Driving Forward: The Wilder Wheels Overhaul

Introduction

First introduced in Dev Log 5, on March 1st, 2024, the Wilder Wheels upgrade set in motion a complete rebuild of our vehicle collection, redesigning every model from the ground up. Wide body kits, unique lights, ICE engines, and Wilder World’s iconic wheels are all being crafted to elevate the aesthetics and bring them in line with our evolving metaverse. So far, over 42 upgraded vehicles have now been imported into the engine, with all finished vehicles now in-game.  With metadata updates around the corner, these transformations are about to be reflected onchain, ushering in a new era for the Wheels economy.

The History of the Wilder Wheels Collection

The launch of Wilder Wheels in late 2021 marked the beginning of Wilder World’s automotive industry and laid the foundation for a full-scale digital transportation economy. What began as a collection of 10,101 procedurally generated, 5D NFT vehicles quickly became a defining moment in Wilder World’s early growth. More than just digital collectibles, each Wheel was designed with in-game utility in mind, setting the stage for a new era of gameplay, economy, and creativity in the metaverse.

The Wheels Drop

The first drop was a whitelisted release to the most dedicated community members, with the initial 1,000 Wheels, The Hideouts, minted by early supporters. On October 28th, 2021, the second tier of the Genesis collection was released to the public, bringing thousands of new participants into the Wilder ecosystem. Despite significant challenges due to record-high gas fees, over 3,000 Wheels were minted in the first 48 hours. The final Wheels Genesis drop of 1,500 vehicles took place on December 21st, 2021. We also introduced an IRL crossover with a hand‑sewn racing hoodie by Race Service included with each NFT, marking an important expansion into physical collectibles. 

Overall, the Wheels drop generated an impressive 1934.667 ETH in revenue, laying the economic foundation for the Wheels Industry and serving as a key catalyst for Wilder World's growth. The campaign validated Wilder World’s industry-driven model, helped fuel the early momentum of the WILD token, and opened the door to future asset classes, positioning Wheels as a flagship industry in the Wilder economy.

In early 2022, following an open community AMA and DAO-led discussions, a vote was held to decide the future of the Wilder Wheels Genesis supply, The Final Frontier. The result was a majority in favor of burning the remaining Wheels collection, reducing the total supply to 6,396, with 547 allocated to the Wheels DAO and marketing.

This move increased the rarity and scarcity of the collection, benefiting existing holders by strengthening long-term value and reinforcing the uniqueness of each Wheel within the Wilder World economy.

Industry Expertise and Realism

To elevate the gameplay experience and solidify Wilder Wheels as a leading force in metaverse racing, we brought in one of the most respected figures in the world of driving simulations to lead the Wheels team: Aristotelis Vasilakos. Best known as the mastermind behind Assetto Corsa, Aris brought over 15 years of experience building world-class physics systems and racing mechanics.

Under his leadership, the Wheels industry entered a new phase of development, focused on realism, responsiveness, and versatility. Every vehicle was fine-tuned with meticulous detail to deliver an authentic and competitive driving experience, bridging the gap between arcade fun and true-to-life racing.

This expert-led development ensured Wilder Wheels stood apart not just as a visually stunning collection, but as a fully playable, high-performance industry grounded in professional-level racing expertise. We’ve since invested millions to meticulously redesign each of the 120 vehicles from the ground up.

Midnight in Wiami (MIW): The First Wheels Game Experience

After over 2 years of development, Midnight in Wiami marked a defining milestone for the Wheels industry, and Wilder World as a whole. As the first playable experience in Wiami, it marked the debut of Wheels NFTs as fully interactive in-game vehicles, allowing Wilders to drive these assets for the very first time.

Released on December 20th, 2023, MIW was more than a race, it was a proof of concept. Inspired by the underground energy of Tokyo street racing and the neon-drenched aesthetics of cyberpunk culture, the game launched with two-player races along the iconic 9LIVES track through Wiami’s Little Meow district.

Since its launch, the game progressed rapidly with frequent updates, adding more tracks, vehicles, and extensive gameplay features. By version 0.5.1, it supported up to four players, twelve unique cars, and ten tracks, all within a persistent version of Wiami that will continue to expand as Wilder World evolves. Midnight in Wiami brought together years of R&D into a tangible metaverse experience, showcasing the vision of Wilder Wheels, supercharging its role in the Wilder economy, and laying the foundation for what would become The Wheels Arcade. 

Wheels Arcade

Building on the success of MIW, the Wheels Arcade emerged as the next evolution in Wilder World’s racing ecosystem. It combined immersive gameplay with high-stakes competition and vibrant community engagement.

The journey began in New York City, where the first arcade event was hosted at Manhattan’s OS NYC. The venue was transformed into a high-octane racing battleground, complete with advanced simulators and gaming PCs. Racers competed for a 20,000 $WILD prize pool, with rewards for the fastest lap times and most wins. The event brought together racing fans and Web3 enthusiasts, setting the stage for a new chapter in the Wheels industry.

Following the success of the NYC debut, Wheels Arcade expanded into the virtual space with its first online tournament in May 2024. This global competition welcomed racers from around the world, offering 100,000 $WILD in prizes. Weekly qualifiers unfolded across different tracks, giving top performers the opportunity to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the grand finale in Austin, Texas.

The final showdown, Wheels Arcade Austin, was held at Dada Lab. It brought together the top qualifiers for an adrenaline-fueled race that pushed skill, speed, and strategy to the limit. With a 30,000 $WILD grand prize on the line, the event celebrated competitive spirit and community passion, reinforcing the Wheels Arcade as a pillar of Wilder World’s racing future.

Wheels Metadata Updates 

The next phase of the Wheels upgrades begins now, with metadata updates launching today. Original Wheels NFTs will be refreshed with upgraded metadata that showcase the enhanced traits, redesigned bodies, and elevated details that reflect the latest in-game builds. This process will roll out in structured phases to match production and in-game progress. We’re beginning with art updates for specific models with additional vehicles updated as they’re finalized, bringing the full collection up to speed by the end of the year.

Influencer & Partner Wheels

When the original Wilder Wheels collection launched, select partners and influencers received custom vehicles featuring their logos. As part of the metadata overhaul, these logos will be reduced in size and repositioned to align with the updated vehicle designs.

Image-based logos will appear on the front fender, similar to emblem placements on real-world supercars. Text-based logos will be positioned at the rear of the car.

Colors, Patterns, and In-Game Options

Every detail of the Wheels redesign was approached with precision, including the materials used for each vehicle body. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, the team carefully curated different materials to suit each car’s unique personality and performance profile. From the stealthy matte finish of the Westo Wlemento to the high-gloss polish of the Wyventadors and Wiuras, every texture was selected to bring out the distinct identity of each model. 

Although all NFT images and 360 video renders will fully update, each car’s traits will closely follow that of the original. The colors and full body patterns will remain consistent onchain, preserving the authenticity of the original drop, however, the placement has been thoughtfully refined to better align with the natural shape and flow of the car’s body.

Additionally, the Wheels team is developing an in-game system that gives owners more flexibility over how their vehicles appear while driving.  The garage and showroom already display all Wilder Wheels, and players can currently choose any car to drive. As the system evolves, players will need to link their wallet in-game. This will allow them to view the full collection but only equip vehicles they own, have rented, or that are temporarily available during specific events.

When selecting an owned Wheel, players will be able to customize its livery using a set of display presets. Rather than selecting any color or pattern freely, they will be able to switch between three visual options based on their vehicle’s traits:

• Full body pattern
• Stripe pattern
• Inverted stripe pattern

These options will be available exclusively in-game. Onchain metadata and the vehicle’s appearance in wallets and Web3 collections will continue to reflect the original full body pattern only.

Some features in Wilder Wheels are unique to specific models, highlighting the depth of the redesign. The Wountach, for example, features a custom body material with precise reflections for a sharp, futuristic finish. Unlike traditional vehicles, the Wountach has no visible windows. Instead, it uses advanced holographic sensors to scan the environment and project a real-time feed inside the cockpit.

Under the Hood: Physics & Handling Upgrades

This isn’t just a cosmetic overhaul. Alongside the visual enhancements, Wheels are being upgraded under the hood to improve how they handle in Wiami. Sharper turns, smoother drifts, and punchier acceleration all come together to deliver a more responsive, immersive, and true-to-life racing experience.

Responsive Suspension for City Driving

Urban racing in Wiami isn’t just fast, it’s unpredictable. From sharp curbs to angled walkways and sudden drops, your suspension is now ready for it. Geometry, damping, and collision response have been tuned for high-speed stability, letting you hit jumps, take hard lines, and power through unpredictable terrain without losing control.

Full Wheel Alignment Simulation

Street racing in Wiami requires precision. Without inclined corners, tires and suspension take the full load, so we rebuilt the alignment system from the ground up. Camber, caster, toe, offset, and ride height are now fully simulated, delivering more predictable, stable handling when it counts. Whether you’re cruising the city or gearing up for high-stakes competition, your setup can now match your style.

Advanced Drivetrain Simulation

Every racer knows the differential can make or break a corner, and now you’ll feel it. Wheels now feature carefully tuned setups that boost cornering control and power delivery across the board. Most vehicles come equipped with a locked differential, and for AWD monsters, we’ve implemented three separate differentials to simulate real-world drivetrain behavior.

Customizable Suspension System

Whether you’re building for drifting, grip, or all-out speed, your suspension now adapts to the task. The new coilover system lets you fine-tune spring stiffness, damping, and anti-roll bars, all on the fly. These adjustments give Wilders the power to shape how their Wheels feels on the road. 

Upgraded Tire Model

Handling starts at the tires. The new model uses real-world simulation principles to improve grip, braking, and control. Built on industry-standard Pacejka curves, it offers smoother slides, sharper recovery, whether you’re on a gamepad or keyboard. While tire wear and overheating aren’t yet simulated, this new foundation sets the stage for future racing features and sim-style tuning.

Customizable Electronic Assists

Electronic assists let you tailor performance to your skill level. Adjust traction control to tame wild turns or unlock full throttle for early exits and power slides. No matter your skill level, you’ve now got the tools to drive your way — stable, aggressive, or somewhere in between.

Advanced Gearbox Simulation

The new gearbox delivers sharper, smarter performance across both manual and automatic setups. Each gear runs on its own ratio, keeping engines in the sweet spot and giving full control to those who want it. Automatic transitions are tuned gear-by-gear to react to real road conditions, while drift and skid sensors delay shifts when needed, so you can hit the limiter mid-drift without breaking flow.

Features in Development

The road ahead is packed with new systems designed to take Wilder Wheels even further:

• Force Feedback Integration: With the new tire and suspension models in place, we’re now fine-tuning Force Feedback support for a wide range of steering wheels, giving players a more immersive and tactile driving experience.
• Sensitivity Sliders for Keyboard & Gamepad: Control your ride your way. New sliders for linearity and speed sensitivity will let you customize handling to match your setup and muscle memory.
• Multiplayer Physics Replication: Bringing the new physics engine to multiplayer is no small feat. With vehicles accelerating across all three axes and reacting in unpredictable ways, high-frequency replication (200–333Hz) is being tuned to ensure smooth, accurate online racing.
• New Gameplay Modes: We’re pushing beyond racing. New modes are in the works that expand what Wilder Wheels can do in a metaverse context, with blockchain features woven into every turn.

Reporting Metadata Issues with Updated NFTs

As we begin rolling out the metadata overhaul, we're committed to making the transition as smooth as possible. However, with any large-scale update, there’s always a chance that minor issues may arise.

To report a discrepancy or issue with your updated Wheels NFT, please fill out the following Typeform: Wheels NFT Upgrade Issues 

Burning Questions

Q: You previously mentioned that a Wheels DAO vote would take place before these upgrades. Why wasn’t a vote held?

A: The metadata and onchain elements of the collection will not change, only the vehicle and trait design. This was done to bring the cars up to date with the Wilder World quality and aesthetic, along with introducing our own iconic IP into the Wheels collection.

Q: Will the upgrade impact current rarity?

A: No, rarity will remain the same as the original collection.

Q: Will the traits currently listed on OpenSea be impacted by the metadata update?
A: The way some traits show up visually will change on the vehicle, but their metadata will not change. 



Q: If I own one of the updated Wheels NFTs, when can I use it in-game?

A: All updated vehicles can currently be used in game. Specific wheels will be accessible as their updates come in when we relaunch Wheels later this year.

Q: When will we be able to test out the new vehicle physics?

A: New vehicle physics will also rollout with the Wheels relaunch later this year.

Q: Do you still plan to have all Wheels upgraded by the end of 2025?

A: Yes, we're starting with metadata and art updates for specific models, with additional vehicles updated as they’re finalized. We are on track to update the full collection by the end of the year.

Conclusion

The Wheels industry upgrades mark a major milestone in refining one of Wilder World’s most iconic and foundational collections. From the early drops to the groundbreaking launch of Midnight in Wiami, Wilder Wheels has been at the center of our metaverse journey, pushing boundaries in design, gameplay, and community participation.

This next phase is a celebration of everything we've built together so far. The redesigned Wheels reflect not only the evolution of Wiami, but the incredible history that brought us to this moment. They’re sharper, faster, and built for the road ahead.

As we continue rolling out updates, your input remains essential in helping us fine-tune every detail. Thank you for your ongoing support and belief in the vision. With these upgrades, we’re shifting into high gear and racing toward the future, together.

With Blessings,

The Wilders