The Racing Game Updates You Need To Know About

There is a ton of new content arriving in October. Studios will continue pumping out new cars, tracks and challenges before the holiday season to keep us from forgetting about them while all the newest games hit the shelf.

rFactor 2

Originally, rFactor 2 was only available through the developer’s website, but a new announcement shows the Steam release is coming soon. Existing accounts will be able to migrate all their saved information. The decision to bring the sim racer to Steam was based on the ease of updating the software, the Steam Workshops and the insanely popular Steam communities. Teaser photos from the new Joesville Speedway hit social media in early October, and the team promised to continue its work updating existing tracks. The historic Monte Carlo 1966 circuit received a much needed facelift. It is one of the first tracks included in rFactor 2, and it is now up to date with the rest. Brookdale Speedway was also improved, but many more fixes are on the way.

The Crew

The biggest update for The Crew has been the open beta enrolment for the ‘Wild Run’ DLC. You will now be able to race dragsters, drifters, monster trucks and motorcycles. New areas are coming with the expansion. These will serve as a playground for the monster trucks with plenty of jumps and ramps. The base game has also been updated with a new dynamic weather system, improved graphics and a new area called ‘The Summit’. In this space, players will be able to receive special challenges and engage other players in a race.

Behind the scenes, The Crew takes on even more changes. The development studio, Ivory Tower, had worked closely with Ubisoft to build the game. After realising they were a perfect match (and I assume offering a substantial amount of money), Ubisoft has acquired Ivory Tower. This is a sure sign that Ubisoft plans on keeping racing games alive.

Project CARS

While Project CARS 2 is already in the works, nobody has forgotten the original. PC Patch 5.0, the biggest update so far, just hit with loads of improvements. Now, online races do not suddenly end if the host is disqualified, tyre choices during pit stops are not abandoned and fixed setup races are actually fixed (so that players who want to cheat can not alter their setups in a certain way that would break the race rules).

The AI is now able to drive better on high banking and less likely to hit pit walls when leaving the garage area (although it was funny to watch). There are also specific improvements to the Logitech G29/G920 integration. So, if you were having problems with the new wheels before, it’s time to give it another try. The most exciting news from Project CARS, though, is the recent teaser with preview photos of some hot Japanese cars. From what we saw, you can count on the Toyota GT-86, the Toyota TS040 LMP1, the Scion FR-S and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX to hit the game soon.

Assetto Corsa

The new Assetto Corsa patch 1.3 fixes gearbox limit issues, updates tyre models and updates AI driving behaviour. Nothing too special about the update, but the Dream Pack 2 DLC will get us excited again. This new add-on includes the Circuit de Catalunya and a handful of new cars:

• Audi R8 LMS Ultra
• BMW M4 Coupe/BMW M4 Coupe Akrapovic Edition
• Ford GT40 (Mk1)
• Lamborghini Countach 5000 Quattro Valvole
• Lamborghini Huracan GT3
• RUF RT12R (AWD)/RUD RT12R (RWD)
• Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus SCG003

WRC 5 hit the market recently in just a few countries, but went worldwide last week on PS3, PS4, PS Vita, PC, Xbox 360 and Xbox One. Get your practice in now, because beginning in January 2016, WRC 5 will be the first game to hold a global eSports Championship. It will run alongside the real WRC 2016 season, matching each race. More details on the prizes up for grabs will be released as the season nears.

RaceRoom Racing Experience

R3E is business as usual with new content added every month. The latest announcements out of Sector3 Studios tell us that the Bentley Continental GT3 is coming soon, and new preview photos hit last week of the upcoming 2015 Audi TT Cup car.

Gran Turismo 6

Thank you, Polyphony Digital, for the newest GT6 addition. Now, players can make their own tracks using an Apple or a Google tablet. Starting with four basic locations, players can change the shape and width of the track, place objects alongside the track and adjust the banking of corners.

Finally, iRacing is bringing the Nürburgring Nordschleife where it belongs! The project has a long way to go in order to complete the background and trackside objects, but the work on the track surface and barriers is almost done.

Developers have promised an unveiling in November. A preview of the work in progress is a good enough reason to get hyped for this long awaited track.

DiRT Rally

DiRT Rally’s newest content, Update 0.8, brings with it some high flying action in the form of 12 new stages set in Jämsä, Finland. The new area will have you catching some air as you zoom over all the hills in a rather exhilarating challenge. The update also includes the 2001 Subaru Impreza and Ford Focus.

Forza Motorsport 6

Two big additions to Forza 6 hit this month. First, the update brought the fantastic new 2015 Infiniti Q60 Concept into the game. Don’t think for a second that it compares to the standard factory version. This thing is insane. Turn 10 Studios also improved the game with improved cockpit views and an overhauled AI system to take care of those nasty bugs. The second big addition is the Logitech G Car Pack. Available as an add-on, the Logitech G Car Pack includes an odd variety of cars to the game:

• 2013 Caparo T1
• 1939 Mercedes-Benz W154
• 1994 Nissan #75 Cunningham Racing 300ZX
• 2014 Toyota #12 Rebellion Racing R-One
• 1967 Honda RA300
• 1967 Volvo 123GT
• 2013 Cadillac XTS Limousine

Sébastien Loeb Rally Evo

Sébastien Loeb Rally Evo was originally scheduled to release by the end of the year, but the studio pushed back the date to give it some finishing touches. In the meantime, new preview photos show that players will be able to race through different decades of rally history in both traditional rally settings and a rally cross scene.