rFactor 2's Quarterly Content Release and UI Refresh Out Now

rFactor 2 Quarterly Content Release 01.jpg
An update to rFactor 2 is live now on Steam, and the sim now welcomes four new pieces of content.

Studio 397's social media has kept us busy over the past weeks with the implementation of a new user interface and teasers of upcoming content. That content is now live on Steam for purchase, and the UI has been given an update.

The rapid-fire nature of the content release is part of a new strategy from Studio 397 and Motorsport Games for rFactor 2. Rather than release each bit of new content as it is becomes ready for release, there will be quarterly releases of multiple projects the team has been working on.

The four pieces of content welcomed this quarter include three new cars and a racing circuit. The first and perhaps most notable release is the Dallara IR18 INDYCAR. Studio 397 has bundled all of the teams, drivers and liveries from the 2021 NTT INDYCAR Series for this release.

Along with the INDYCAR, another impactful piece of content released today was Daytona International Speedway. This track has seen a recent boost in popularity in sim racing, with Automobilista 2 and iRacing already having official versions of the circuit, plus a popular mod for Assetto Corsa and an upcoming appearance in Gran Turismo 7.

Two more cars to join the sim this quarter are the Ligier JS P320 and BMW M4 GT3. The former joins a Norma competitor in the LMP3 class, and the latter helps fill out the GT3 class. If you've yet to try the LMP3 class in this title, you may enjoy the ease of use of the car thanks to its aero package and low, wide stance. The BMW has proven to be a popular choice of car in Assetto Corsa Competizione, and should find itself many fans in rF2.

With so many new choices now on offer in rFactor 2, it may be tough to decide what to purchase. If you've bought and experienced any of the four new pieces of content, let us know your thoughts below in the comments.
About author
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

Comments

Racing the LMP3 Ligier at night at Daytona is absolutely beautiful and fun as Hell. Set up a field with the Dpi Cadillac's, LMP2 Oreca's, the LMP3 Ligier & Norma's, and the GTE or GT3 cars and it's really awesome as far as I'm concerned. Sure the AI can always get better and I'm sure it will at some point. But damn I enjoy RF2 and it's paid content. I really love Sebring, VIR, and Lemans as well :) Some other 3rd party content that's great is Mid-Ohio, Road America, and Road Atlanta.
 
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Am I missing something? I've read posts here that the 3 cars and 1 track released can be purchased all together for a reduced price. I'm just not seeing this at the Steam store.

View attachment 539000

As good as it is they need to get on to that AI quick smart.

I think the AI is an embarrassment.

No joke: they have had 1000 guys go please fix the AI.

Then the drooling money grubbers come along and say "euughhh naaah lets do comporrrrtissshhunnss...' 'moooooneeeey'.... munnnnneeeaahhh [competitions, money]

How do you people look into the mirror every day.

edit I am personally not letting the AI issues get in the way of what I came to the sim to do - but the AI is a major chunk of the puzzle. It is limiting the experience and you whizz past them - all the same things happened to me the other day at Indianapolis and apple valley with the previous Dallara indy. may be not as bad as in that video but it was present.

lol as a sim-soldier I push on, you know. But don't think its not being noticed. I also think that they are building back some of the money investment. I think they will get to it.

Its my understanding about AI, when you test it and all the rest, find it, whatnot - it is something that requires many months back to back to get on top of. May be this is why they have put it off since it sounds simple but its actually not that easy. With the new schedule one can only hope that they are doing a bit here and there.



Sorry about that, I will try harder next time to be clearer.
GT 7 is coming out next week. Maybe thats your kind of game. Like i say the AI does have its issues but most of the time you have your aggression and limiter pushed up so far that you can't even think.
 
ALIEN mode ( 120% strength and 80% aggression )
LMP - GTE - GT3 44car mod @ Assen
Qualify in Caddy as last DPi/LMP2 in 12th
1 hour 1 pitstop
What a kickass race !

edit: I am not in fastest drivers either when fuel comes down high 1:28's and that is same as 120% AI
online I expect I you would see at least 1:26, getting too old, reflexes are shot and need new glasses LOL
 
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No I just never thought the bug with woochoo's and Reiza's rfmod update was worth mentioning

For others that do use MAS2 to make 5KB mods ( series) ...........check my theory

Make a rfmod with 1 S397 car and track and save
Now go back to Mas2 and edit that mod adding either Woochoo endurance or Reiza content
Now if you look at the right hand column you will see that none of the boxes are ticked , they should be
Now you can see in screen #3 I selected a layout for each Reiza track click Package and it errors


View attachment 539001View attachment 539002View attachment 539003View attachment 539004

So there it is the Reiza content crashed rfmod
Even if you remove all the Reiza content it won't re-pack damage is already done

so if you have existing rfmods and you want to add this new DLC to them it will show none of the DLC as selected when you do and package it will error...............

Any end user should not be going through these steps to endure the game is playable.

S397 needs to fix the game.

I won’t buy that pack now as it seemed like the game is even more unplayable. I guess this bug will take them 3 years to fix and AI fixes are 2 years away.

Very excited for the new cars and Daytona but if the game is even more broken, what’s the point.
 
For those looking to try out the Indycars at Indianapolis on the oval and get the best experience possible:
  • To ensure the AI automagically select the Indy 500 aero package, select Indianapolis 'Brickyard", not "Oval"
    • Even though the "Brickyard" layout AI is presumably intended for NASCAR, it seems this is what 397 used to test the Indycars
    • Whereas the Indycars don't auto-select the correct package on the "Oval" layout, and won't even switch when you "Force Setup"
  • Create a rfmod with the updated RFM in the thread linked (with the new Indycars and Indianapolis) to have 100% working "oval racing" flag and full-course yellow rules via an updated StockCarRules plugin and RFM file
  • Enable the StockCarRules plugin and restart the game
  • Practice and find a reasonable AI level (might need to be fairly high)
For an idea of the AI behaviour (but without these tweaks above) look at this Twitch stream from MrGit for the results. I'm rather impressed. The AI quickly spread out in a way not unlike real life Indycar, get up to and stay at 210-220 mph speed, and do not crash (or only do so minimally) into the walls on corner exit causing slowups and pileups. All of these things the AI could not do yesterday in my testing with the old 2014 DW12 at Indy (admittedly the Oval layout, not Brickyard).

Not sure what 397 did (maybe in the AIW lines and talent files?) but to first impressions, it seems to work. I bet the AI still have the "inability to slipstream" bug, which is a shame. But even so, looking from the outside, this looks like real progress!

For those who have purchased the Indycars and know something about American open wheel oval racing, I'd love for you to try this and to hear what your experiences are after doing what I've listed above. Do the AI race well, or poorly? Do we have a new contender for a Indy 500 simulator?
 
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I find any combo has lap 1 wipeout restarting session a few times it goes away

First race Belgium in Historics stack at Eau, Malmedy and Stavelot
After few restarts all is okay once track and tyres are warmed up AI behave much better

One thing they should look at is limiting ai lines

Do a race at Assen fantastic AI as they are limited to the white line even at 120% follow them they take no extra track
But you still get them understeering and running wide ie: onto ripple strip

I just love how varied the AI is every race every lap always different behavior

100% brake throttle thing could not bother me the slightest, all rF2 bugs I just don't worry about them
If one car in class is too fast BOO HOO lol

If you want full flags and SC use another sim

Does any sim let you un lap yourself or close pitlane ?
 
Racing the LMP3 Ligier at night at Daytona is absolutely beautiful and fun as Hell. Set up a field with the Dpi Cadillac's, LMP2 Oreca's, the LMP3 Ligier & Norma's, and the GTE or GT3 cars and it's really awesome as far as I'm concerned. Sure the AI can always get better and I'm sure it will at some point. But damn I enjoy RF2 and it's paid content. I really love Sebring, VIR, and Lemans as well :) Some other 3rd party content that's great is Mid-Ohio, Road America, and Road Atlanta.
Good work, this is what I basically came to do.

For me I like driving more the Indy at spa. The DPI and Norma and Ligier I will take round daytona.

Pretty sure the force in a indy car about 15kgs on the steering wheel so my wheel won't be doing that haha. So I am not trying daytona with it too much just now - but for ovals it is ok to accept a degree of clipping into the red. When you put the indy at spa, and my ffb is modest (5% minimum and 70% total gain) the car is super stable but it does not lack the feel of something like AMS2. Also the new tires and combined with the weight of the car(s) really make a difference. You get the impression of width with the lmps and the agileness of the indy. The bmw is really good. If I am correct most of the LMP3s, cadillac etc use the new tire model as will the gt3s in future.

I do not race much but just 'race' the cars in the practice sessions, and I set my time of day to random and weather to low chance of rain across most types.

New tires feel great, indy down the main straight from pits at spa, give it a bit of a throttle pump and it loses grip so nicely like a build up on a ramp, then it snatches grip again - very good and the whole thing is probably the best in simming. Maybe yes ACC would probably take first in gt3 but this tire model itself and the tires is the 'best' if that makes sense. ACC is still a little like ice- this feels with such texture. An example is the speed versus grip you will have around the hill at the end of the initial Spa straight, you can navigate it with more nuance; the whole package car, tire, grip versus speed is much better than anything out there. You could say in ACC its more crisp (for a GT3 car) but this is good even for the Gt3 in rf2.

RF2 does have the more instant update with the tires and steering which helps but I am talking about the tire model its just so satisfying and closer to how you would think weight on tires would act, and the aero seems to be very detailed, as to the model and numbers used I am sure rf2 is not 'exact' but this is something so close. May be beware those who say something needs to be exact. If you move 10cm when you should move 12 - thats GOOD, when its 10 but you move 20cm (like ams2) thats bad.

Rf2 overall gives the sense of space, time, grip versus speed, and aero better as a package than literally anything. Its not without its flaws but this new content is literally some of the best in sim racing if you extend the content to include nurburgring, spa and monza for example. I do not mind what people prefer but as for driving this is going to be basically the best really one can do in terms of other sims not saying it cannot be improved I am saying ' the act of driving ' leaves others in the dust.
 
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Hey and guys and gals GOOD WORK post more good experiences thread has a positive vibe
Don't let the troglodytes take control
Post all the good things you like no matter how small
Put them back in minority of posters where they belong.

I mean how silly do they look repeating the identical bugs over n over n over
They act like or refuse to believe that anyone but fanboys ( like me ) could like it
I mean how ignorant and condescending can you be
 
This is the worst modern Indycar I've driven in any sim and I genuinely believe it was pushed out unfinished. I mean this is seriously weird. It's like the front tires have no sidewall flex or lateral grip, and there are COG issues that make the front end feel like it's constantly skidding along the ground. It has the added effect of making the FFB feel extremely bizarre as it seems like it gets lighter and heavier at random times. Like under load in the center of the corner, the wheel lightens up. Yes, I have my force feedback configured correctly.

Every other IndyCar put out by every other modern sim dev and payware team drives phenomenal, right out of the box. And they all drive more or less the same. Whether it be VRC's payware, RSS Payware, the Formula US in Raceroom, the IndyCars in various pCars games, they're all a blast to drive - think a 90's F1 car with a smoother torque curve and a little more understeer. Like, there's a reason older F1 drivers have historically defected from F1 to this series.

This car feels straight up broken, like I've downloaded a sketchy russian conversion named 2022 INDYCAR BY YVES V0.3 and he copy/pasted physics from like three different cars without bothering to test it, and he runs it in a league with three of his friends.

I'm going to beat my head against the wall to free the car up and get it to rotate but seriously, what the hell. The mental gymnastics some are doing to justify this as a "quality" release are impressive.
 
This is the worst modern Indycar I've driven in any sim and I genuinely believe it was pushed out unfinished. I mean this is seriously weird. It's like the front tires have no sidewall flex or lateral grip, and there are COG issues that make the front end feel like it's constantly skidding along the ground. It has the added effect of making the FFB feel extremely bizarre as it seems like it gets lighter and heavier at random times. Like under load in the center of the corner, the wheel lightens up. Yes, I have my force feedback configured correctly.

Every other IndyCar put out by every other modern sim dev and payware team drives phenomenal, right out of the box. And they all drive more or less the same. Whether it be VRC's payware, RSS Payware, the Formula US in Raceroom, the IndyCars in various pCars games, they're all a blast to drive - think a 90's F1 car with a smoother torque curve and a little more understeer. Like, there's a reason older F1 drivers have historically defected from F1 to this series.

This car feels straight up broken, like I've downloaded a sketchy russian conversion named 2022 INDYCAR BY YVES V0.3 and he copy/pasted physics from like three different cars without bothering to test it, and he runs it in a league with three of his friends.

I'm going to beat my head against the wall to free the car up and get it to rotate but seriously, what the hell. The mental gymnastics some are doing to justify this as a "quality" release are impressive.

Oh no, don't tell me they have done the opposite to the tires now... I've bought it to test. Hope you are not right though ahaha.
 
This is the worst modern Indycar I've driven in any sim and I genuinely believe it was pushed out unfinished. I mean this is seriously weird. It's like the front tires have no sidewall flex or lateral grip, and there are COG issues that make the front end feel like it's constantly skidding along the ground. It has the added effect of making the FFB feel extremely bizarre as it seems like it gets lighter and heavier at random times. Like under load in the center of the corner, the wheel lightens up. Yes, I have my force feedback configured correctly.

Every other IndyCar put out by every other modern sim dev and payware team drives phenomenal, right out of the box. And they all drive more or less the same. Whether it be VRC's payware, RSS Payware, the Formula US in Raceroom, the IndyCars in various pCars games, they're all a blast to drive - think a 90's F1 car with a smoother torque curve and a little more understeer. Like, there's a reason older F1 drivers have historically defected from F1 to this series.

This car feels straight up broken, like I've downloaded a sketchy russian conversion named 2022 INDYCAR BY YVES V0.3 and he copy/pasted physics from like three different cars without bothering to test it, and he runs it in a league with three of his friends.

I'm going to beat my head against the wall to free the car up and get it to rotate but seriously, what the hell. The mental gymnastics some are doing to justify this as a "quality" release are impressive.
rubbish. you do have something wrong.

the thing is flat as a tac, its like a plane wing cutting through the air, and its like wearing kids-gloves when driving compared to something from the 1990s; I did find myself like in any of the post 2019 cars which have been made from quality sources there is no use just putting the pedal to the metal you have to really tease the performance out of the modern car. no doubt they will need to do a fix or two or three as is usually done but its not a long list as you suggest.

It is no different to the advent of driving aids like stability control in modern cars you buy. Pre and post that you do not remember (or know) but you used to drive road cars differently too.

I think you will find there is a big difference with the 2020 machines versus any of those other ones you have driven in a sim.

Just make sure to look at the car menu in the main screen where you select it and try a customised package by clicking customise - may be a change there will suit you better. I know for the forumla pro I sometimes much prefer the stiffer bump stops if a course has fewer turns, so I make one coloured car stiffer bump stop and another regular, or the LMP you may prefer the Le Mans aero package.
 
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I think you will find there is a big difference with the 2020 machines versus any of those other ones you have driven in a sim.

Just make sure to look at the car menu in the main screen where you select it and try a customised package by clicking customise - may be a change there will suit you better.
You mean like the multiple IR18's that have appeared across a wide variety of sims and all drive more or less the same, save for rFactor 2's being completely different?

Like, I would categorize this as being worse than any car on iRacing. It's mind-boggling.
 
I don't know anyone feels like that why do you insist on torturing yourselves ?

I mean they just won't have it that we know rF2 is buggy but are still happy to use it and not complain insistently

It's like your own self importance can't comprehend how someone could be that stupid to like rF2 or rF2 with bugs

Stop wasting your precious life on BS
 
You mean like the multiple IR18's that have appeared across a wide variety of sims and all drive more or less the same, save for rFactor 2's being completely different?

Like, I would categorize this as being worse than any car on iRacing. It's mind-boggling.
Not trying to overall a grump on this but may be the issue is closer to home in the ffb in case you did not check it.

May be if you were a troll I would say you do not seem very bright if you can't 1 handle this yourself and 2 deal with it emotionally very quietly [since the problem might be user error] is all.... That is literally the best advice you will get. Start doing more things with your time which actually confer you more advantage in the world around you. Complaints in this thread won't do it and the negative energy you are using here is only draining you.

Your concern was already noted. And I do sympathise as complaints are so common on all the threads but I do have a little bit of knowledge about the issue.

Stop driving it and return it before your 2 hours is up. You will just have to wait for them to fix whatever it is you do not like about it. You sound like a real sim-tragic so you should be used to this kind of thing by now.

I think you are being ridiculous. You can't expect it to be commensurate in every single little technical facet and then also in the setups across each game. lol don't be so simple brained.

Rfactor 2's driving is 100%

iracing maybe 65% or 75%

AMS 2 50% at best

AC 70%
ACC 90%

Then there is beamng when it comes to soft-model physics in suspensions....

That suspension and the RF2 suspension is probably only second to that (AMS2 will never get it right as they have zero data)... so you have a great tire model, and a great contact patch in RF2 and a top-notch suspension.

iirc the indy changed tire providers in the past decade or so. A lot has changed in the world of racing. No its not the michelin tire but its a lot as such likened to that, and also you will find no other sim uses that tire which RF2 has modelled

lol don't be simple dude. What you're feeling is the 2400hz tire updates per second and the suspension model pushing it down, the tire deformation, a new tire model at that, new aero which in RF2 is pretty darn good, new car physics. If its got a bug then fine, but its not as horrible as you make out. Its quite easy to see why you think it drives differently too. Do you know how often AC and iracing update their tires? Its not pretty.

I think you will find the studio s397 worked pretty closely with the indy people on this one. Your best bet might be to go down to the track and shake down a test driver and see what you can ascertain that way!

Establish the base line and go from there. Nothing is perfect really and may be they do need to fix a bug, and steering is heavy on such cars; its never fully as it is to drive one.

Just make sure the ffb is within limits. Drop it to 75% even or 65 who cares, as long as its getting the best feel after adequate testing. belts should run around 75-90 probably, less maybe, and direct drive probably 50 or 60 max, center minimum on belts about 4 or 5%.

Then before a complaint make sure you have driven at least a couple laps to warm the tires and judge from there, and of course set brakes forward a little depending, or reduce or even increase downforce as per need -that alone will adjust your handling in a major way (1 or 2 points either way for example). Only then judge, since not every person will be having the same experience, it won't be reference/quantified properly.

eg 60 front brakes is not same as in iracing or acc, no game is exactly same, and live track in rf2 and other games is not same, so make sure the cars have bedded down rubber onto the track before you judge
 
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Moving on. Oh well trying to give an impression here. That I have driven the cars on spa and zandvoort and daytona and nurburg, mid ohio which is a mod and yokahama which is a mod, monza soon, but they all give a good run, so its been a good content run I think.

If theres bugs I hope they get fixed, but in terms of driving and a bit of racing, you know, even racing in practice as they will try it on you lol, its pretty good. It is no doubt up to a high standard of quality. That is clear.
 
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Not trying to overall a grump on this but may be the issue is closer to home in the ffb in case you did not check it.

May be if you were a troll I would say you do not seem very bright if you can't 1 handle this yourself and 2 deal with it emotionally very quietly [since the problem might be user error] is all.... That is literally the best advice you will get. Start doing more things with your time which actually confer you more advantage in the world around you. Complaints in this thread won't do it and the negative energy you are using here is only draining you.

Your concern was already noted. And I do sympathise as complaints are so common on all the threads but I do have a little bit of knowledge about the issue.

Stop driving it and return it before your 2 hours is up. You will just have to wait for them to fix whatever it is you do not like about it. You sound like a real sim-tragic so you should be used to this kind of thing by now.

I think you are being ridiculous. You can't expect it to be commensurate in every single little technical facet and then also in the setups across each game. lol don't be so simple brained.

Rfactor 2's driving is 100%

iracing maybe 65% or 75%

AMS 2 50% at best

AC 70%
ACC 90%

Then there is beamng when it comes to soft-model physics in suspensions....

That suspension and the RF2 suspension is probably only second to that (AMS2 will never get it right as they have zero data)... so you have a great tire model, and a great contact patch in RF2 and a top-notch suspension.

iirc the indy changed tire providers in the past decade or so. A lot has changed in the world of racing. No its not the michelin tire but its a lot as such likened to that, and also you will find no other sim uses that tire which RF2 has modelled

lol don't be simple dude. What you're feeling is the 2400hz tire updates per second and the suspension model pushing it down, the tire deformation, a new tire model at that, new aero which in RF2 is pretty darn good, new car physics. If its got a bug then fine, but its not as horrible as you make out. Its quite easy to see why you think it drives differently too. Do you know how often AC and iracing update their tires? Its not pretty.

I think you will find the studio s397 worked pretty closely with the indy people on this one. Your best bet might be to go down to the track and shake down a test driver and see what you can ascertain that way!

Establish the base line and go from there. Nothing is perfect really and may be they do need to fix a bug, and steering is heavy on such cars; its never fully as it is to drive one.

Just make sure the ffb is within limits. Drop it to 75% even or 65 who cares, as long as its getting the best feel after adequate testing. belts should run around 75-90 probably, less maybe, and direct drive probably 50 or 60 max, center minimum on belts about 4 or 5%.

Then before a complaint make sure you have driven at least a couple laps to warm the tires and judge from there, and of course set brakes forward a little depending, or reduce or even increase downforce as per need -that alone will adjust your handling in a major way (1 or 2 points either way for example). Only then judge, since not every person will be having the same experience, it won't be reference/quantified properly.

Jes man, you really edit a lot of your posts and edit them a lot! People will even miss it I'm sure.
 
Jes man, you really edit a lot of your posts and edit them a lot! People will even miss it I'm sure.

Sorry about that you are right. I think that we can't work it all out since there no constants and too
many variables; which is ok just the nature of the beast.

I personally think it is Austin's ffb settings because the game does not come with an ffb meter - and that you need to use simhub and ffb guage basically to get one. I use that and I had to lower the indy to 75% gain and 5% minimum force.

indy 75% gain 5% min
Ligier 86%

smoothing I keep at 4% and steering effects are always on negative.

people can go plus or minus a little I guess but if you use direct drive then it will be much lower. half probably.


eg :)

I also added "
I think you will find the studio s397 worked pretty closely with the indy people on this one. Your best bet might be to go down to the track and shake down a test driver and see what you can ascertain that way!

Establish the base line and go from there. Nothing is perfect really and may be they do need to fix a bug, and steering is heavy on such cars (15-20kg lift) yuh....; its never fully as it is to drive one.

Just make sure the ffb is within limits. Drop it to 75% even or 65 who cares, as long as its getting the best feel after adequate testing. belts should run around 75-90 probably, less maybe, and direct drive probably 50 or 60 max, center minimum on belts about 4 or 5%.

Then before a complaint make sure you have driven at least a couple laps to warm the tires and judge from there, and of course set brakes forward a little depending, or reduce or even increase downforce as per need -that alone will adjust your handling in a major way (1 or 2 points either way for example). Only then judge, since not every person will be having the same experience, it won't be reference/quantified properly.

eg 60 front brakes is not same as in iracing or acc, no game is exactly same, and live track in rf2 and other games is not same, so make sure the cars have bedded down rubber onto the track before you judge"

You know what you already know the brakes won't be same front/back as acc or iracing and the downforce will be slightly different - and then livetrack rubbering is it green/light/30 laps worth?

Are tires warm and still in good condition? So many things. Then he/we may not be used to things. So it will take several days before I judge this fully. And across several tracks. It feels good though in that it has crossed the threshold for being good. Does it feel as good as it will feel if/when they change it, I don't know.

I do know the LMP3 feels exceptional. Has a real heft to it.
 
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