Today the developers of iRacing released a video showcasing features and improvements, on top of new cars and tracks, coming with Season 2 and beyond.
First of all, we learn that Season 2 will see the release of multiple fully licensed Arca Menard cars to replace the current obsolete model.
The Legends Ford ’34 Coupe is getting revamped with a significant update with the latest physics and art advancements included.
GTP and LMP2 cars are getting a big update including tires and the hybrid system. The former will come in Season 2, and users are advised to reacquaint themselves with the cars in practice before racing because they can be a “handful.” The hybrid system update will instead come in Season 3.
Season 2 will also see the release of Portland International Raceway, which has been recently scanned.
Over 50 artists are currently working on updating older tracks. Bristol, Darlington, Dover, Homestead, Kansas, Vegas, and Iowa are almost finished and many will be shipped in Season 2. Season 3 will get even more, and other categories of tracks will come in further updates.
3D curbing will be “greatly expanded” to many new tracks and the Debris system will come in its second iteration, including local debris cautions.
The connection flag system will automatically flag drivers with insufficient connections and automatically pull them back in the pits until their connection improves.
Adaptive AI will be added alongside a “vastly improved” lighting system and hundreds of additional improvements and fixes.
The video also provides a look at what’s coming beyond Season 2 including the new graphics engine designed to use current tech and hardware with a “performance first” mindset.
It’ll include new shadows, a new sky model, new culling, and more.
The team is also working on an overhaul of tires and a single-player career mode. A feature called AI Championships will come earlier as a stepping stone to the full career mode.
Audio is also being heavily worked on with the first improvement coming being reflections.
On the front of cars and track, the team is close to completing a Chevrolet Monte Carlo and a Ford Taurus. These didn’t make it in time for Season 2 but will be coming soon. Another Ferrari is in the works.
Adelaide Circuit has been scanned and Miami International Autodrome is “progressing nicely” to be released later this year. A deal for Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City has also been signed.
You can check out the video below.
A second video provides more details about the GTP and LMP2 update.
If you’re unfamiliar with iRacing, it’s a subscription-based, esports-focused racing simulation platform on PC considered by many one of the most realistic in the industry. Many professional racing drivers train on its LIDAR-scanned tracks that precisely reproduce their real counterparts.
Another element that makes it attractive as an esports platform is the implementation of racing regulations closely related to real motorsports to create an online esports environment that feels as professional as possible, encouraging clean racing and fair play over winning.
iRacing partners with several real-world racing series and organizations including Nascar, IMSA, the FIA, and many more. Recently, its developers also launched a partnership with Microsoft Research to implement Large Action Models AI in the game.
The company behind iRacing is also publishing the next Nascar game, Nascar 25, coming this fall for PC and consoles.