Wreckfest's multiplayer did not exist at the very start of development. It arrived at a specific, dated moment, in the same announcement that gave the game its final name. This guide covers when that happened, the four modes it launched with, and what to expect from online play today.
When Multiplayer Was Introduced
Multiplayer arrived on October 3, 2014, with Build 6, the same update in which Bugbear Entertainment formally renamed the game from Next Car Game to Wreckfest. Build 6 brought 18-player online multiplayer, with the studio stating it was aiming for 24 players, along with a new track and car added in the same update. The full announcement, including the rename itself, is covered on this archive's dedicated name-reveal page, and the update sits in context on the 2014 section of the development timeline.
The Four Original Multiplayer Modes
Racing
A conventional lap-based race mode, run on the same soft-body damage engine as every other mode, so collisions along the way still cost real vehicle performance.
Demolition Derby
The mode the game is built around: a closed arena where outlasting other cars, rather than crossing a finish line, is the point.
Deathmatch
A free-for-all combat mode layered on top of the same car-versus-car physics, added alongside Racing and Demolition Derby in the Build 6 launch.
Team Deathmatch
The team-based counterpart to Deathmatch, rounding out the four modes Build 6 introduced in October 2014.
Playing Multiplayer Today
Wreckfest kept developing for years after Build 6, through its full 1.0 release on PC in 2018 and later on PlayStation and Xbox, so the exact mode lineup, player caps, and matchmaking presentation available right now are best checked directly in-game rather than assumed from this history. What has not changed is the foundation: Racing, Demolition Derby, Deathmatch, and Team Deathmatch were the four modes multiplayer launched with, and they set the template every later addition has built on.
For where the game itself is currently available, see the buy Wreckfest page. For the studio behind it, see the Bugbear Entertainment profile.
Before Queuing Into a Multiplayer Match
Wreckfest's multiplayer runs on the same soft-body damage engine documented on this archive's development timeline, the same system that made the original Next Car Game tech demo notable back in 2013. That matters more in Demolition Derby, Deathmatch, and Team Deathmatch than it does in a typical racer, because a car's handling and top speed degrade as it takes damage over the course of a match, not just at the finish. A few laps or a derby round in single-player first is enough to get a feel for how that damage model changes a car's behavior before bringing that into a match against other players.
Beyond that, the practical advice is unremarkable and worth stating plainly rather than padding out: read the mode description before joining, since Racing, Demolition Derby, Deathmatch, and Team Deathmatch reward different driving styles, and expect the specific server browser or matchmaking flow in front of you today to look somewhat different from what Build 6 shipped in 2014, since the interface has had years to change even where the four underlying modes have not.
Related Reading
Wreckfest Multiplayer: Frequently Asked Questions
How many players did Wreckfest's multiplayer originally support?
Build 6, released October 3, 2014, introduced 18-player online multiplayer, with Bugbear Entertainment stating at the time it was aiming for 24 players.
What multiplayer modes launched with Wreckfest?
Four modes launched together in Build 6: Racing, Demolition Derby, Deathmatch, and Team Deathmatch.