How to Get Screw Drivers
Price after the August 2026 launch, who still owns the game for free, and what DLC still sells.
Screw Drivers left Early Access on August 20, 2026. The store listing is now a paid title. This page answers the questions that spiked that week: is it still free, what does the base game cost, do Early Access owners keep everything, and can friends who bought later still race together.
The official announcement from Creactstudios and Headup is the source for every number below. Regional Steam prices move with currency and discounts. Treat 7,99€ as the published list price, not a forever quote.
Is Screw Drivers still free?
No. From August 20, 2026 the base game is a premium purchase. The free claim window that ran from June 20, 2024 through launch day is closed.
If you already claimed the game during Early Access, nothing changes for your library. You keep the full v1.0 client, the track editor, Workshop downloads, and future patches on that license. You do not need to buy the base game again.
If you never claimed it, buy it on Steam. Launch week listings often show a launch discount on top of the 7,99€ list. Check the store widget for the live number before you pay.
Base game versus DLC
The base game includes career islands, Monarchs, the October 2025 maps, dedicated-server multiplayer, the v1.0 track editor, blueprints, clutch and TCS blocks, and the core part catalog. You do not need Stunt Showdown or Pretty Fly to finish the campaign or to host a lobby on shared maps.
The Supporter Pack (4,99€ during Early Access) left the store on the same day as the paid switch. Owners who already bought it keep the cosmetics in their library. New buyers cannot add that SKU. Every other DLC stays on sale at its existing price. Read the DLC Guide before you stack packs.
Cosmetic bundles never gate races. Map and part DLC can create a mismatch if a lobby votes a DLC island, so agree on base maps when a friend skipped expansions.
Multiplayer after the paid switch
Friends can race together whether they claimed Early Access for free or bought the game after August 20. Workshop vehicle and track downloads also stay the same. The paid switch is a store license change, not a split netcode.
Host setup is unchanged: forward UDP 8766, 38011, and 38012, then follow Server Setup. v1.0 hardened dedicated servers so only the real host can change passwords, map votes, and the active challenge.
What you get at v1.0
The same-day content drop is why the store looks different from the Early Access page. You get a track editor with starting grids, checkpoints, cones, flags, ramps, tyre stacks, wooden barricades, and turn signs. You get Workshop browsers for both cars and custom tracks. You get blueprints so a finished gearbox can be dropped into the next chassis. Full gamepad navigation covers car select, garage, tech tree, settings, and tutorials. The client moved to Unity 6 and fixed a repeating two-second hitch on Steam Deck.
New mechanical blocks include the XR - Thrust 2010 two-stroke, a Clutch that slips at low RPM, and a TCS Block with 0–100% traction control. Wooden panels and about thirty missing tech-tree entries landed in the same patch. Details live on New Parts and Patch Notes.
Languages: game versus this wiki
The game added twenty-five languages at launch, including CJK fonts and a settings selector. This wiki covers English, French, German, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, and Korean so we can keep deep, human-edited guides. In-game UI language and wiki language are independent.
Hardware and Steam Deck
Confirm System Requirements before you buy. Minimum is still Windows 10 64-bit, a 3.1 GHz quad-core, 4 GB RAM, and a GTX 980-class GPU. Recommended is 8 GB RAM and an RTX 2060-class card. v1.0 improved startup, car selection with hundreds of saves, and analysis time. Steam Deck users should update past the stutter fix rather than staying on an old depot.
After you install
Start with Getting Started, then How to Steer. If you already own a garage full of Early Access cars, open the analysis window and use the new rigidbody tab to find loose parts before you race. Save working gearboxes as Blueprints so you are not rebuilding the same two-step every session.
Related pages
- DLC and Packs for Stunt Showdown, Pretty Fly, and cosmetics
- Track Editor for custom maps and Workshop uploads
- Blueprints for reusable drivetrain chunks
- Achievements for the sixteen Steam goals
- Updates Hub for the full launch changelog
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions.
Is Screw Drivers free in 2026?
No. The free Early Access claim ended on August 20, 2026. The base game is a paid Steam title. Anyone who already claimed it keeps the full v1.0 game.
How much does Screw Drivers cost?
The published list price is 7,99€. Steam may show a regional conversion or a launch discount. DLC prices did not change except the Supporter Pack, which left the store.
Can I still play with friends who bought later?
Yes. Multiplayer and Workshop sharing work the same whether a friend claimed Early Access or purchased after the paid switch.
Do I need DLC to play the track editor?
No. The track editor, blueprints, and Workshop browsers ship in the v1.0 base game.