rFactor 2 | April Release Candidate Brings Fixes to Sound and Wet Weather


A new release candidate is available for rFactor 2 via Steam which previews a long list of upcoming changes to the title, including improved sounds, engine and brake cooling and shift protection for select open-wheelers, and improvements to wet weather driving.

For those looking to preview what will be coming to rFactor 2 in the coming months, a new release candidate build is now live.

The preview build brings a long list of changes to the title, highlighted by global improvements to the in-game sound engine and the wet weather experience.

Studio 397 notes that the changes to the sound engine will immediately be applied to all cars, but specific improvements will be applied in time to certain cars.

There are also physics improvements available with this build, but they currently only apply to the Dallara IR-18 and Formula Pro vehicles, and these updated cars can be found temporarily in the "TEST" category from the vehicle selection screen. Each has received a new shift protection feature, along with improved engine and brake cooling physics.

Racing in the rain will also be an improved experience in rFactor 2, as the S397 team has enhanced how the rain accumulates and evaporates, as well as how AI cars deal with adverse track conditions.

The full list of changes available in the new test build can be found on the next page and in rFactor 2's blog, along with how to opt into release candidates via Steam. Let us know your thoughts on this build, or anything else rFactor 2 related, 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

J
R.Man said:
-replace the "miyor miyor sound" when adjusting the mirror and add a proper mirror adjsutment app or UI if possible
Click to expand...

Yes please.
As an enthusiast of rFactor 2 in VR, I want they to put some love into this.

I edited the Player.JSON file to view the parts of my car in the rear view mirror and improve immersion:

""Self In Rearview":"*",
"Self In Rearview#":"Empty for nothing, * for everything, otherwise list comma-delimited instances you want _removed_",

And it turned out to be a joke.
The reflection image appears to come from the nose of the car and you can see the back of the mirror in the reflection itself. It's crazy. Also, when I brake, the mirror image freezes until I release it.
If they don't know how to deal with it, just run the Live For Speed demo in VR to see what it should look like.
 
2stains
Need more cars updated to the new sounds! Having just the 2 in test cars means much work ahead. Also, who new to use test cars? Must have missed that in the notes, lol
 
2stains
Just2Laps said:
Shifting is not possible on Formula Pro and Dallara IR18 in the release candidate, no matter if I swicth to automatic or manual transmission
Click to expand...
You need to use the test car it seems. Test car has the updated audio and gearbox actually works

rF2 is actually amazing if you fire up Sebring in the Porsche Cup at the right time of day, it looks real, so so nice to drive and really give the feeling of being at the track.
 
D
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D
eg01st said:
My first impressions after 30 minutes of trying were bad. Car engine sound was set to 25% by default and it got lost in other noises around. Simple fix.
But AI clearly needs work, or there is another setting that needs to be changed. 1st race with mod F1 cars was ok, bet then 6 tries in a row on Spa and Silverstone AI would just stay on grid with engines off. Several restarts each time, 2 different car classes. Official content.

Turned it off. See you in a few months when this is fixed.
Click to expand...
fixed already. IT was a fuel issue or LACK of fuel. But the RC isn't so much for racing, it is for testing specific features, like the new sound on the ORECA 07 only in the test folder and the various changes being included with the rFPro & Indycar IR18. Again ONLY those 3 cars ONLY found in the test folder. If you want full fields, get out of the Release Candidate & only use the regular install found by choosing NONE in the beta tab.
 
R.Man
davehenrie said:
yes, but PEOPLE, this is a RELEASE CANDIDATE ONLY update. ANd you all should know which cars to use since they wrote it all out for you in the web article. If not, you know it now...Release Candidate ONLY. Only 3 cars which are in the TEST folder, of which only 1 has the full sound balancing, the Oreca 07.
Click to expand...
No wonder why people included me didn't find those cars and couldn't test the new sound system, they are locked behind a paywall...The realease candidate should simply not be available for those who don't have those DLC .
The Rfactor 2 "BUT" strategy continues.
- best content "but" only DLC
- new sound system "but" only DLC
- best tracks "but" only DLC
- best esport competitions "but" only DLC
- etc...
 
makan
R.Man said:
No wonder why people included me didn't find those cars and couldn't test the new sound system, they are locked behind a paywall...The realease candidate should simply not be available for those who don't have those DLC .
Click to expand...
Or you can stay out of beta, ignor RC and wait for the full release.
It's nonsense.
The Rfactor 2 "BUT" strategy continues.
- best content "but" only DLC
Click to expand...
After 397 joined the party, they released multiple free contents (Cars and tracks).
Should i list them for you?
Stock Cars
Multiple tatuus cars.
Classic Mclaren F1 cars like Mp4/13 , MP4-8 ,...
etc...
BMW M4 Class 1 with the newest tire model was the latest.
- new sound system "but" only DLC
Click to expand...
Again, wait for the full release, this works takes time bro.
- best tracks "but" only DLC
Click to expand...
Free tracks like zandvoort, limerock ,Botniaring,Portland and... says hello!
You are telling me these free cars/tracks have lower quality than paid dlcs?
- best esport competitions "but" only DLC
Click to expand...
You can join the competition system and race there for free.
RF2's rookie races are all non-DLC contents.
=====
On the other hand, wich studio releases licensed dlcs for free?
Kunos?
Reiza?
iRacing?

Ofcourse these studios releasing 95% of their content as paid dlcs and free stuff every now and then, just like 397 did.
But I'm sure if we compare all of them ,397 had released free contents more than any others.
 
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D
R.Man said:
No wonder why people included me didn't find those cars and couldn't test the new sound system, they are locked behind a paywall...The realease candidate should simply not be available for those who don't have those DLC .
The Rfactor 2 "BUT" strategy continues.
- best content "but" only DLC
- new sound system "but" only DLC
- best tracks "but" only DLC
- best esport competitions "but" only DLC
- etc...
Click to expand...
It's a beta test for a system wide overhaul. The only Paywall inconvience is the cars that use Push to Pass, the cars that use DRS are paid content, The Oreca 07??? OK, for a few weeks you are correct. When non-DLC cars receive the sound updates, please come back and edit that part. I guess they could try testing drs on a car that doesn't require it. Wait approximately 30 days and the nasty Paywall will evaporate. Not much of a wall afterall.
 
Durge Driven
The biggest issue may be have you un subbed stock content to save space everyone complains about ........
When you drop back to stable and first run rF2 you will be asked to config controllers ( just say ESC to everything )
Then you pick from 1 of 3 content packs and download anything you got rid of
So if you want to test beta better to leave all default content installed
 
Tarmac Terrorist
Im absoloutely loving this RC build! Yes I've had some performance issues, im very much hoping that thats just an RC thing and will be sorted by next public build. Love the sparks! I have also noticed that when using the Ligier at Spa that my car is leaving a trail of sparks down the straights but the A.I. are not sparking nearly as much as mine, that is even if I force them to use my setup. I wonder if thats because my car takes into account a pre settled on body weight for the driver (therefore closer to ground) and the A.I. cars don't take driver weight into account? I don't know, just an idea, I know of course they run simplified physics (wish we had some sort of option to allow A.I. to use full player physics, no idea if thats possible, but would be great for folks with CPU's that can handle it, illiminate quite a few A.I. probs I bet, but again, I dunno, maybe cause more probs than solves???). Of course if i dont want sparks I can just chuck some packers in there, i just wonder why the A.I. dont have it on same settings as me. Also, I can't hear any sound when the car grounds out?

Have bought Q1 pack, im loving it! Had a great race at Daytona in the GT3's with changing weather! I swear aswell that I now have better grip OFF the rubbered in parts of the track after they've gotten wet, especially notice under breaking and accelerating out of corners, its fantastic! Rain looks amazing, lighting transitions much better!

I love the Indycar! However, unlike the GT3's (in which im equal to at my choosen A.I. skill level in either dry or wet) as soon as its raining they just leave me for dust! (or should that be spray?), They just have grip out of corners and under accelleration that its impossible for me to find (again I wonder if this is simply down to simplified physics A.I. run on), I'll go from 6th place in a field of 30 whilst its dry, then after in the rain I'll struggle to keep in 28th, theres such a big difference, could really do with a wet and dry calibration.

All in all, with the A.I. improvements, wet weather road calculations, adjusted grip, graphics, transitions. Im driving more laps in RF2 than I've done in a long while, hav'nt put it down this week, thats for sure! Bravo S397! Keep the updates (especially A.I.) coming!
 

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