Gameloft releases Cars: Fast as Lightning kids game for Windows 8.1

By Daniel Rubino
last updated

Gameloft is certainly committed to the Windows and Windows Phone ecosystem, as the publishing house has released numerous games for both platforms over the last few months. Today, this continues with Cars: Fast as Lightning, based off the hit Pixar movie Cars 2 (2011).

Cars: Fast as Lightning is being simultaneously released on the App Store, Google Play, and Windows. As of now, we do not see a Windows Phone version, though it may pop up later.

The game weighs in at 104 MB, is free, and it runs on RT devices as well as x86/x64 Windows 8.1 machines. We did run into a few hiccups running the Windows 10 preview, but our Surface 2 ran the game just fine, albeit with slightly more choppiness.

Cars: Fast as Lightning lets the user race around the track, jumping ramps and dodging various obstacles. The race itself is guided, with the user only controlling acceleration, braking and ramping.

The game boasts the following features:

  • Lightning McQueen and Mater are hosting a racing EXTRAVAGANZA and they're going to need some speed!
  • The official Disney/Pixar Cars game with 20 characters to race as and customize with paint jobs!
  • High-quality acting and animations with Owen Wilson as the voice of Lightning McQueen!
  • Acceleration-charged racing with easy-to-learn controls, fast nitro boosts & other speedy surprises!
  • Completely customizable racing experience to perform amazing stunts!
  • A Radiator Springs building game, featuring over 30 interactive town buildings!

The game is free, but there are optional in-app purchases that can be made to 'cheat' and get ahead early on without collecting the gems and stickers. Still, the game looks to be a lot of fun for the younglings, and we did not mind playing it too much either.

Thanks, Zapella T., for the tip!

Daniel Rubino
Daniel Rubino
Editor-in-chief

Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007 when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and for some reason, watches. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes!), and ran the projectors at movie theaters because it was fun.

49 Comments
  • I forgot that cars isn't Disney's.... Good that the release was simultaneous...
  • Its made by Pixar but Disney is the publisher.
    cars.disney.com
  • And Disney owns Pixar now, so ...
  • It is....
  • wow will try it on PC. i love to play games more on PC
  • +620
  • Surprised Gameloft was allowed to publish a Disney game. Weird.
  • They have done this earlier also. Despicable me is universal studios' if m not wrong.
  • Does it require internet connection to play?
  • U R Welcome :) Love this game. Also Xbox Extras returned to WP Store today with a update.
  • Thanks for that info.
  • Thank you! Been missing Xbox Extras!
  • lovely!
  • and windows phone no?  
  • :\
  • Just read this somewhere earlier. Not expecting it would be released soon. Seems Fast as Lightning :)
  • My nephew is going to love it!!
  • You mean you
  • What? Trying to hide something?
  • Hahaha! No, really.
    It is too fast/akward for a three year old on a laptop without touch screen.... :-(  
  • Gameloft....do what I'd broken on this app?
  • Tells me to instal W8.1, but im on W10 on my laptop.
  • The store, for all it knows, thinks you are on windows 6
  • My 3 years is crazy about "cals", he is going to have some fun!
  • Dont lie its actually you all along
  • lmao
  • Ok.. you caught me!
  • Most of Gameloft's games are annoying and require you to be connected :P I don't even know if I like them anymore.
  • So you don't have internet on your PC? Kidding :)
  • I litterally uninstalled all of gameloft games on my phone. I don't mind to be connected, but their method is annoying.
  • Yeah, I've uninstalled all of them too. It's sad, cause their games are fun, but annoying.
  • iphone and android yes, wp no? Sorry, I like to play these games in the phone not a pc. Was it too hard to port it to wp right?
  • It is coming for wp in a week.
  • GameLoft = buggy crap with no support and extortionate IAPs. No thanks.
  • You complain about IAP's, but if this was a paid app, this comments section would be full of people crying "why its not free?"...developers can never win with you guys.
  • You visa is declined . Stop commenting
  • Kids? You mean "for all ages"
  • Only if all developed supported like gameloft.
  • I like this.. This is a fun little read..
    http://pocketnow.com/2014/10/10/windows-10-wish-list
  • Totally off-topic?
  • Yes.. It's not at the top, rather down here at the bottom.. Not hurting anything... You can choose to ignore it if you like.. Will that work for you?
  • It's not showing in my Lumia 1520 from India
  • Because it is for Windows 8.1 only. Some day maybe they'll release it for Windows Phone 8.1.....
  • Fun game. lots to do.
  • Looks awesome. I want to play on my Windows Phone. Hope they will port it to Wp.
  • Its not showing un Lumia 520 form india
  • *facepalm*
  • Runs terrible on Surface 1
  • Worked OK (a few crashes over some months) on my Windows 8.1, but is now broken on my upgraded Windows 10 (and currently not listed in the W10 store anyway).  It crashes very very often. Sometimes even 20 seconds after launch. Gameloft support is a joke.  Your in-app bug/issue report gets answered after 4 days with a general quote "We're sorry your platform is not supported.  Our developers are working to make it available to as many platforms as possible.  View our website for other great games from Gameloft for your platform." I already payed 50$ for in-app purchases. Now my game is broken.