I will never get why EA didn’t put the effort into a sequel of Burnout Paradise. The 2008 open-world racer scored big with fans, and helped the series gain even more praise over Burnout 3: Takedown. Alas, it focused on Need For Speed instead and left the series in the dust. Three Fields Entertainment, consisting of a number of former Criterion Games staffers, tried to create a successor, namely with Wreckreation. But THQ Nordic put a stop to those plans shortly after release, eventually leaving the studio without funding. So…what next? Why, Wreckreation 2, of course.
But with the unexpectedly announced sequel came an interesting story. Many people – including Burnout veteran Fiona Sperry – left Three Fields behind and formed an entirely new studio called When Tides Turn. And from those ashes rises a sequel that could very well not only embrace the spirit of Burnout Paradise, but perhaps even surpass it.
It’s the rare kind of comeback story you don’t see in gaming anymore – and will hopefully set a standard for the return of arcade racing. I mean, not that there’s anything wrong with the likes of Forza Horizon 6. But sometimes you’re just in the mood to wreck stuff, know what I mean?
Anyway, let’s talk Wreckreation 2.
Rising From the Chaos of Wreckreation
When the initial release of Wreckreation happened back in 2025, many fans of Burnout flocked to the game, based on the promises made by Three Fields. But even with that fanbase, the game didn’t quite reach the heights that THQ Nordic was expecting – so it pulled the plug on funding, leaving the developers high and dry.
Stuck with no place to go (aside from Patreon), Fiona Sperry, who previously co-founded Burnout developer Criterion Games, began to ask questions. “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 these conversations,” she noted in a press release.
With that, the team decided to leave Three Fields behind, with Sperry forming a new studio called When Tides Turn. Wreckreation 2 will be its first game, with funding built up from a UK grant and potential other partners.
“From handling and progress to event and world design, our community has already helped shape key aspects of the experience,” Sperry continued. “We’re building the game with the players, not just for them.”
And that might have been a key aspect missing from the original Wreckreation. While Three Fields, at the time, built upon the standards that THQ requested, it always seemed like that “certain something” was missing to push it over the top. Wreckreation 2 looks to grasp onto whatever was missing – with both hands.
Development behind the sequel is being structured behind key pillars, according to Sperry. That includes “a world built for racing, battling and crashing,” “driving that feels physical,” “every race is a battle,” “cars players grow attached to,” and “a player-led creative community.” In short, everything that made Burnout Paradise click so well.
Wreckreation 2 Takes You Down To Heartbreak City
Along with the key aspects of destructive driving (either against AI bots or your friends), Wreckreation 2 has a key new location in mind – Heartbreak City.
“Every neighborhood has its own character, and every road offers another opportunity to gain an advantage,” the press release reads.
Here, players will discover hidden routes, speed down roads while wrecking the competition (of course), and essentially creating their own playgrounds. There’s also a series of event types, including the return of the fan favorite Road Rage (wrecking as many cars as you can before meeting your end), Marked Man and more. Yes, the modes that made Burnout 3 and Paradise such a staple.
Of course, all of this is for naught without that core gameplay, that sheer excitement of taking a risk and trashing someone with a good shunt or slam. Fortunately, When Tides Turn, with Sperry leading the charge, look to embrace these tactics with Wreckreation 2. “Slam opponents aside, force mistakes, seize opportunities and deliver the perfect takedown. Every race unfolds differently, creating battles that last from the first corner to the finish line.”
And though the game is deep in development, early gameplay footage apparently promises a hell of a time. It looks to run at a reasonably solid 60 FPS, like Burnout Paradise did, meaning you feel every aspect of fast, smooth action. And what’s more, it’s not limited to one format, as the game is set to arrive on PC, Xbox Series S/X and PlayStation 5.
The Next Step In Maximum Wreckage
So now what? Well, the development continues on Wreckreation 2, though there’s no word on who else will be funding the project just yet. But this is definitely a step in the right direction, and early impressions of the game (for those who played it – lucky!) are strong. All we can do at this point is cheer the team on and watch this phoenix rise from the ashes.
We’re just happy that a. such a talented team get a better chance to shine, and b. the core aspects of Burnout Paradisemake a return in a brand new racer, with the team able to make its own decisions. Wreckreation 2 could be the racing party we’ve been waiting for when it eventually arrives next year.
You can wishlist the game for Steam here, and we’ll keep tabs on its development. Keep going, team!
