As you all know, we have been consistently putting out British Touring Car Championship content over the past year, and we are now bringing that crescendo to its peak as we complete the full 2023 grid with the addition of the Team HARD Cupra Leon into rFactor 2.
The Team HARD squad features 6 fantastic drivers; Dexter Patterson, Bobby Thompson, Jack Butel, Dan Lloyd, Nicolas Hamilton, and Jade Edwards. We are incredibly excited to be bringing all 6 of their beautiful liveries to the rFactor 2 platform, and we think that you will love driving the Cupra Leon! Alongside the addition of the Cupra Leon, we have also added all of the official 2023 British Touring Car Championship liveries into rFactor 2 to mirror the current season and increase the immersion of the highest-level virtual tin-top racing experience.
To read the full blog post, including links to purchase the new content and our full change-log, click here: https://www.studio-397.com/2023/05/btcc-2023-and-cupra-content-drop/
Happy Racing!
rFactor2 Q2 Hotfix Released
We had a number of reports of an issue of an impassable black screen on first start-up for new players. This has now been fixed.
rFactor 2023 Q2 Update and Formula E Gen3 DLC Released
Hello Sim Racers!
We have been chomping at the bit in excitement and anticipation, ready to bring you our Q2 2023 Early Release Update and DLC drop. You may notice that this Q2 drop has slightly less content when compared to previous quarterly drops, but we believe the updates we are bringing are vital to the longevity and continued improvement of the rFactor 2 platform. We have moved this Q2 drop to an earlier date than was once planned to match with fundamental development across many different areas of the platform, such as electric motor systems and the multiplayer experience.
For all of the details on the new ABB FIA Formula E Gen3 car, how to get the most out of it, and the further plethora of updates - read our full blog post through this link: https://www.studio-397.com/2023/04/2023-q2-update-and-dlc-released/
Below is the full changelog and known issues of this Q2 update.
General
Fixed assigned Screenshot button not working in UI in Retail
Fixed Photo Mode depth option not working
Linked Photo Mode Screenshot Format and Depth saving to player.json setting
Removed non functional copy to clipboard screenshot player.json setting
Disallow assigned Screenshot button in Photo Mode
Allowed toggling of showroom background in Retail (via key 1 or via button).
Added player.json setting “showroom background” for default state of rendering background.
Added Sideview UI showroom for taking screenshots of cars for icons.
Fixed UI resolution not setting correctly when switching from Windowed to Borderless in Game.
Fixed crash when changing resolution options in VR
Fixed intermittent crash when installing content
Configuration Application
Updated Config file to save last used resolution and refresh rate rather than an enumeration of the used mode for more consistent handling of game resolution when adapters change.
Setup a VR specific config file. This file will copy from the default file on first run of VR.
Allowed the option to configure multiple files from the config application
Fixed various inconsistencies in config app where by changing adapter or monitor would lose any previous setting changes
Fixed windows version reporting in config app
Updated displaying of PC Specs to show only relevant information in config app
Removed various unused settings from config file
Physics
Ensured that results files / ai report battery state when it’s the primary energy source
Various fixes for battery energy consumption
Graphics
Updated Dashboard Elements Shader to use IBL Setup for better lighting
Added LowLumEmissive shader to replace old Dashboard usage on track assets (Start/Pit Lights etc) and in Car LEDs. The game will auto reassign these.
Updated Cockpit Readout format to allow offsets, to render multiple readouts to the same background
Added Cockpit Readout Icon format, which can render texture to background, with configurable number of elements, and options to change colours or uvw islands based on value, with options for Fuel, Battery, RPM, TC, TCActive, ABS, ABSLocked
Added various extra cockpit readouts: FuelLastLap, FuelFinishAverage, BatteryLastLap, BatteryFinishAverage, CurrentLap, Delta, TCSlip, TCCut, BatteryRegenLevel, ElectricMotorMap
Updated Moddev Tweak Bar displays for new options
Updated method for sharing if a rain light is active over network, to ensure better consistency when it is used to show in the pit lane, battery regen or due to the weather.
Enable rain light when battery is harvesting on throttle. Use CockpitInfo.ini params to configure:
RegenLightRequireThrottle=1/0 (requires higher throttle than brake)
RegenLightMinPowerWatts=15000 (requires 15kw regen to show the light)
AI
Reworked AI throttle behaviour
Less overshooting, more controlled deceleration
Improved acceleration with less wheelspin
Improved corner exits
Eliminated even more sources of oscillation
Improved laptimes for certain vehicles
Pit speed limit won’t be overshot
Stop positions (grid, pit box) will no longer be overshot
Reworked AI reaction to other vehicles (road courses)
AI will now properly slipstream other vehicles
Overtaking occurs if AI can achieve overlap before the next corner, otherwise the AI will save fuel
Multiclass: Faster classes will no longer slow down when trying to overtake slower classes
Multiclass: Faster classes avoid overtaking unless they can get fully past before the apex
Multiclass: Faster classes will attempt to carry more momentum, and lift off early if no overtaking opportunity exists
AI will now be more cautious when other cars are around
AI can now use more of the space following other cars, for proper drafting behaviour
More cautious when yellow flags are ahead or under FCY
Player and other cars will no longer be rear ended unless a sudden unexpected lane change makes a reaction impossible
When cars ahead are in a fight, AI will now set up for an overtake on corner exit
AI won’t hesitate to go 3-wide if the situation allows for it, but will pull out before the next braking zone if an overtake seems too dangerous
Less incident prone with large grids
HUD
Updated Default HUD with multiple options for different element combinations
Added Battery State & Usage options, as well as LEDs for P2P and Battery
Fixed HUD only rendering one gauge correctly
Added Throttle, Brake and Clutch gauge options to HUD
Added ability to change text colour in MFD in HUDs
UI
Added Battery Unit setting (Percent or kW(h))
Fixed multiplayer joining getting triggered again after changing graphics settings and restarting when joining with +connect
Package Management
Server now verifies that connected clients own the content they are using
Modding Map Converter Updates
Now checks for file updates every 500ms.
-f (force all textures to update) command will only run once and exit.
-o (once) command will only run once and exit
DDS files are only copied from source folder on first pass.
Improved output display with more information.
Mod Dev\Scene Viewer
Added extra lighting debug information for fog and direct light direction
Added toggling of shadow groups via shadow key (U) in scene viewer.
Only allow one instance of the Scene Viewer to be open at a time (fixes issues with accessing Material Editor when previous instance doesn’t exit for some reason).
Added missing Limit Path option to Static Cameras in Camera Editor
Material Editor Updates
Added ability to set blend modes per material
Added ability to set texture options for chroma and no detail reduction.
Known issues
AI will fail to line up for FCY
Formation lap speeds are capped too low, so if the grid gets pulled too far apart, the back will fail to catch up in time
AI aren’t particularly good at evading cars parked on track and will slow down considerably, sometimes just lining up behind them
AI behaves badly when there is a large performance delta between cars
Auto Shifting on the FE Gen 3 will not shift out of neutral
We hope you have a lovely rest of your week! John
Main Game: 10989730 Dedicated: 10989737
rFactor 2 Q1 2023 Hotfix #2
Main Build ID: 10664585 Dedi Build ID: 10664583
General: Fixed not being able to pit when no boundary is set on the pitlane.
Track Limits: Disable pit lane detection when no boundary is set on the track.
Track Limits: Fixed some cases of not penalizing an illegal pit exit.
Graphics: Fixed IBL Water Shader not rendering in Specular Mappers
Fixed blurry cameras when shadows are disabled
Fixed missing audio samples in moddev
Competition System: You can now sign up to a competition if you own at least one paid car and track used in the competition, or if the competition uses a free car and track.
Competition System: Replaced “open cart” button with a button that will take you to the UI store basket page for any content you may need to purchase.
UI: Added “install missing content” button on server join error page. This will install missing/uninstalled store content.
Q1 2023 Update, Honda and Long Beach Now Available!
Hello sim racing fans!
The day you have all been patiently waiting for is now upon us - that's right, the Q1 2023 update and content drop is here and ready to go in rFactor 2!
Find out everything you need to know over on the Studio 397 website, here: https://www.studio-397.com/2023/02/q1-2023-update-and-dlc-released/
GT Challenge Returns!
Hello sim racers,
GT Challenge returns with qualification open for the new series from today.
Find out all the details you need to know on the link, here: https://www.studio-397.com/2023/02/announcing-gt-challenge-2023/
Announcing Photo Mode and Cinematics Updates
Hello sim racers.
The final announcement of Q1 2023 is here - Photo Mode and Cinematics Upgrades.
Check out all the details on the Studio 397 website, link here: https://www.studio-397.com/2023/02/announcing-photo-mode-and-cinematics-upgrades/
Announcing BTCC Hybrid Boost
Hello sim racers,
Read up on everything you need to know about the new BTCC specific Hybrid Boost feature coming to rFactor 2 this February 21st - check out the Studio 397 website for full details, here: https://www.studio-397.com/2023/02/announcing-btcc-hybrid-boost/
Announcing Honda Civic Type R BTCC
Hello sim racers,
Our next content announcement for the 2023 Q1 rFactor 2 update and DLC release is here...
... please give a warm rFactor 2 welcome to the BTCC Honda Civic!
Full details can be found on the Studio 397 website, linked here: https://www.studio-397.com/2023/02/announcing-honda-civic-type-r-btcc/
Race Against Unowned Content - Coming February 21st
Hello sim racers,
The upcoming Q1 2023 update for rFactor 2 is set to introduce the new 'race against unowned content' update to the simulation.
If you haven't yet had chance to try this in our current Release Candidate build, read up on what to expect on the Studio 397 website, here; https://www.studio-397.com/2023/02/announcing-race-against-unowned-content/
