Today, BeamNG.drive officially launched on PlayStation 5, bringing the long-running vehicle simulation game to consoles for the first time.
Known for its advanced soft-body physics and highly detailed vehicle damage, BeamNG.drive allows players to experiment with realistic driving mechanics, explore open-world environments, and create their own driving experiences.
Originally released on PC in Early Access in 2015, BeamNG.drive has built a dedicated following through its physics-based vehicle simulation, extensive customization options, and open-ended sandbox gameplay. Players can control everything from compact cars to heavy trucks, modify individual components, and watch how vehicles respond to collisions, terrain, and different driving conditions.
The PlayStation 5 launch coincides with Update 0.40, so console and PC players can experience it at the same time. The update adds a new vehicle, extensive graphical improvements, gameplay refinements, and local split-screen multiplayer, with the PS5 version supporting AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 3 on the standard console and PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) on PS5 Pro.
Split-screen multiplayer in BeamNG.drive lets players share the experience on the same console, supporting up to 64 participants depending on available hardware. Players can jump into Free Roam together, where everyone receives a vehicle suited to the environment, or compete in seven game modes: Race, Drag Race, Pursuit, Derby, Drift, Rock Crawling, and Soccer. The modes feature customizable settings for track layouts, lap and score goals, penalties, and other rules.
BeamNG.drive Update 0.40 also adds the Cherrier Percheron, a full-size European cab-over semi truck from the early 2000s. The highly customizable vehicle features multiple cab sizes, chassis configurations, suspension options, and engine and transmission choices. Players can configure it as a fifth-wheel tractor or a rigid truck with attachments such as flatbeds, insulated boxes, concrete mixers, and tankers. A new range of European truck trailers accompanies the vehicle, offering additional cargo and configuration options.
Another notable addition is an expanded occupant system that lets characters sit inside vehicles and interact with the game’s physics. Occupants affect vehicle weight and handling, and players can also leave their vehicles and enter those of other participants. The update further improves Walking Mode with a new character model and camera behavior, adding another layer to the simulation.
On the graphics front, BeamNG.drive Update 0.40 introduces new anti-aliasing and upscaling options, including NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR 3 and FSR 4, Intel XeSS, and SMAA T2x temporal anti-aliasing. Stochastic screen-space reflections, improved lighting and shadows, and more stable ambient occlusion and screen-space shadows also aim to improve visual quality and reduce flickering. The graphics and display menus have been redesigned to make these settings easier to navigate.
The update also adds a new First Drive onboarding tutorial, replacing the previous Free Roam Tutorial, along with mission adjustments, Photo Mode improvements, a redesigned main menu, and performance optimizations affecting vehicle AI, traffic, loading times, and video memory usage. Several environments, including West Coast, USA, and Italy, have also received fixes and visual improvements.
It is important to note that BeamNG.drive does not support mods on PlayStation 5, though the developers have stated they hope to maintain feature parity between platforms where possible. For more information on this and other similar racing simulators, be sure to check out articles on American Truck Simulator’s upcoming spruced-up Kenworth T680 and the latest in flight simulation news.
