iRacing Acquires Orontes Games

iRacing Acquires Orontes 01.jpg
iRacing has acquired racing game developer Orontes, creator of the DRAG Early Access title.

Steam Early Access title DRAG didn't break the internet when it was made available to the public last year, but the team behind it has done enough to gain the attention of the biggest name in online sim racing.

iRacing announced the acquisition of DRAG developer Orontes Games. Christian Folkers and Thorsten Folkers are the lead developers of the DRAG title, and iRacing saw "a team with tremendous potential to help."

For those who've yet to try DRAG, the name of the title is not a reference to racing opponents in a straight line. Rather, the title allows racers to charge a boost while in an opponent's slipstream, then surge ahead with extra power once the boost is ready.

DRAG is an off-road racing title featuring fictional cars on fictional tracks. Much of the focus of the Orontes team has been on the vehicle physics, which produce a complex suspension system and a soft body capable of taking realistic damage.

While iRacing and DRAG may seem an unlikely pairing on paper, no doubt the knowledge and application of physics in DRAG is what caught iRacing's attention, and could enhance car realism in iRacing in the future.

What are your thoughts on the acquisition? Have you tried DRAG or the free demo on Steam? Let us know in the comments below.
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About author
Mike Smith
Mike Smith
I have been obsessed with sim racing and racing games since the 1980's. My first taste of live auto racing was in 1988, and I couldn't get enough ever since. Lead writer for RaceDepartment, and owner of SimRacing604 and its YouTube channel. Favourite sims include Assetto Corsa Competizione, Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2, Automobilista 2, DiRT Rally 2 - On Twitter as @simracing604

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Comments

Wayne Hutchison
pai said:
How in hell is everybody missing the big elephant in the room? This deal means iRacing gets their hands on a new, highly advanced physics engine! The move is ON.
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We don't know that this engine is "highly advanced". From playing Drag, it doesn't feel much different than some higher end sim-cades.
 
S
I think they bought this company to improve the dirt oval physics. Dirt oval racing is very complex and the evolution of wet to dry with grooves of wet and dry developing in a race is key. It seems maybe DRAGs 4 traction patch could solve problems iracing has.
 
Metla
Premium
Ive had my eye on the title for awhile and was hoping it would be developed further, either on the path it was on or by being picked up by a bigger company. Did it ever get wheel support?

Pity that bigger company is the black hole of iracing, But I hope it works out for the lads behind it.
 
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K
David Faraday said:
Why did you buy so much content if you don't like racing online? AI in iracing is relatively new so surely you didn't buy it all since then?
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Because I purchased all content as it came out ! and I just liked driving the cars and tracks! just my stupidity I suppose! BUT they should let you use the content that you purchase free off line if you want to since you payed for it!!
 
K
Dr. Death said:
you knew EXACTLY what you were getting into, iRacing doesn't hide the pay model. People always talk freely about the payment. If you spent 700 bucks in content there's no way you didn't know you had to pay monthly.
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My point is that I paid into this DRAG game as early access !! I DONT want Iracing to hijack this game and make it the same as what they did for Iracing ! a monthly subscription! SO I new what I was getting into this game also!!!
 
BP
Just once I'd like to see an iRacing article on RD that isn't flooded with "but the subscription" comments...none of the other sims provide the online services iRacing does...it's not even close and you can't have it all for free. Also, if you're paying near $20/month for an iRacing subscription, then you're doing it wrong: buy the sub around Black Friday.

There are probably 20+ different sims out there that do offline, stop slagging the only one that focuses primarily on online, competitive racing systems. If AC, ACC, RF2, AMS 1, AMS2, PC1, PC2, R3E, Dirt Rally 1 and 2.0, RBR, GTR2, Race07, GPL, LFS, The countless F1, Forza and Gran Turismo titles, etc etc etc aren't giving you your offline fix, then the problem is you.
 
CreamyCornCob
BP said:
Just once I'd like to see an iRacing article on RD that isn't flooded with "but the subscription" comments...
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OK. Graphics aren't everything but the graphics suck. Unless somethings changed, all I've ever seen is a sim that looks like theres a default washed out gray pp filter applied on every copy.

Is that better? :D
 
K
BP said:
Just once I'd like to see an iRacing article on RD that isn't flooded with "but the subscription" comments...none of the other sims provide the online services iRacing does...it's not even close and you can't have it all for free. Also, if you're paying near $20/month for an iRacing subscription, then you're doing it wrong: buy the sub around Black Friday.

There are probably 20+ different sims out there that do offline, stop slagging the only one that focuses primarily on online, competitive racing systems. If AC, ACC, RF2, AMS 1, AMS2, PC1, PC2, R3E, Dirt Rally 1 and 2.0, RBR, GTR2, Race07, GPL, LFS, The countless F1, Forza and Gran Turismo titles, etc etc etc aren't giving you your offline fix, then the problem is you.
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But thats not the point!!! I have payed the early access for Drag!!! I don't want Iracing to take over and make it subscription !!! I DID NOT PAY for that! I payed fore playing it normally with out monthly payments!!!
 
Kurupt CDN
CreamyCornCob said:
OK. Graphics aren't everything but the graphics suck. Unless somethings changed, all I've ever seen is a sim that looks like theres a default washed out gray pp filter applied on every copy.

Is that better? :D
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Amazing the polar opposite opinions people have :)
When was the last time you played iRacing?
They have added new foliage to new tracks, there's been previews for grass, new lighting, shaders and PBR shaders added.

I bought myself an ultra wide 1440p monitor today as I was getting tired of shitty visuals in VR. I was going through my games setting them up all on high settings and asides from the far scenery and trees on older tracks I liked iracing visuals the best clean, crisp and the performance was amazing.

ACC looked a bit washed out and slightly blurry even with sharpening increased, I'm sure some further tweaking will improve things.
AMS2 shadows and AA were just terrible and the shimmering on fences?
Seems to be several people complaining about those issues on the Reiza forms.
Raceroom.. they have nice trees lol
 
Gevatter
Premium
BP said:
Just once I'd like to see an iRacing article on RD that isn't flooded with "but the subscription" comments
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"Please don't air your grievances with the sim I like."
BP said:
none of the other sims provide the online services iRacing does...it's not even close and you can't have it all for free
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And that's absolutely correct. The infrastructure and management of the online expereince needs cashflow to maintain, and for somebody who wants to race online a lot without joining a league it's probably the best option.

The real problem is that the content that is raced in higher tiers already isn't free and I cannot use it at all once I don't pay the monthly fee anymore. People don't want stuff for free, they just want to keep using the stuff they already spent money on. Maybe iRacing could even attract more people to their service if the content was availalable offline to try out first.
 
V
iRacing clearly didn't grab these dudes for their engine but for their experience. I would not be surprised if absolutely nothing of DRAG makes its way into iRacing. They just want more manpower for things like tire model improvements and rain physics.
 
T
I dont get the argument "people dont have money to pay monthly 13$ for the subscription". First of all there are always several opportunities per year to get at least some % off of that, so if you do it right you won't pay 156$ per year just to play the content you bought the license for. Correct, you dont own the cars and tracks you own a license to play with them. Is this annoying? Hell yeah, but that should be the reason to hate on it, from a general gaming standpoint, not because you "dont have the 13$" because sure you do. Just think about the numerous situations when you stupidly spend this amount of money for way less interesting things or activities. If you love simracing and its a major hobby then this should be no problem for you. If you want to only casually play multiplayer online racing sims then you have basically the same cars and tracks in other racing sims that dont require a monthly subscription and look better on top of that. So just go play in those.
There are several sims in the simracing market with different business models, sure you will find one best suited for you. AC or ACC to me are by far the best value for money and its not like these are terrible sims.
 
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I
In reality you are just paying two subscriptions. One for access and one for content. Just like not being able to drive when the gas money runs out and then the bank repos the car cause you don't have the payments too. More reality is the you don't own it and never will. Birth, death and iRacing.
 
R
K1FF said:
I am angry! I payed int to that game !!! I also have over $700 tide up in Iracing ! And I am pissed off with that ! as They do not let you play the game unless you keep paying a monthly fee !!!! I should be able to use the $700 worh of content that I bought to just play on my rig when I want to! As I don't like racing on line! SO I HOPE they do not go the same way as they did with I racing ! or I want my money back for the DRAG game! NOT HAPPY!!!!!:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:
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yes its a big con least with automobilista you can get cars etc 4 free iracing i wouldnt even go their tbh
 
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O
Its an old game and the nickel & dime + subscription model is trash. I look forward to the time when its playerbase inevitably migrates to a decent one-time cost alternative.

Imo that shouldn't be such a controversial thing to say, but you know how it is. :laugh:
 
Bram Hengeveld
Staff
Premium
th3orist said:
If you want to only casually play multiplayer online racing sims then you have basically the same cars and tracks in other racing sims that dont require a monthly subscription and look better on top of that. So just go play in those.
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You mean where you can play casually on servers that other people pay for each month? There is no free multiplayer experience, in the end it's always somebody who pays the server bill.
 

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