an airport, highways, and back roads.

Players can explore the city freely, discovering Smash Gates or engaging in various events, including races, 1v1 duels, destruction-focused Road Rages, and Wreckoning time trials. Future updates will introduce modes like Blackspots, Eliminator, Marked Man, and Pursuit. The creation modes from the first game are also set to return, although the current map may not be as conducive to them.

When Tides Turn is actively collaborating with the Wreckreation community to shape the game. “Over the last six months, we’ve been talking directly to players about what they want from a modern arcade driving game, and Wreckreation 2 is the result of those conversations,” Sperry stated. “From handling and progression to events and world design, our community has already helped shape key aspects of the experience. We’re building this game with the players, not just for them.”

While Sperry’s team at Three Fields may not have had the same resources or focus as Criterion during its peak, their passion for arcade racing is commendable. After the unfortunate fate of Wreckreation, the odds may seem stacked against them, but they remain resolute in their pursuit. Here’s hoping they achieve the success they deserve this time around.