In 2025, BeamNG.drive continues to push the limits of soft-body physics and vehicle realism through steady updates that refine both gameplay and development tools. This year’s highlights include the Spring update in version 0.35, which brings a highly anticipated vehicle remaster, revamped user interface, new missions, and powerful modding tools such as the experimental Building Architect. Talented devs followed up with version 0.36 in Summer, delivering remastered vehicles, improved level design, and under-the-hood improvements. The platform got even more robust with BeamNG.tech 0.36, introducing a Template Car for flexible prototyping and expanding simulation tools like platooning and road network support. Frequent minor updates such as 0.36.4 fixed vehicle glitches and enabled leaderboards on arrival missions. Together, these developments reflect BeamNG’s commitment to vehicle simulation excellence, empowering players, modders, and developers with realism and creativity through meticulously crafted updates.
1. Spring into Action: Version 0.35 Update (April 2025)
The first major update of 2025 landed in April with BeamNG.drive version 0.35. It brought a long-anticipated vehicle remaster that refreshed core models with refined physics and visuals. The user interface underwent improvements to enhance usability. The update also added new missions that challenged players with fresh scenarios across varied terrains
One of the most exciting additions was the Building Architect tool, offered as an experimental modding feature. It enables procedural generation and modification of buildings within the World Editor, offering modders unprecedented creative control. The biome tool also received upgrades, and new props like the Roof Crasher Tester expanded scene-building possibilities. Workflow improvements for JBeam development rounded out the modding enhancements
All these changes made version 0.35 stand out as one of the most comprehensive updates in recent years. They deepened gameplay, allowed creative expansion, and signaled BeamNG’s commitment to its modder community.
2. Summer Shakeup: Version 0.36 Update (June–July 2025)
Following the momentum of spring, late June saw the release of BeamNG.drive version 0.36. This update brought both cosmetic and mechanical enhancements. Notable additions included remastered versions of the school bus and armored truck—vehicles beloved for their unique utility and design
Gameplay improvements targeted the West Coast map, fixing collision detection issues in critical areas such as the police station and city block section. Leaderboards were also activated for all Arrive missions, introducing friendly competition into timed driving challenges
This summer update reinforced BeamNG’s balance of content and polish. It offered both visual variety with new vehicle models and gameplay refinement through environmental fixes and leaderboard systems.
3. Under the Hood: BeamNG.tech v0.36 Enhancements
BeamNG.tech, the simulation-focused sibling to BeamNG.drive, received its own robust upgrade in June. Version 0.36 introduced the Template Car, a modular vehicle built for rapid prototyping in areas like autonomous vehicle testing, sensor integration, and dynamic behavior modeling. It comes with flexible suspension layouts and simple drivetrain configurations, ideal for experimentation and development
Simulation tools also improved. The Road Network Exporter became more versatile, now supporting both SUMO and OpenStreetMap formats through Lua and Python scripts. Sensor APIs received updates to improve naming conventions, and headless simulation modes were stabilized. Early platooning support introduced leader-follower vehicle behavior and dynamic platoon formation—key for autonomous driving simulation
This update positioned BeamNG.tech as a powerful tool for researchers and developers, not just a game engine for driving simulations.
4. Fine-Tuning and Stability: Version 0.36.4 Hotfixes (July 2025)
On July 8, a minor but impactful hotfix—version 0.36.4—arrived. It patched several vehicle issues. The Burnside Special saw corrections in config typos. The Civetta Bolide had gauge material consistency fixed. The Gavril MD-Series, specifically the school bus, received fixes to tachometer accuracy, engine clipping, and rear axle instability
Level geometry also improved. Collisions were reactivated in the city block section of West Coast, and collision problems near the police station were resolved. Additionally, leaderboards were officially enabled on all Arrive missions, rounding out gameplay enhancements
This update demonstrated BeamNG’s attention to detail, ensuring that new content performs smoothly and correctly.
5. Continued Development Rhythm and Community Momentum
BeamNG.drive updates arrive steadily. A community chart shows the project typically releases major updates every 106 days, and version 0.36 was projected for release in early July or August 2025—indicating remarkable consistency
. This structured cadence keeps the project evolving while engaging the community with predictable milestones.
Performance discussions in community forums reflect ongoing optimization efforts. One user noted persistent RAM usage around 15 to 16 GB and CPU limitations when spawning high vehicle traffic, even with newer GPUs. This highlights areas where players hope BeamNG can continue to improve multithreaded vehicle simulation
6. Legacy Features and Modding Ecosystem
Beyond the updates, BeamNG.drive retains features that make it unique. The soft-body physics engine remains unmatched, simulating vehicles down to nodes and beams for ultra-realistic collisions. The game continues offering diverse gameplay modes: Campaigns, Scenarios, Time-Trials, and Freeroam
Version 0.35 continued supporting the experimental Career mode with multiple progression branches and in-game currency systems. Career saves and BeamBucks allow players to buy and customize cars and track experience across diverse missions.
Custom modding remains integral. The World Editor, community forums, and in-game store allow users to share vehicles, terrains, and gameplay scenarios. The 2025 updates expanded these tools, reinforcing BeamNG’s creative ecosystem.
Conclusion
In 2025, BeamNG.drive accelerated its development with rich, realism-focused updates, technological improvements, and support for creativity. Spring’s 0.35 release revitalized the UI, missions, and modding tools. Summer’s 0.36 added new vehicles and polished environments. The tech counterpart gained powerful simulation enhancements with BeamNG.tech 0.36, and hotfix 0.36.4 delivered critical refinements.
With steady release cadence and ongoing community feedback, BeamNG continues blending accessibility, realism, and creative freedom. From immersive crash simulation to modding empowerment and research potential, BeamNG.drive remains a standout platform—alive, evolving, and poised for even more ambitious updates in the future.
