Caged Element studio has officially presented GRIP XR, a new arcade combat racing game that continues the story of the cult classic GRIP: Combat Racing from 2018.
Along with the first trailer, the developers immediately released a free playable demo version on Steam, giving players the chance to try out the new generation of futuristic racing inspired by the legendary Rollcage series.
The project is once again led by co-founders Chris Mallinson and Robert Baker, one of the original developers of the Rollcage games, which is why GRIP XR is already attracting the attention of fans of classic combat racing titles from the 90s.
The developers state that GRIP XR retains the brutal speed and chaotic battles of the original GRIP, while bringing smoother gameplay, modernized controls, and a retro-futuristic visual style.
One of the biggest innovations is the completely new “Crank” mechanic that allows for almost instant vehicle rotation while driving. Thanks to this, players will be able to drive on walls, avoid projectiles, perform stunts, and use vertical surfaces for tactical advantage during races.
Caged Element particularly emphasizes:
extremely fast arcade driving
combat racing inspired by Rollcage
new Crank mechanic for wall driving
smoother physics model and better level design
retro atmosphere inspired by 90s racing
soundtrack by Cave Bat
Perhaps the biggest news compared to its predecessor is the arrival of a powerful Level Editor right at the game's launch. Players will be able to create their own tracks, stunt arenas, challenges, and completely new gameplay scenarios, while the built-in workshop will allow sharing and rating of community content.
The developers believe that community content could become one of the main reasons for the game's longevity.
The studio also plans a Kickstarter campaign during June to further expand the scope of the project. The campaign goals include:
dynamic Campaign mode with rivals
custom tournament creator
additional cars and customization options
new tracks
console versions and crossplay support
“GRIP XR is our direct response to fans who have been sending us feedback for years,” said Chris Mallinson from Caged Element.
GRIP XR currently does not have a release date, but the demo version is already available on Steam.
