After more than a decade on PC, the soft-body physics sandbox finally reaches console — with couch split-screen on day one, but without the mod scene that helped make it famous.
October 19, 2026 — BeamNG.drive launched on PlayStation 5 in Early Access on October 19, 2026, bringing its soft-body physics vehicle simulation to console for the first time, according to developer BeamNG GmbH. The release arrives alongside version 0.40 on PC, priced at $24.99, with 12 open-world environments and local split-screen — but with mods and VR not supported at launch.
Image: A customisable truck and semi tackling an open-world highway in a soft-body physics simulation, with a crashed car showing realistic deformation. Credit: AI-generated illustration / Red Eye Eagle News, original illustration.
Editor's Highlight: BeamNG.drive simulates every vehicle part in real time, so crashes deform cars instead of playing a fixed animation. PS5 players get the full sandbox, Career Mode and four-player split-screen for $24.99 — provided they can live without PC mods and VR for now.
Table of Contents
- Key Facts
- What Makes BeamNG.drive Different
- What Is Included at Launch
- Split-Screen Arrives With Version 0.40
- What Is Missing: No Mods, No VR, No World Editor
- Price, Performance and PS5 Pro Support
- Bottom Line
- FAQ
- Sources
Key Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Game | BeamNG.drive |
| PS5 Release | October 19, 2026, in Early Access |
| Developer | BeamNG GmbH, Bremen, Germany (around 90 people) |
| Price | $24.99 US / £17.99 UK / €19.99 Europe |
| Environments | 12 open-world environments |
| Multiplayer | Local split-screen for 1-4 players on PS5; offline only |
| Not at Launch | Mods, VR and World Editor not supported on PS5 |
| Launch Update | Version 0.40 on PS5 and PC at the same time |
What Makes BeamNG.drive Different
BeamNG.drive is built around soft-body physics. According to the company's overview, the engine simulates vehicle components in real time using a network of mass points and springs.
A crash is calculated, not animated. Panels cave in, bonnets concertina, axles snap and steering can be permanently bent by a glancing blow, according to launch coverage.
Newsroom Focus: The physics is the product. Players change a vehicle setup, pick a route and see what happens, rather than chasing a fixed racing line.
The game has been in Steam Early Access since May 29, 2015. The PS5 version is still Early Access.
What Is Included at Launch
The PlayStation listing describes customisable cars and trucks, 12 open-world environments, free roam, scenarios and time trials. The environments range from tropical jungle and barren deserts to urban boulevards and fast highways, according to the company.
Delivery challenges and pursuits add structure. Complete a truck delivery efficiently, outrun police cruisers in a hot pursuit, or test yourself in time trials, according to BeamNG.
Career Mode offers progression toward a fleet of vehicles. Free Roam is the open sandbox, where players can change wind and gravity, according to the company.
Split-Screen Arrives With Version 0.40
The launch is timed to version 0.40, released simultaneously on PS5 and PC. Its headline addition is local split-screen on both platforms.
On PS5, split-screen supports up to four players on one console, added from the Main Menu or Pause Menu, according to BeamNG's notes.
Seven modes add structure: Race, Drag Race, Pursuit, Derby, Drift, Rock Crawling and Soccer, with more than 85 Race layouts.
Analysis Note: Split-screen is a strong console pitch, but it is local only. The PlayStation Store lists the game as offline play only, with no online multiplayer.
Version 0.40 also adds the Cherrier Percheron, a European cab-over semi with more than 50 chassis setups. Passengers now physically sit in vehicles, each adding 89 kg and changing handling, according to BeamNG.
What Is Missing: No Mods, No VR, No World Editor
The caveat is repeated in every source. BeamNG says directly: "VR and mods won't be supported at launch."
That matters because mods supply extra cars, maps and scenarios on PC through BeamNG's own repository. None of that community content works on PS5 at launch.
| At Launch on PS5 | Not at Launch on PS5 |
|---|---|
| 12 official environments and vehicles | PC mods — custom cars, maps, scenarios |
| Free roam, scenarios, deliveries, pursuits | VR support |
| Career Mode and 1-4 player split-screen | World Editor and mod tools |
| FSR 3 on base PS5, PSSR on PS5 Pro | Online multiplayer |
BeamNG says it aims for feature parity where possible in the long term, but can't confirm timing or scope for console mods or VR, according to the company. It is still exploring what console mod support could look like.
Mod authoring tools such as the World Editor are not currently planned for PlayStation, according to BeamNG.
Practical Takeaway: Judge PS5 on BeamNG's own content. If a community vehicle, map or VR setup is your main reason to buy, wait.
Price, Performance and PS5 Pro Support
BeamNG.drive costs $24.99 in the US, £17.99 in the UK and €19.99 in Europe, according to launch pricing reports. That matches the PC price.
On base PS5 it uses AMD FSR 3. On PS5 Pro it uses PSSR and is marked PS5 Pro Enhanced, according to the company, which shared official PS5 Pro screenshots.
BeamNG lists 11 steering wheels with force feedback, including the Logitech G29 and G923, Fanatec Gran Turismo DD PRO and Thrustmaster T300 RS. Other wheels may or may not work correctly, according to the company.
Bottom Line
BeamNG.drive on PS5 is the real sandbox, not a cut-down spin-off: 12 environments, customisable vehicles, Career Mode, scenarios and four-player split-screen for $24.99.
Watch whether BeamNG brings console mod support to PS5. For now, buy it for the physics and official content — not for mods or VR.
FAQ
When did BeamNG.drive launch on PS5?
It launched in Early Access on October 19, 2026, alongside version 0.40 on PC, according to BeamNG GmbH.
Does BeamNG.drive on PS5 support mods or VR?
No. Mods and VR are not supported at launch, with no confirmed timing. The World Editor and mod tools are not planned for PlayStation.
How much does it cost and how many players can play?
It costs $24.99 in the US, £17.99 in the UK and €19.99 in Europe. It supports one to four players in local split-screen, offline only.
What can you do at launch?
Explore 12 environments in free roam, play Career Mode, and take on scenarios, time trials, delivery challenges, pursuits, races, drifting and rock crawling in customisable cars and trucks.
Is it enhanced for PS5 Pro?
Yes. It is marked PS5 Pro Enhanced, with PSSR on PS5 Pro and FSR 3 on base PS5, according to BeamNG.
Sources
- The Game Room SA — BeamNG.drive comes to PS5 on 19 October: https://thegameroomsa.com/2026/10/19/beamng-drive-ps5-october-19-2026-early-access-mods-vr-south-africa/
- Instant Gaming News — This week's releases October 19 to 25, 2026: https://news.instant-gaming.com/en/articles/22528-this-week-s-releases-from-october-19-to-25-2026
- How To Video Game — BeamNG.drive Is Out on PS5, Version 0.40 Split-Screen: https://howtovideogame.com/beamng-ps5-launch-split-screen/
- Saving Content — BeamNG.drive Update 0.40 and Early Access on PS5 today (press release): https://www.savingcontent.com/2026/10/19/dynamic-soft-body-physics-vehicle-simulator-beamng-drive-releases-update-0-40-and-enters-early-access-on-playstation-5-today/
- Traxion — Price for BeamNG's PS5 port revealed: https://traxion.gg/price-for-beamngs-ps5-port-revealed/
- BeamNG official — Coming to PS5 on October 19, 2026: https://www.beamng.com/game/ps5-landing/
- Hero image — AI-generated illustration / Red Eye Eagle News, original illustration.
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