iRacing Project ExoCross To Release This Autumn


After three years in early access, iRacing is launching a rebranded DRAG Outer Zones this Autumn called ExoCross.

Image Credit: iRacing.com

DRAG Outer Zones is a futuristic off-road racing game that has been in early access on Steam since 2020. Featuring a unique physic model called 4-way contact patch traction technology, it certainly has promise. iRacing saw that promise in 2021 when it bought out the studio developing the title, Orontes Games.

Today, the title is undergoing a rebranding and preparing for release in Autumn of 2023 under a new name, ExoCross. Here's all you need to know about the title coming to PC and consoles this year.

What is ExoCross?​

ExoCross is a new title emerging from the DRAG Outer Zones early access program on Steam. Its unique physics model simulates in great detail the contact a car has with the road using soft-body mechanics. This ties in with the title's niche futuristic off-road art style to make for a seemingly unrivalled experience.

In its current early access form, players can enjoy time trial modes both in the form of single player special events and multiplayer leader board sessions. But upon full release, it will feature full AI functionality enabling players to compete in quick races and full championships. If the team that created iRacing's AI contributed to this title's, it should make for a brilliant racing experience.

Compared to its DRAG Outer Zones version, ExoCross will also implement new vehicle classes and locations making for greater variety. These are all off-road vehicles built in a futuristic style. Scenery and locations seemingly range from Hot Wheels-inspired sky-high circuits to vast country-side mountain passes.

An Autumn release​

It is announced that ExoCross will release in Autumn of 2023. Whether that means early-September or late-November is as yet unknown. What we do know is that the game will release on Steam, replacing the DRAG Outer Zones early access. Those that purchased the early access will get a free upgrade to the full title. But it will also launch on consoles at the same time. As one would expect, the list includes PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S and Series X.

Following on from iRacing's previous standalone release, World of Outlaws: Dirt Racing, we are excited about this new game. The early access provides a good base whilst iRacing's involvement later on in development can only improve the title.

What do you make of ExoCross?
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Reactions: jonelsorel, fatal, RiddleTime and 3 others
About author
Angus Martin
Angus Martin
Motorsport gets my blood pumping more than anything else. Be it physical or virtual, I'm down to bang doors.

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Comments

Kurupt CDN
Interesting, but not really my cup of tea.

Hopefully, we will see some of the tech from the studios iRacing purchased during COVID, make it into iRacing.
 
Metla
Premium
Assuming it doesn't have VR I'll buy it for the console if it shows up cheap enough.

Though based on previous titles by these guys, I don't have great hopes for a consumer orientated experience.
 
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RiddleTime
BrunoBæ said:
Am I wrong interpreting the text as this game will only be single player?
I admit I havent checked if Drag has a MP part.:whistling:
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DRAG has got a multiplayer which I reckon they will include/improve in ExoCross as well. The developers used to run multiplayer sessions with the community for a long time.
 
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T
I was wondering what happened to this project. I have tried it and the physics were pretty good. A Rally game using these physics would have been a lot of fun.
 
D
Was thinking where I saw that already, of course, Grip.
 
BP
John B. Ellis said:
Might want to pick up DRAG in Early Access before iRacing adopts a subscription pricing model.
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This has been out since Fall of last year and uses a standard pricing model. Seems well received too...no reason why that game or DRAG would become a sub. Plus iRacing was always sub from day 1 AFAIK...not a bait n switch.
 
U
I just tried the demo and I really don't get the strange physics. The game has wheel support and force feedback but you can't feel what the car is doing at all.

The rear wheels feel like they're glued to the track, no drifts possible, no lift off oversteer, no power oversteer, etc while the front has massive understeer.

Then sometimes the car suddenly snaps but you don't know why and you can't save it with counter steering or throttle input, because it's already to late and the FFB is too slow and has too much dampening to react.

It feels like I'm always behind with my steering inputs.
 
RiddleTime
UnixRoot said:
I just tried the demo and I really don't get the strange physics. The game has wheel support and force feedback but you can't feel what the car is doing at all.

The rear wheels feel like they're glued to the track, no drifts possible, no lift off oversteer, no power oversteer, etc while the front has massive understeer.

Then sometimes the car suddenly snaps but you don't know why and you can't save it with counter steering or throttle input, because it's already to late and the FFB is too slow and has too much dampening to react.

It feels like I'm always behind with my steering inputs.
Click to expand...
I have run a world record with a wheel and what you are describing sounds like you have the steering assists enabled. That world record isn't possible without drifting and power oversteer.
 
U
RiddleTime said:
I have run a world record with a wheel and what you are describing sounds like you have the steering assists enabled. That world record isn't possible without drifting and power oversteer.
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My test was without any assists. Did you do your world record within the demo version or do you have the early access version? Maybe the demo isn't on par with the full game.

I can't really describe what's wrong with the game, but it feels like I'm always behind with the steering inputs. Almost like with massive input lag, but it's something different.

I can't drift or counter steer. The car is like glued to the track and then suddenly it looses traction in a fraction of a second, without any feel on the wheel and no time to react with counter steering etc.
 
RiddleTime
UnixRoot said:
My test was without any assists. Did you do your world record within the demo version or do you have the early access version? Maybe the demo isn't on par with the full game.

I can't really describe what's wrong with the game, but it feels like I'm always behind with the steering inputs. Almost like with massive input lag, but it's something different.

I can't drift or counter steer. The car is like glued to the track and then suddenly it looses traction in a fraction of a second, without any feel on the wheel and no time to react with counter steering etc.
Click to expand...
A-3 is not in the demo version.

Again what you experience is not what I experience, tried both a g27 and a t300 which both supplied ffb that allowed me to countersteer and control the car.
 
U
RiddleTime said:
A-3 is not in the demo version.

Again what you experience is not what I experience, tried both a g27 and a t300 which both supplied ffb that allowed me to countersteer and control the car.
Click to expand...
I get force feedback too but it's really dampened and slow. When I feel the car is loosing grip, it's already to late to counter steer.

That's with a a T500 on the demo version of the game. Maybe I should buy the EA version.
 
U
I just bought the full version and refunded it after 40 minutes. It's the same as in the demo version. The cars understeer like crazy, and then they suddenly snap oversteer in the opposite direction. The FFB oscillates from left to right in a few milliseconds and I'm spinning out. Undrivable.

Edit, I think it's the force feedback, not the physics. Every small jolt in the FFB unsettles the car and when you try to counter steer, it snaps in the opposite direction so fast, you can't react
 
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flykas
Idk, it seems to have some kind of simish handling and thats cool, but whats the point of these buggies on such roads? Doesn't seem to bring anything new
 
BrunoBæ
UnixRoot said:
Edit, I think it's the force feedback, not the physics. Every small jolt in the FFB unsettles the car and when you try to counter steer, it snaps in the opposite direction so fast, you can't react
Click to expand...
How about checking it out with FFB force set to zero?
Should be easy to check - me think :)
 
TheRealCeeBee
UnixRoot said:
The car is like glued to the track and then suddenly it looses traction in a fraction of a second, without any feel on the wheel and no time to react with counter steering etc.
Click to expand...
BrunoBæ said:
Are we talking about iRacing here?:roflmao:
Click to expand...

UnixRoot said:
The cars understeer like crazy, and then they suddenly snap oversteer in the opposite direction. The FFB oscillates from left to right in a few milliseconds and I'm spinning out. Undrivable.
Every small jolt in the FFB unsettles the car and when you try to counter steer, it snaps in the opposite direction so fast, you can't react
Click to expand...

I see why IRenting bought it, the code is already the same as their engine.
 

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What's needed for simracing in 2024?

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