WheelMates
In the codexAdventureIndieRacing

WheelMates

Dive into a 2-player co-op driving adventure with RC cars. Explore the professor’s home laboratory, solve puzzles, find hidden paths, and uncover what happened inside. With Friend’s Pass, your friend joins for free.

DEV: FirevoltPUB: FirevoltAppID 3905450
DEVELOPER POSTSevery ~5d·last 31d ago·25 recorded in 6 months

Is WheelMates still being updated? — the short answer, with the evidence.

68.6
Mixed

Elixir Rating

72.8% of 786 Steam reviews are positive, which after adjusting for sample size gives a reception score of 69.6. It was sold as a game that would keep being worked on, and the developers have gone quiet — subtracting 1.0.

reception 69.6·support −1.0·Mixed

Computed from Steam’s own review tally and observable developer activity — never from anyone’s opinion of the game. How this is calculated

Should you look into this?

From Steam's own record

Current price

$19.99

Development

Unusually quiet

Last heard from developers

31 days ago

Historical posting rhythm

every ~5 days

Substantial updates (6 mo)

1

Current silence

6× normal

The developers have been silent for 31 days against a normal rhythm of about 5 — roughly 6 times longer than usual. 1 substantial update recorded in the past six months, 1 classified as major.

Last successful news check: Oct 16, 2026, 2:01 PM UTC. This is when we checked Steam, separate from when the developer last posted.

Distilled by the oracle

Our coverage

1 dispatch written from this game’s announcements

releaseSep 3, 2026

WheelMates Launches on Steam as a Two-Player Co-op Adventure

WheelMates is now available on Steam, developed by the Firevolt Team and announced via a community post authored by F.SnowFlake on September 1, 2026.

The game is built around two-player co-op, set inside Professor Bloom's house. Its Friend's Pass arrangement allows a second player to join without purchasing a separate copy — a structure designed to lower the barrier for co-op play.

What's included

  • Base game: A 2-player co-op adventure through Professor Bloom's house
  • Friend's Pass: A second player can join for free using the host's copy
  • Supporter Pack (separate purchase): Adds an exclusive car model and additional skins not available in the base game — described by the team as an optional way to support development

The Supporter Pack is available as a distinct listing on the Steam store and is not bundled with the base game.

For players who prefer co-op experiences with low entry costs, the Friend's Pass model means only one purchase is needed to play together — a practical consideration that shapes how the game is likely to find its audience.

Two years of development

■ substantial ■ routine

Nov2025FebMayAugNov2026FebMayAug

32 announcements · 1 substantial · 15 months with nothing

Recent Transmissions

30 entries in codex

Community AnnouncementsOct 15, 2026
Patch #3: Save Fixes and Performance Improvements

Hey everyone! 🚗🚙 This update brings better performance on Steam Deck and in the Backyard, fixes for online save loading, and improved stability. Thanks for sharing your feedback and helping us track down these issues. Here's what's change…

Community AnnouncementsSep 16, 2026
What's Next for Wheelmates

Hey everyone! 🚗🚙 It’s only been a short while since launch, and you’ve already put in plenty of hours, written lots of reviews, and sent us so many kind and useful messages. Thank you! It means a lot to our small team. We wanted to take a…

Gamemag.ruSep 11, 2026
Заезд в стиле Юсефа Фареса: Обзор WheelMates

За последние годы кооперативные игры эволюционировали от совместных пострелушек до приключений с комплексным геймплеем и без всякого намёка на одиночный режим. Большую роль в этом сдвиге сыграла Hazelight Studios Юсефа Фареса, которая при п…

Community AnnouncementsSep 9, 2026
Hotfix: Puzzle Progression and Local Co-op Fixes

Hey everyone! 🚗🚙 This update addresses some frustrating spots where you could get stuck and makes the Backyard smoother to play together. Thank you to everyone who reported these issues, and for your patience while we worked on the fixes.…

Community AnnouncementsSep 7, 2026
Hotfix: Co-op, Progression, and Performance Improvements

Hey everyone! 🚗🚙 This update brings improvements to local co-op, puzzle fixes, and better performance in the Backyard. Here's what's changed: Improved performance and fixed environment issues in the Backyard. Addressed progression blocker…

Community AnnouncementsSep 5, 2026
Hotfix: Local Co-op Fatal Error

Hey everyone! We've just released a hotfix for the Fatal Error that some players experienced when playing local co-op. The game should no longer crash in local mode. Please update your game and let us know if everything works for you now. T…

Community AnnouncementsSep 4, 2026
Hotfix: Startup, Co-op, and Gameplay Fixes

Hey everyone! 🚗🚙 We're back with another hotfix, and once again, your reports made it happen. Thanks for being patient and for helping us catch these issues. Here's what's new in this update: Fixed a startup crash affecting some Intel sys…

Community AnnouncementsSep 2, 2026
Hotfix: Progression and Co-op Fixes

Hey everyone! We've just released a new hotfix to address some of the issues you've been reporting. Thank you for your patience and for helping us track them down so quickly. Here's what's fixed: Progression issues in the Backyard and Shed.…

Community AnnouncementsSep 1, 2026
Hotfix: Login Issue Fixed

Hey everyone! We've just released a hotfix that solves the issue where some players couldn't log into the game. Everything should be working correctly now. If you still have trouble, please restart Steam and make sure the game is up to date…

Community AnnouncementsSep 1, 2026
WheelMates Is Out Now!

Hey everyone! Today is a big day for our team. WheelMates is OUT on Steam! Grab your Player Two and jump into a 2-player co-op adventure through Professor Bloom’s house. With Friend’s Pass, your partner joins for free! Watch the Launch Trai…

Read our dispatch on this

Read this patch for

Community AnnouncementsAug 31, 2026
Launch FAQ: Release Time, Pricing, Friend's Pass, and More

Hey everyone! 🚗🚙 The wait is almost over! WheelMates launches tomorrow on Steam! We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported us along the way. It's been a long ride, and we're so excited to finally open the doors to the prof…

Community AnnouncementsAug 21, 2026
Q&A with the Devs: Answering Your Questions About WheelMates

Hey everyone! Yesterday, we held a Q&A session about WheelMates on our Discord. Thanks to everyone who attended, asked questions, and supported us. We're sharing the key points from the session with you! Technical & Platforms ❓Will Steam De…

Community AnnouncementsAug 12, 2026
Gameplay Overview and New Release Date

Hey everyone! Two big announcements in this update. First, WheelMates is coming earlier! We've moved the release date to September 1st! And second, meet the brand new WheelMates gameplay overview trailer. It's the biggest look at the game w…

Community AnnouncementsAug 11, 2026
Devlog #3: Car Customization in WheelMates

Hey everyone! The main characters of WheelMates are two RC cars heading off on an exciting and slightly dangerous adventure through a house packed with oversized science gadgets. And today, we're talking about customization so you feel like…

Community AnnouncementsJul 29, 2026
Demo Closes August 3

Hey everyone! The WheelMates demo has been out for a while now, and we’ve loved seeing you drive through the house and hearing your honest thoughts. Thank you! As launch gets closer, the team is shifting its full focus to the release versio…

Community AnnouncementsJul 17, 2026
DEVLOG #2 - The House in WheelMates Has a Story to Tell

Hey everyone! In WheelMates, you can drive straight to the next location: nothing forces you to stop and examine every object. But if you slow down and look around, the house begins to tell a much bigger story. You may already know Professo…

Community AnnouncementsJun 26, 2026
Demo Update: Connection Stability and DLSS Improvements

Hey everyone, We’ve released a demo update based on your feedback: - Added fixes aimed at improving connection stability. - Resolved a problem that could affect DLSS behavior during the first few launches. A huge thank you for helping us ma…

Community AnnouncementsJun 24, 2026
Closed Playtest Incoming

Hey everyone!🚗🚙 From June 26 to June 28, we're running a closed playtest of a brand new WheelMates location: the Backyard. You’ll get an early look at the new map, help us test the gameplay, and share feedback directly with the team. Want…

Community AnnouncementsJun 15, 2026
The updated WheelMates demo is LIVE! 🎉

Hey everyone! The updated WheelMates demo is now live as part of Steam Next Fest! This is a quality update built directly from your feedback. Here are the key changes: Car Handling and Camera Settings Before jumping into the game, take a mo…

Community AnnouncementsJun 10, 2026
WheelMates updated demo goes live on June 15

Hey everyone! WheelMates is joining Steam Next Fest on June 15 with an updated demo. What’s New? Car Handling and Camera Options Prefer the follow camera or want more freedom with a free camera? Like car controls are snappy or smooth? We've…

Community AnnouncementsJun 6, 2026
WheelMates Launches September 7 with Friend’s Pass!

Hey everyone! We’re finally ready to answer two of your biggest questions: When is WheelMates coming out? WheelMates launches on Steam on September 7, 2026. Will there be a Friend’s Pass? Yes! Friend’s Pass will be available, making it easy…

Community AnnouncementsJun 2, 2026
WheelMates at the Future Games Show!

Hey everyone! WheelMates is coming to the Future Games Show on June 6th with a new trailer and a few exciting updates we can’t wait to share. Join us at the show on Saturday, June 6, 12 noon PT (3pm ET, 8pm BST, 9pm CEST) and come hang out …

Community AnnouncementsMay 13, 2026
New Car Handling and Physics

Hey everyone! We've carefully studied your feedback and prepared a big patch for the demo version that touches on several key mechanics at once. Car Handling and PhysicsWe've reworked the car's behavior to make driving more responsive and e…

Community AnnouncementsMay 8, 2026
Demo Patch Notes: Improved Car Controls and More

Hey everyone! We’ve released a demo update. Here’s what’s fixed: Improved car controls and handling: less sudden acceleration, reduced drifting, more linear wheel turning, and light braking after releasing the gas. Added DualSense button ic…

Community AnnouncementsMay 6, 2026
The WheelMates Demo is live!

Hey everyone! The day is finally here. We're excited to announce that the very first WheelMates demo is now live on Steam. This is a huge step for us, and none of it would be possible without your support along the way. Thank you for being …

Community AnnouncementsApr 28, 2026
The very first WheelMates demo goes live May 6th!

Hey everyone! The day is almost here. Mark your calendars for May 6th, the day when you and your wheelmate finally get to jump into the very first WheelMates demo. https://i.ibb.co/F44v3bn3/gif12.gif Here's a little reminder of what's actua…

Community AnnouncementsApr 23, 2026
The WheelMates Demo is Coming Soon! What to Expect

Hey everyone! First, thank you for being here. Whether you played the playtest, just found us, or have been following along for a while. We appreciate you. 💙We've been working hard on WheelMates, and today we wanted to share a little sneak…

Community AnnouncementsApr 9, 2026
Devlog #1 – Drifting, New Physics, and Air Stunts

Hey everyone!WheelMates team here! We’re kicking off a series of regular dev updates, and this is the very first one.After the last playtest, we got a lot of useful feedback, we’ve been hard at work on improvements, and here’s what we’ve ch…

Community AnnouncementsMar 2, 2026
Playtest Complete: Thank You for Playing

Hey everyone,Our first playtest has officially ended. Thank you to everyone who took part, shared feedback, and reported bugs. Over 105,000 players jumped in, an incredible milestone for us. Your input is already shaping our next steps and …

Community AnnouncementsFeb 20, 2026
Playtest Extended Until March 1

Hey everyone!Huge thanks for all the feedback so far! You’ve already helped us identify key areas to improve.Seeing the response, we’ve decided to extend the current playtest until March 1 so even more players can jump in and be part of thi…