Ukrainian development team Artcore Studios has announced the early access release of its debut game Karting Core. This is a single-player karting simulator, on which the authors have been working independently for over two years. The project is based on the modern Unreal Engine 5 and is fully funded by the studio itself.
Ukrainian development team Artcore Studios has announced the early access release of its debut game Karting Core. This is a single-player karting simulator, on which the authors have been working independently for over two years. The project is based on the modern Unreal Engine 5 and is fully funded by the studio itself.
Representatives of Artcore Studios spoke about the development of the game on the Reddit platform, where they shared the first details and plans for release.
The team’s main priority when creating the gameplay is the physics and control model, which they tried to approximate to the sensations of real karting. The developers sought to find a balance between realistic control of the machine and accessibility for beginners.
«Karting is a game where vehicle handling, physics, balance, and player feedback are of great importance. Early Access allows us to work closely with the community to improve these core systems as development continues», Artcore Studios explains the decision to release the game in Early Access.
The early access version already includes a full physics model, support for game controllers and steering wheels, as well as several lines of karts with different characteristics. Players will have access to more than 10 tracks in day and night variations (including urban, industrial, natural areas and indoor arenas) and a career mode with 5 tournaments.
In addition to classic bot races and time trials, Karting Core will feature a drift mode and a unique mechanic — the pilot’s heart rate system. It will reflect the driver’s stress level: calm and careful driving will allow you to maintain a stable heart rate and get more points, while mistakes and sharp maneuvers will worsen this indicator. Also, between races, players will be able to personalize their own garage with decorative items and play on an interactive machine.
The game will be in early access for 6 to 12 months. During this time, the developers plan to collect feedback via Steam and Discord, add new tracks, career missions, and polish the game balance. With the release of the full version, the price of the game will likely increase by approximately 15–25%. At the start of early access, the game will already have full Ukrainian localization, although the project page on Steam is currently temporarily available only in English.
