Rennsport Closed Beta Update 1.8.0 Out Now, Keys Landing

Rennsport Closed Beta Update 1.8.0 Out Now, Keys Landing.jpg
Further closed beta keys for embryonic simulator Rennsport are said to be on the way to recipients today, meanwhile a new platform update adds fresh features.

After a period of relative silence, nascent sim racing platform Rennsport has started its 2024 roadmap with a new update.

Released today, 27th March 2024, it adds new features and content ahead of what could be more significant changes later in the year.

New Car, Track and Game Mode​

The Goodwood Festival of Speed hillclimb and the electric Porsche Mission R are now in the closed beta.

Both were previewed, in a playable state, at Rennsport’s first summit event way back in 2022, so it is perhaps surprising that (from the outside looking in) it has taken this long before their appearance.

The Mission R is seen in titles such as iRacing and Forza Motorsport and sends 1,088 PS to the road via all-wheel drive.

Fitting with the hillclimb theme, the ability to compete in time trial events, with ghosts and online leaderboards, has been added – although it is not restricted to the British venue.

Porsche Mission R Rennspot.jpg

Day/Night Cycles​

While rain, or dynamic weather, remains an omission, being able to race in the dark is now possible – albeit only at one venue for now, Spa-Francorchamps.

Cloud formations are said to move across the sky, seemingly affecting shadows on the track. Night races at Spa will be the first test sessions for the new feature.

Rennsport Night Racing.jpg

Key Drops​

For those still on the Rennsport Closed Beta key request list, this week may be your lucky week, as a new batch is set to be released.

Rennsport claims that it will launch 2,500 keys every Thursday onwards, starting from 4th April 2024.

Just like it was for existing users, this is redeemed via the Epic Games Store.

Rennsport Time Trial.jpg

The Year Ahead​

The ability to lock the horizon is now also possible and the full changelog is below.

When the Competition Company announced its 2024 roadmap last week, it broke the year down into four quarters. Today’s ‘Time Trial’ update marks the beginning of this programme, with Q1 complete for now.

The next major update is set for some time within Q2 and will see GT4 cars and McLaren for the first time amongst other features, with the updates across the year said to be building up to ‘endurance racing’.

In theory, it’s not too unreasonable to expect pitstops, tyre wear, multiple compounds, changeable weather conditions and fuel management within a longer race – let’s see.

The new additions are listed below, plus the full changelog is published soon.

Have you received a key this week? Or are you still waiting? Let us know in the comments or on X, @OverTake_GG.

Rennsport 1.8.0 Additions​

  • Porsche Mission R
  • Goodwood Hillclimb
  • Time Trials
  • Night and Day Cycle
  • Lock to Horizon

Rennsport 1.8.0 Changelog​


New Content
  • Added Track: Goodwood Hillclimb
  • Added Car: Porsche Mission R

New Features
  • Implemented Time Trial mode
  • Added day-night cycle system for Spa-Francorchamps track. (More tracks featuring full night time coming with future updates)
  • Implemented proper car lights for all available cars
  • Implemented car brakes heating visuals on brake discs
  • Implemented tire deformation and wear visuals
  • Implemented lock to horizon feature
  • Integrated Intel XeSS upscaling technology
  • Integrated Nvidia Reflex technology
  • Integrated Nvidia Frame Generation technology
General
  • Upgraded Unreal Engine from v.5.1.0 to v.5.3.2
  • Updated Nvidia DLSS to v.3.5
  • Improved overall game CPU performance and scaling with increasing number of cars on track
  • Improved frame rate stability for smoother experience
  • Improved server performance
  • Removed an option to set mirrors FPS
  • Added a possibility to change an email address assigned to account in the player profile page
  • Added Sharpness setting in Video Settings
Cars
  • All cars have had their shift lights corrected
  • All cars now have more drag
BMW M4 GT3
  • Corrected aero balance
Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)
  • Corrected top end torque
Physics
  • Using telemetry output will no longer affect CPU performance
  • Improved GT3 tires behavior
More consistent gripReworked slip curveBetter tire cooling (Tires now last longer)The changes to the GT3 tires are part of a larger rework coming in a future update.Gameplay
  • Added possibility to perform actions during a locked-input countdown procedure
It is now possible to change TC, BB and ABS while waiting for countdown
  • Implemented in-game pause when player enters in-game menu in single player mode
  • Implemented pit lane lights
  • Improved wheel blur visual quality
SFX
  • Implemented tire lock up sounds for all cars
Input
  • Added a system to detect your hardware and match it with an existing default preset
  • Updated provided wheel presets
Fanatec Podium DD1
Fanatec Podium DD2
Fanatec CS DD
Fanatec CS DD+
Fanatec CSL DD
Gamepad Preset
Logitech G29
Moza R5
Moza R9
Simucube 2.0 Pro
Thrustmaster T300RS

UI
  • Added possibility to select favorite cameras in spectator mode
  • Added a possibility to set transparency for some modules in HUD layout editor
  • Added device-based button display on game UI
  • Updated splash screen
Bug Fixes
  • Fixed some problems with game servers sometimes not starting because of timeouts
  • Fixed problem with direct input wheel presets detection not working on game boot
  • Fixed some problems with car dashboards displaying invalid values in some cases
  • Fixed some problems occurring when using scrubbing functionality while in replays or live spectator mode
  • Fixed problems with replays not being saved correctly if contest name contains Windows-prohibited characters in its name
  • Fixed problem with on-track marshals sometimes not waving flags correctly
  • Fixed a problem with steering wheel rotation not being correctly replicated while spectating in certain scenarios
  • Fixed some problems with players being penalized for no reason during a rolling start procedure
  • Fixed some penalties-related bugs occurring when player enters or exits pit lane
  • Fixed some problems with ghost visibility when spectating ESL R1-like qualifications
  • Fixed problems with caching filters in quick session settings which led to new cars being hidden after a game update
  • Fixed some problems with holding buttons in menus leading to unexpected behavior
  • Fixed problem with cars in garage sometimes being flipped on their roofs
  • Fixed problem with losing UI focus in some cases
  • Fixed problem with “choppy” impression when looking at credits screen scroll animation
  • Added missing default controller bindings for garage view
  • Fixed a problem with car not being spawned for DNF:ed / DSQ:ed players if they disconnect and reconnect a server
  • Fixed a few typos in the UI
  • Fixed grass being too slippery
Known Issues
  • Disabling the pit limiter as soon as the Pit Lane message disappears will result in a penalty due to a desync between the message and the detection point. Wait 1-2s after the UI message disappears to disable the pit limiter
  • Ghost car does not move in Time Trial Replays
  • Shadow textures in Time Trial occasionally do not load correctly. Resetting Time Trial resolves the issue
  • “End on Crossing Finish Line” message will trigger when anyone goes back to pit during Race or Quali. This is only a UI issue, the race stage won’t actually end on crossing the finish line until all cars on track are finished
  • In online races, if a car crashes at very high speeds into a wall, it can cause a mini-freeze for all connected clients
  • Reversing with the Porsche Mission R will recharge the battery
  • Getting a black flag in Time Trial will soft lock the player. You have to leave the Time Trial and go back to the Main Menu
  • Updating your profile name will not update your name in any Time Trial leaderboards unless a faster time is set with the new name
  • EV has wrong TC sound, fix in future patch
About author
Thomas Harrison-Lord
A freelance sim racing, motorsport and automotive journalist. Credits include Autosport Magazine, Motorsport.com, RaceDepartment, Overtake, Traxion and TheSixthAxis.

Comments

I got key few days ago and I didn't liked driving in it at all
this engine isn't good for racing games, some of the issues that ACC has are also present here but other things are even worse so long road ahead to make it work and feel good
I'm happy that at the end Kunos turned out to be smart and decided to not base AC2 on Unreal
 
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I got key few days ago and I didn't liked driving in it at all
this engine isn't good for racing games, some of the issues that ACC has are also present here but other things are even worse so long road ahead to make it work and feel good
I'm happy that at the end Kunos turned out to be smart and decided to not base AC2 on Unreal
EA WRC proves to me, that UE5 isn't a problem. Framerates and visuals are decent and certainly better compare to what a small company can come up with on their own. The visuals in Rennsport are also not a problem, but engine sounds, physics, lack of AI, VR, and telemetry output for tactile feedback and motion for example.
 
If they need testers they should go open beta...this way they just look incompetent...how many years passed since announcement?
Looking at comments on internet it seems like a game is in alpha state...how many people work on this game? One or two? You would think they are creating their own game and physics engine....in any case...does it matter anymore? Is this already failed product?
 
This project is hard to take seriously, after all this time this update brings “possibility to race in the dark and lock to horizon”. Really?
Please, keep your closed beta keys, we have so many great options available already and so little time.
Wake me up when you have a competitive 2024 offering, I might take a look at it.
 
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This project is hard to take seriously, after all this time this update brings “possibility to race in the dark and lock to horizon”. Really?
Please, keep your closed beta keys, we have so many great options available already and so little time.
Wake me up when you have a competitive 2024 offering, I might take a look at it.
> it’s not too unreasonable to expect pitstops, tyre wear
:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:
 
This project is hard to take seriously, after all this time this update brings “possibility to race in the dark and lock to horizon”. Really?
Please, keep your closed beta keys, we have so many great options available already and so little time.
Wake me up when you have a competitive 2024 offering, I might take a look at it.
I wonder who's funding the development of this sim? After all this time, still no commercial release, how do they manage to meet payroll?
 
Premium
Compared to the first iterations it's improving... but still feels 'cardboardy' when driving. I don't know how else to describe it. Perhaps it's because I have a T818 and they don't have support for this wheelbase... I had to tweak it after each update so it was not fun keeping up... I parked Rennsport for the time being... as early-access, I find LMU much more enjoyable.
 
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Worst performing title that I've tested until now in UEVR. Unplayable and horrible gfx in VR. I dont think that its ever going to work well.
 
I was really hyped for this title but the Esports direction ,lack of VR...(Don't underestimate the Power of VR) and general lack of updates/content killed the hype for me.

Then,
iracing rain update, AMS2 updates, 397 gave birth to Le Mans...
Now we got options.

Was hoping this will be the iracing killer....
 
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EA WRC proves to me, that UE5 isn't a problem. Framerates and visuals are decent and certainly better compare to what a small company can come up with on their own. The visuals in Rennsport are also not a problem, but engine sounds, physics, lack of AI, VR, and telemetry output for tactile feedback and motion for example.
What UE5? Not the one in WRC... and not that UE4 in WRC is any good for performance as well.
 
This project is hard to take seriously, after all this time this update brings “possibility to race in the dark and lock to horizon”. Really?
Please, keep your closed beta keys, we have so many great options available already and so little time.
Wake me up when you have a competitive 2024 offering, I might take a look at it.


I swear to god I didn't want to write anything. But how can I stop myself after I read such comment.

In case you don't understand,

A sim won't threaten your "many great options available already". You are safe as long as you at stay home racing in a simulator and wearing your seat belt.

Keep feeling fast by doing and repeating the same thing no one will stop you. But why would you stop a developer or tell them to keep their keys to themselves?

The reality of the matter is that, sim racing is in my opinion the slowest evolving hobby I have ever been into. Just look at iRacing being almost the same sim for the last 20 years. Everytime I come back to it I find the same engine limitations unsolved.

The reason to the stale situation of our hobby is mainly the gate-keepers. They absolutely destroy anyone who tries to give them anything. It's like hating on a full-blown Tesla because the windows keep stopping to work and swearing by your donkey just because you've had it for long and it's better than all "the neighbors donkeys".

The smart people understood this fact and left sim racing development. Also the rich studios stuck to arcade games and disregarded serious physics simulation because they understood the market.

Advancements never happen with a mentality like this, (ie. scaring away everyone who is trying to help you).
 
What UE5? Not the one in WRC... and not that UE4 in WRC is any good for performance as well.
Whatever, I get 160 fps almost everywhere in WRC on ultra (4080, 13600k, Samsung G9), which I find good enough. Rennsport has many problems, but graphics isn't really one of it in comparison, even I only get 85 fps on epic. LMU looks and runs better, but it's released already, even if it's just in Early Access.

The worst issue in Rennsport is IMO: there are no tyre sounds in this game while braking or during corners indicating grip levels. Absolute non existent with a FFB as 'informative' as iRacing, so the only feedback are the visuals while iRacing 'talks' at least with it's tyre-sounds. The Porsche GT3 sound is improved, but the AMG sounds horrible and not even like a car. I've also tried the Mission R, which was the only one I could feel a bit from it's FFB, but the missing tyre sounds are even more obvious without engine sounds. I also miss any form of shift feedback and feels more like pure audio changes without any engine brake or changes in torque depending on the revs. Throttle and brake doesn't give me any form of challenge and feels like it's just about steering and keeping lines while the pedals can be used like on/off-switches. Even in practice mode it resets the tyres every lap like in a hotlap mode, so no idea how they might change or how to deactivate this.
 
EA WRC proves to me, that UE5 isn't a problem. Framerates and visuals are decent and certainly better compare to what a small company can come up with on their own. The visuals in Rennsport are also not a problem, but engine sounds, physics, lack of AI, VR, and telemetry output for tactile feedback and motion for example.
Really? Strange as EA WRC is UE4.
 

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