It’s time for another stability-focused update to the official World Rally Championship sim – EA Sports WRC.
Poor old Andreas Mikkelsen. The three-time World Rally Championship round-winner may have secured a part-time return to the top class for 2024, but a trepidatious Rallye Monte-Carlo didn’t exactly instil much confidence.
When it comes to the virtual world, it seems like the Norwegian has also been overlooked – but a new patch for EA SPORTS WRC is set to rectify that today.
Miraculously, the reigning WRC2 champion was missing as an AI driver, so that will be amended. That’s not all, his livery will now have event plates added and the correct driver number. Oops.
Aside from Mikkelsen, there is a long list of improvements for version 1.6.0 which is available across PC, PlayStation and Xbox. The full list is at the bottom of this article, but here are some of the most significant changes.
To that extent, both the Hyundai i20 and Ford Puma will see “improved vehicle performance potential” to better match up to the Toyota Yaris. Hopefully, the online leaderboards will be less GR-dominated.
Four of the small front-wheel drive cars – the Saxo Super 1600, Adam R2, 208 Rally4 and Twingo II – are set to receive a tweak to the in-car RPM read-outs, now claimed to better match the driving experience.
The direct drive unit works with both PC and Xbox and now EA SPORTS WRC will natively support it across both platforms.
The current EA SPORTS WRC survey, launched last week, asks if players would like the feature to edit pacenotes in the future, too. There’s no guarantee of that happening, let’s see if that is a system that comes to fruition at a later date.
The community clubs are said to have also had some bugs zapped, namely punctures not being repaired after shakedown, changing assists despite assists being disabled, incorrect error screens and a UI issue that would display an inaccurate finishing position in the service area.
This time around, stages in Monte Carlo, Japan, Kenya, Portugal and Sweden have been tweaked to “[Address] a number of areas in which frame rate would drop significantly.”
This time around there is no specific mention of stutters, or micro stutters, in the changelog as per previous publications. These can affect some PC users, so let us know in the comments below if this is still an affliction for you.
If so, the development team is currently running a survey, which alongside questions about future content, has open-ended qualitative areas for feedback.
Work to avoid game crashes has also been undertaken, namely when driving on PC at Monte Carlo with Ultra graphics settings, completing Lesson 2 of the Rally School, finishing on the championship podium of a regularity rally and when changing the livery of the WRC2 category Škoda Fabia RS Rally2.
Other tweaks include the removal of six known corner-cutting exploits, the claimed fixing of an issue where your car could fall through the game world and wheel calibration should no longer revert if any individual wheel-related settings are reset to the default.
The version 1.6.0 update is set for launch at 11 am UTC today, 12th March 2024.
As mentioned, the full changelog is below, and last week VR was confirmed as still in development for PC alongside further refinements. Season 4 (Rally Pass and Moments) is set for an April 2024 release.
Poor old Andreas Mikkelsen. The three-time World Rally Championship round-winner may have secured a part-time return to the top class for 2024, but a trepidatious Rallye Monte-Carlo didn’t exactly instil much confidence.
When it comes to the virtual world, it seems like the Norwegian has also been overlooked – but a new patch for EA SPORTS WRC is set to rectify that today.
Miraculously, the reigning WRC2 champion was missing as an AI driver, so that will be amended. That’s not all, his livery will now have event plates added and the correct driver number. Oops.
Aside from Mikkelsen, there is a long list of improvements for version 1.6.0 which is available across PC, PlayStation and Xbox. The full list is at the bottom of this article, but here are some of the most significant changes.
Balance of Performance
While the WRC does not run a BoP formula in the real world, when there are only three cars in the premier Rally1 category, it is perhaps pertinent that the game has all three on an even keel.To that extent, both the Hyundai i20 and Ford Puma will see “improved vehicle performance potential” to better match up to the Toyota Yaris. Hopefully, the online leaderboards will be less GR-dominated.
Four of the small front-wheel drive cars – the Saxo Super 1600, Adam R2, 208 Rally4 and Twingo II – are set to receive a tweak to the in-car RPM read-outs, now claimed to better match the driving experience.
Turtle Beach VelocityOne Wheel support
Launched earlier this year, gaming headset and accessory manufacturer Turtle Beach entered the sim racing scene with a wheel and pedal set – perhaps indicative of the burgeoning scene.The direct drive unit works with both PC and Xbox and now EA SPORTS WRC will natively support it across both platforms.
Co-Driver Calls And Clubs
Further pacenote call refinement will be implemented with this update, focusing on three Croatian stages where some calls would play in the incorrect order: Bliznec, Vrbno and Hartje.The current EA SPORTS WRC survey, launched last week, asks if players would like the feature to edit pacenotes in the future, too. There’s no guarantee of that happening, let’s see if that is a system that comes to fruition at a later date.
The community clubs are said to have also had some bugs zapped, namely punctures not being repaired after shakedown, changing assists despite assists being disabled, incorrect error screens and a UI issue that would display an inaccurate finishing position in the service area.
Frame Rate And Crash Remedies
Work continues to optimise EA SPORTS WRC, the first title by Codemasters to use Unreal Engine.This time around, stages in Monte Carlo, Japan, Kenya, Portugal and Sweden have been tweaked to “[Address] a number of areas in which frame rate would drop significantly.”
This time around there is no specific mention of stutters, or micro stutters, in the changelog as per previous publications. These can affect some PC users, so let us know in the comments below if this is still an affliction for you.
If so, the development team is currently running a survey, which alongside questions about future content, has open-ended qualitative areas for feedback.
Work to avoid game crashes has also been undertaken, namely when driving on PC at Monte Carlo with Ultra graphics settings, completing Lesson 2 of the Rally School, finishing on the championship podium of a regularity rally and when changing the livery of the WRC2 category Škoda Fabia RS Rally2.
Other tweaks include the removal of six known corner-cutting exploits, the claimed fixing of an issue where your car could fall through the game world and wheel calibration should no longer revert if any individual wheel-related settings are reset to the default.
The version 1.6.0 update is set for launch at 11 am UTC today, 12th March 2024.
As mentioned, the full changelog is below, and last week VR was confirmed as still in development for PC alongside further refinements. Season 4 (Rally Pass and Moments) is set for an April 2024 release.
EA SPORTS WRC Update 1.6.0 Changelog
Achievements & Trophies
- Driver’s Alliance – Updated Achievement description, highlighting that players must complete an event, instead of merely starting one.
- Driver’s Alliance – Updated Achievement description ahead of upcoming esports activity, which will be revealed later this year.
AI
- Added Andreas Mikkelsen as an AI driver in Events using WRC2 cars.
Audio
- Made some minor audio improvements to roadside replay cameras.
- Made some minor changes to reverb audio while driving.
- Made some minor changes to surface kickup audio while driving.
Career
- Fixed an issue in which the Benefactor Debrief screen was missing the summary of the most recent activities.
- Fixed an issue in which the Benefactor Relationship status appeared to drop twice after failing a Marquee Target.
Cars
- Citroën Saxo Super 1600 – Addressed an issue in which the in-car RPM was incorrect relative to that experienced while driving.
- Ford Puma Rally1 HYBRID: Improved vehicle performance potential so that the car can more fairly compete against others in its class.
- Hyundai i20 Rally1 HYBRID: Improved vehicle performance potential so that the car can more fairly compete against others in its class.
- Opel Adam R2 – Addressed an issue in which the in-car RPM was incorrect relative to that experienced while driving.
- Peugeot 208 Rally4 – Addressed an issue in which the in-car RPM was incorrect relative to that experienced while driving.
- Renault Twingo II – Addressed an issue in which the in-car RPM was incorrect relative to that experienced while driving.
- Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 (WRC2) – Fixed an issue in which Andreas Mikkelsen’s livery (#10) did not have any event plates applied.
- Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 (WRC2) – Fixed an issue in which Andreas Mikkelsen’s livery (#10) had the incorrect driver number.
Clubs
- Fixed a UI issue in which the player would sometimes appear in 1st place after retiring from an event, while in the Service Area.
- Fixed an issue in which punctures would not get repaired after a Shakedown.
- Fixed an issue in which the Next Stage button would appear after receiving Terminal Damage, causing a Clubs Error.
- Fixed an issue in which the player could change Assist settings while competing in a Club where Assists were disabled.
- Fixed an issue in which the player would see a Clubs Error screen after getting disqualified during a Shakedown.
Co-Driver
- Croatia – Bliznec – Fixed an issue in which some co-driver calls would play in the incorrect order.
- Croatia – Vrbno – Fixed an issue in which some co-driver calls would play in the incorrect order.
- Croatia – Hartje – Fixed an issue in which some co-driver calls would play in the incorrect order.
Graphics & Performance
- Japan – Addressed a number of areas in which framerate would drop significantly.
- Monte Carlo – Addressed a number of areas in which framerate would drop significantly.
- Portugal – Addressed a number of areas in which framerate would drop significantly.
- Sweden – Addressed a number of areas in which framerate would drop significantly.
- Kenya – Addressed a number of areas in which framerate would drop significantly.
Input Devices
- Added support for the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race Wheel & Pedal System on PC (Inputs & Force-Feedback only)
- Added support for the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race Wheel & Pedal System on Xbox (Inputs & Force-Feedback only)
- Fixed an issue in which Wheel Calibration is reset whenever the player selects Reset to Default on any other wheel related screens.
- Fixed an issue in which Degrees of Rotation is set to 0 whenever the player selects Reset to Default on any other wheel related screens.
- Fixed an issue on PlayStation in which the DualSense controller would continue to vibrate after the Vibration & Feedback setting was disabled.
Locations
- Finland – Lahdenkyla – Resolved a corner-cutting exploit.
- Finland – Maahi – Resolved a corner-cutting exploit.
- Monte Carlo – Fixed an issue in which players would not get Terminal Damage after driving off of some cliffside edges.
- Pacifico – Talao – Resolved a corner-cutting exploit.
- Pacifico – SungaiKunit – Resolved a corner-cutting exploit.
- Pacifico – Abai – Resolved a corner-cutting exploit.
Quick Play
- Fixed an issue in Quick Play Multiplayer in which tyre compound information would not be present for players who join mid-session.
UDP & Telemetry
- Added new UDP telemetry field – VehicleId
- Added new UDP telemetry field – VehicleClassId
- Added new UDP telemetry field – VehicleManufacturerId
- Added new UDP telemetry field – LocationId
- Added new UDP telemetry field – RouteId
User Interface & HUD
- Updated a number of staff names and roles in the Credits.
Miscellaneous
- Fixed an issue in which the car would fall through the game world after restarting an Event.
