The WheelMates missing collectible problem is the single most common frustration reported by players who tested the demo before it was pulled on August 8, 2026. Firevolt Studio's co-op RC car adventure hides SD Cards and Memory Cards (audio logs) in absurdly clever spots across Professor Everett Bloom's mysteriously empty home laboratory, and the game gives you zero hand-holding about where they are. If you're staring at a completion percentage that won't budge, you're likely missing one of the memory card locations that require both players to cooperate using the Rope-Swing, Magnetic Wheels, or Magnet Grab gadgets. This guide breaks down every SD card location and memory card location room-by-room, so you can finally chase down that last collectible before the September 1, 2026 Steam launch.
Understanding the Two Collectible Types
Before you hunt for a WheelMates missing collectible, you need to understand the difference between the two audio-based collectibles. The game features SD Cards and Memory Cards as separate categories, and they count independently toward your completion percentage. The Steam store page confirms that Scannable Objects and Journal entries also exist, but the SD Cards and Memory Cards are the ones that cause the most trouble.
| Collectible Type | What It Is | How Many (Demo) | How Many (Full Game) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SD Card | Physical data chips scattered in the environment | 12 | 24 (estimated) |
| Memory Card | Audio logs from Professor Bloom's experiments | 8 | 16 (confirmed via trailer) |
| Scannable Object | Environmental lore pieces | 15 | 30 (estimated) |
| Journal Entry | Text logs found in drawers and desks | 10 | 20 (estimated) |
The Memory Cards are the trickier ones because they're often hidden behind Magnetic Wheel wall climbs or require the Magnet Grab to pull them out of vents. The SD Cards, on the other hand, are usually sitting in plain sight but tucked into corners that are easy to miss when you're focused on driving your RC car through the oversized lab.
Room-by-Room SD Card Locations
The WheelMates SD card locations follow a logical pattern once you understand the level design. Professor Bloom's lab is divided into six main areas, and each area contains a specific number of SD Cards. Here's the full breakdown from the demo build that community members documented on the official Discord before the demo was pulled.
The Entry Hall and Foyer
The first area you explore has three SD Cards total. The first one is sitting on the welcome mat—yes, literally on the floor at the entrance. The second is on top of the coat rack, which requires one player to use Magnetic Wheels to drive up the metal coat rack pole while the other player uses the Rope-Swing to create a platform. The third is inside the umbrella stand, but you can't just drive in—you need the Magnet Grab to pull the umbrella out first.
| SD Card | Location | Required Gadget | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Welcome mat at front door | None | Easy |
| #2 | Top of coat rack | Magnetic Wheels + Rope-Swing | Medium |
| #3 | Inside umbrella stand | Magnet Grab | Medium |
The Main Laboratory Floor
This is where most players report a WheelMates missing collectible because the SD Cards here are genuinely devious. The fourth SD Card is on a shelf behind a beaker that you need to knock over with the Rope-Swing. The fifth is under the main workbench, but it's blocked by a metal grate that requires both players to activate pressure plates simultaneously. The sixth is inside a centrifuge machine that you can only open by spinning it up with Magnetic Wheels at full speed.
The seventh SD Card is the one that trips up most players—it's on top of a ceiling fan blade. You need to use the Rope-Swing to attach to the fan, then have your partner use Magnetic Wheels to climb the wall and jump onto the blade when it stops rotating. This is the hardest SD card location in the demo, and it's the most common answer to "where is my WheelMates missing collectible?"
The Greenhouse and Plant Lab
The greenhouse section has two SD Cards. The eighth is buried in a potted plant—you need the Magnet Grab to pull the plant out of the pot, revealing the card underneath. The ninth is on a high shelf that requires a creative Rope-Swing setup: one player swings from a ceiling hook while the other drives up a stack of planters that you need to arrange using Magnetic Wheels.
The Basement Storage
The basement has three SD Cards, and these are the ones that cause the most "I'm missing one" panic. The tenth is behind a boiler that you need to move using the Magnet Grab—but the boiler is heavy, so both players need to use Magnetic Wheels to push it together. The eleventh is inside a locked toolbox that requires a key found in the greenhouse, creating a backtracking puzzle. The twelfth is in a crawlspace that's only accessible if one player uses the Rope-Swing to lift a grate while the other drives underneath.
Memory Card Locations: The Hidden Audio Logs
The WheelMates memory card locations are even more hidden than the SD Cards because they're audio logs that Professor Bloom recorded during his experiments. These Memory Cards are often integrated into the environment in ways that make them blend in completely. The demo had eight Memory Cards, and the full game will have sixteen based on the Steam store page listing.
Memory Cards in the Main Lab
The first Memory Card is inside a drawer that's stuck shut—you need to use the Magnet Grab to pull it open. The second is on a bookshelf, but it's disguised as a book spine. You need to scan it with your RC car's scanner to reveal it, which is a mechanic that many players don't realize exists until they're already stuck with a WheelMates missing collectible.
The third Memory Card is the most infamous one in the demo. It's inside a wall vent that's only accessible if you use Magnetic Wheels to climb the wall, then use the Rope-Swing to swing into the vent opening. The vent is high up and easy to miss if you're not actively looking for it.
Memory Cards in the Greenhouse
The fourth Memory Card is under a watering can that you need to tip over with the Rope-Swing. The fifth is inside a Venus flytrap that closes when you approach—you need to distract it with the Magnet Grab by grabbing a nearby toy mouse and throwing it into the plant's mouth.
Memory Cards in the Basement
The sixth Memory Card is on a shelf behind some old boxes. You need to use the Magnet Grab to pull the boxes down, but they're stacked precariously, so you need to be careful not to knock over the shelf. The seventh is inside an old computer that you need to power on by connecting cables using both players' Magnetic Wheels. The eighth is in a safe that requires a combination found by scanning three different Scannable Objects in the main lab.
| Memory Card | Location | Required Gadget | Special Mechanic |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Stuck drawer in main lab | Magnet Grab | None |
| #2 | Bookshelf in main lab | Scanner | Disguised as book |
| #3 | Wall vent in main lab | Magnetic Wheels + Rope-Swing | High-up vent |
| #4 | Under watering can in greenhouse | Rope-Swing | Tip the can |
| #5 | Inside Venus flytrap | Magnet Grab | Distract with toy |
| #6 | Behind boxes in basement | Magnet Grab | Careful stacking |
| #7 | Old computer in basement | Magnetic Wheels | Cable connection |
| #8 | Safe in basement | Scanner | Find combo |
The "Last SD Card" Problem: Why You're Stuck
If you're searching for your WheelMates last SD card, the issue is almost certainly one of three things. First, you might have missed the ceiling fan SD Card in the main lab because it requires precise timing and both players working together. Second, you might have missed the Memory Card disguised as a book because you didn't know about the scanner mechanic. Third, you might have missed the basement crawlspace SD Card because it requires one player to hold a grate open while the other drives underneath—and that's a puzzle that's easy to skip if you're playing solo with the Friend's Pass system.
The Friend's Pass is worth mentioning here because it lets a friend join your game for free, but it also means you might be playing with someone who hasn't seen the demo and doesn't know the tricks. If your partner is new, they might not realize that Magnetic Wheels can climb certain surfaces or that the Rope-Swing can attach to specific hooks. This is the most common reason for a WheelMates missing collectible situation—not that the collectible is actually missing, but that your co-op partner doesn't know how to help you reach it.
Known Issues That Affect Collectible Hunting
The Steam community forums have documented several known issues that can make collectible hunting frustrating. The camera handling is the most reported problem—the camera can get stuck behind environmental objects, making it impossible to see where you're driving. This is especially problematic in tight spaces like the basement crawlspace or the wall vent.
Fatal error crashes have also been reported, and these can reset your progress if you haven't saved recently. The game doesn't have an autosave system in the demo, so you need to manually save at the journal stations scattered around the lab. If you crash after collecting an SD Card but before saving, you'll have to redo the puzzle.
Key rebinding is another issue—the default controls work fine for most players, but if you've rebound your keys, some puzzles become significantly harder. For example, the Rope-Swing requires precise timing, and if your key binding isn't comfortable, you might miss the window to attach to a hook.
Tips for Finding All SD Cards and Memory Cards
If you're determined to find every SD Card and Memory Card on your first playthrough, here are the strategies that worked for the demo testers. First, always explore with both players together—don't split up. The game is designed for two-player cooperative play, and many collectibles require both players to use different gadgets simultaneously.
Second, use the scanner on everything. The scanner reveals hidden SD Cards and Memory Cards that are disguised or hidden behind environmental objects. If you're stuck with a WheelMates missing collectible, go back through each room and scan every surface.
Third, pay attention to the environment for clues. Professor Bloom's lab is decorated with hints about where collectibles are hidden. A stack of boxes that looks out of place probably has an SD Card behind it. A book that's slightly different from the others is probably a Memory Card.
Fourth, use the Remote Play Together feature if you're playing online. This lets you share your screen with a friend who can help you spot collectibles you might have missed. The Friend's Pass system also means your friend doesn't need to own the game to help you hunt.
Collectible Checklist for Full Completion
Here's a complete checklist for the demo version that you can use to track your progress. The full game will have more, but this gives you a solid foundation for understanding the layout. Tracking Memory Cards adds extra context to Professor Bloom's story.
| Area | SD Cards | Memory Cards | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Hall and Foyer | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Main Laboratory Floor | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| Greenhouse and Plant Lab | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Basement Storage | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Total | 12 | 8 | 20 |
If you've collected all 20 and you're still seeing a WheelMates missing collectible error, it might be a bug. The demo had a known issue where the counter didn't update properly after collecting the ceiling fan SD Card. Firevolt Studio has acknowledged this on their Discord server and confirmed it will be fixed for the full release.
What to Expect at Launch
The full game launches on September 1, 2026 on Steam, moved up from the original September 7 date. This is good news for collectors because it means less waiting. The game supports split-screen, online play, Remote Play Together, and the Friend's Pass system, so you have multiple ways to play with a partner.
The Steam Deck is officially supported, which is great for portable collectible hunting. Just be aware that the camera handling issues might be more noticeable on the smaller screen, so you might want to play on a larger display for the more complex puzzles.
The car customization system lets you change your base color and add wheels, antenna, and horn parts. Some of these parts are unlocked by finding all the SD Cards and Memory Cards, so there's a practical reason to hunt them all down.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hardest SD card to find in WheelMates?
The ceiling fan SD Card in the main laboratory floor is universally considered the hardest. It requires one player to use the Rope-Swing to attach to the fan while the other uses Magnetic Wheels to climb the wall and jump onto the blade when it stops. The timing is tight, and the camera handling makes it even harder.
Can you play WheelMates solo and still find all collectibles?
Technically yes, but it's extremely difficult. The game is designed for two-player cooperative play, and many collectibles require simultaneous use of different gadgets. The Friend's Pass system is the best solution—your friend joins for free and helps you hunt. Firevolt Studio confirmed this behavior is consistent across the launch build.
Do SD Cards and Memory Cards count toward the same completion percentage?
No, they're separate categories. You need to collect all SD Cards and all Memory Cards independently to reach 100% completion. The game tracks them separately in the pause menu. Coordinate with your partner before each attempt to maximize success. This applies to both split-screen and online co-op via Friend's Pass and Remote Play Together.
What happens when you collect all SD Cards and Memory Cards?
You unlock special car customization parts, including a golden antenna and a unique horn sound. You also get a special journal entry that hints at a sequel. This tip comes up frequently in the WheelMates community Discord channels. Steam Deck players report identical behavior using the handheld configuration and optimized controls.
Are there any known bugs that prevent collectible collection?
Yes, the demo had a fatal error crash that could reset progress if you hadn't saved. There was also a bug where the counter didn't update after collecting the ceiling fan SD Card. Firevolt Studio has confirmed fixes for both in the full release.....
Closing Thoughts
The collectible guides and gameplay tips mechanics covered in this guide will continue to be relevant as new content releases. This is part of the broader WheelMates knowledge base that we expand as the September 1, 2026 launch approaches. You can also watch video walkthroughs on YouTube from demo testers who documented every collectible location before the demo was pulled. Steam Deck players report identical behavior using the handheld configuration.