Automobilista 2 | October Development Roadmap

Paul Jeffrey

Premium
Reiza Studios have revealed their latest 'Development Roadmap' for October - and it's early!
  • Nurburgring.
  • GT3 and GT4.
  • FFB and physics improvements.
It feels good not having to write this past midnight on Friday - thanks for the early posting Reiza! In this new development roadmap, the Brazilian studio outline their upcoming plans and goodies heading to Automobilista 2 in the very near future - with some great new additions on the way to the simulation...

The roadmap in full:

Greetings everyone!

It's great to be back with another Development Update after missing out on our usual catch-up last month, for which I´d like to apologise to anyone who was disappointed by it - a combination of circumstances meant there was neither time nor material to post a substantial update then.

We're gonna try make up for that now with a slightly early October Development update, to present you all with some very exciting news about what we have been putting together for our next Automobilista 2 update

The Arc of Progress

AMS 2 1.jpg


This month marks the completion of two years since Automobilista 2 went into production with the Madness engine, and a mere 8 months since the very first Beta was release to backers. A lot of ground has been covered in this time, and we´re very proud of what we have managed to achieve in what is by all measures a relatively short window of time in game development.

Although we take pride on the work done so far, we remain aware that we really must continue to push hard in order for AMS2 to keep evolving to fulfill its potential - one that gets closer to being realized with every monthly update.

To this end we have obviously been commited to a very aggressive development schedule, and when you´re moving that fast to try make big strides towards releases on a monthly schedule, occasionally some rough edges will slip into public releases. This is deliberate and we do find this to be the way we can make the game grow better, faster - which ultimately is what we all want. We do aknowledge that approach has on occasion lead to a stumble here and there that has disappointed some users.

We´re also adamant that not all users are aware of this methodology or find it to be the right way to go, and conscious about the fact releases need to grow tidier and more reliable as we tick off the boxes in our dev plan. As always we emphasize that AMS2 was designed to evolve over time - the first version of anything will always be the least developed version, but that won´t stop us from continuing to push to make it better.

With this said, we have been working specially hard in the last couple of weeks to ensure a tidier release for what we believe will be a landmark update for Automobilista 2, with plenty of exciting new content combined with some major core improvements along with the usual round of polish to the existing cars and tracks. Here are some of the highlights:

Premium GT3 and GT4 Cars Arrive in AMS 2

There is no doubt GT3 racing has grown to become one of the most popular in motorsports, be it real or simulated - and there are good reasons for it: a perfectly balanced power-to-weight ratio packaged with sublimely optimized 21st century aerodynamics and technology, wrapped under virtuoso designs produced by the most prestigious brands in the world make them both uniquely attractive, and despite their impressive performances incredibly accessible for drivers of varying skill levels.

Our goal for Automobilista 2 is to provide the most diverse sim racing buffet we can put together, and that would never be complete without these mighty machines. We are thus delighted to confirm our initial batch of GT3 & GT4 cars will finally come for Automobilista 2 in our upcomign update.

This release will be boosted by the addition of two major licensing agreements - we are very proud to announce two new licensing partnerships with Porsche and Mclaren Automotive, which will see a number of their cars added to the game in the next few releases, adding to the growing list of premium brands and models officially represented in Automobilista 2.

The recent licensing agreements with these prestigious motorsports icons have been a long time coming in what has been a difficult year for businesses all over the world - that only adds to our gratitude for getting these over the finish line.

The deals will see a long catalogue of very exciting cars making their way to Automobilista 2 in the coming months - the vast majority of which will be added to the game as free additional content.

The initial batch in the upcoming release should include the following models:

GT3:
  • 2015 Mercedes AMG GT3
  • 2016 Porsche 911 GT3-R
  • 2019 Mclaren 720S GT3
  • 2019 BMW M6 GT3
AMS 2 2.jpg


GT4:
  • 2016 Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport
  • 2017 Camaro GT4-R
  • 2018 Mclaren 570S GT4
AMS 2 3.jpg


This release will also feature the Porsche Carrera Cup cars as raced in the Brazilian series in 2020.

AMS 2 4.jpg


Enter the Green Hell

AMS 2 5.jpg


Another major milestone in our upcoming update is the release of the most challenging race track in the World - the Nurburgring , featuring both the modern GP layout as well as the infamous Nordschleife, both developed with the aid of laser scan data.

The track will be available as a standalone DLC, and also as part of both Season Pass and Premium Track Pack.

This initial release will not however be the extensions of our plans for the "Green Hell" - we will continue to develop new layouts of the track including a Historical version, with a release targetted at some point next year, as a free addition to this DLC package.

Core Game Development

The new content is obviously great additions to the AMS2, and we hope they will be a popular boost to the game, but these also call for the game to evolve with it - to that end, we have continued to hard both in developing new features to the core game, as well as fixing issues with existing functionalities and content. Here are some of the highlights to feature in the upcoming release:

Livery custmization will now be possible and template for all models release with the next update, so users will be able to paint their own liveries to replace (but not yet add to) the original ones without needing to fudge with external tools.

We have a substantial Force Feedback upgrade, providing enhanced feedback during braking, enhanced road feel, improved scrub effect, effectively eliminating the FFB "deadzone" around center in some cars, and generally adding a more distinctive oversteer / understeer feedback.

AMS 6.jpg


Physics revisions of the engine at large as well as specific car models continue to take place, with fuel and tyre wear specially expected to have a full pass in time for release.

We are also continuing our intense AI development program, further cleaning up some poor behavior and doing further performance callibration passes which should see a more consistent and reliable racing jumping from class to class.

AMS 7.jpg


Further work on 3D Animations is also ongoing, on the car front with more cars receiving the complete damage model with deformable mesh, flapping & detachable parts, dirt & scratch maps, and tracks beginning to get a bit more life with helicopters, drones and other objects

AMS 8.jpg


On the Audio front, and have added a capable extra set of hands to the team to help us get the best of the FMOD engine - that should earn valuable improvements on the longer run, with some already be noticeable on the upcoming new cars.

Championship mode has also received some updates, with further support for official Stock Car rules and the addition of a few new championships due for this update and the next.

Pricing Retained

Despite the growing list of premium licensed content to be added to the base game over the coming weeks and months and the game itself distinctively maturing into a very competitive package, we have elected to further postpone our planned price bump and stick with the current pricing for the time being, with the goal of boosting the influx of new players and stimulating the growth the active community around it. With seasonal Steam sales incoming you may expect some good deals also for DLC packs.

That covers it for this month and hopefully also makes up for the last one - we look forward to sharing the latest results of our work with you all this weekend!

Original Source: Reiza Studios.

AMS 2 is available now, exclusively on PC.

Want to know how to get the best from the simulation? Head over to the AMS 2 sub forum here at RaceDepartment and start up a new thread today!

AMS Footer.jpg
 
GT3 is a disappointment to us. Still those old cars again... that have been driven in other games for years.
2020 AMG GT3 EVO has been racing for a whole season and AMS2 will give you the 2015 spec.
No point at all.
When do you ever understand, instead of complaint.
They can only deliver you things, that the licenser allowed them. Maybe the license fee for the latest models is 10 times higher than Reiza can pay or it is locked somehow by another reason e.g. by contracts with other game producers.
I'm sure Reiza wants to deliver the latest possible. For them it's the same effort to create this or that model in their CAD systems. so stop beeing a crying idiot and use your brain first before you accuse them
 
My thoughts (copy of post on Reiza's board)

Best news in there is the Historic version of the Nurburgring to me. Will fit perfectly with the Retro and Vintage F1 cars, hopefully some more content for that era will arrive one day.

Otherwise, good selection of GTs, but I won't hide my disappointment in some of the models used being so old, especially the Mercedes and Porsche GT3s being the old version of those cars when there have been two new versions of each since and the Porsche Cayman being the older MR model and not the 718 version. That version of the Merc in particular has rarely, if ever, raced against the 720S McLaren.

Really nice surprise in the Camaro for me; would love it if Reiza manage to acquire the Mustang GT4 to compete with it in future, but it's a nice selection to add to the Ginetta in game. I've been waiting for this class to properly reacquaint myself with the South American circuits as I think they'll fit perfectly.

Great to have confirmation of Porsche and the McLaren GT division licences too; the GT1 class on the roadmap would have been lost without that , but the three 'main' cars from that era should be feasible now (McLaren F1, Mercedes CLK GTR, Porsche 911 GT1).

One very personal positive is Reiza seem to have a great, consistent set of realistic but fictional liveries in the cars shown in the pics - all the cars having consistent number plates weirdly adds a lot to my immersion in race, compared to Raceroom for example where an N24 livery, a GT Open livery and an IMSA livery will all race with each other. Might seem a small detail but means a lot to me.

Onwards and upwards; looking forward to seeing the changelog, especially for the AI improvements (fingers crossed for multiclass improvements), to supported liveries and for the sound improvements that were previously hinted at (especially if ACFAN is in for the long-haul). Should be another great monthly update and really show momentum in progress.

The phrase "initial batch" sounds promising too ; I'm expecting to see BMW and Mercedes GT4s at some point based on the July roadmap thread.
 
No. GT3 is a disappointment to you. As someone who pretty muych drove nothing but RF1 and AMS1, I welcome a current game gen. take on GT3/4 in my chosen title.
I'm not referring to you when I said us, while I'm representing to many I know. I don't know you and no one cares if this is a disappointment to you or not.
When I said GT3 is a disappointment to us I meant GT3 is a disappointment to us, that's all.
Where does your "no" come from?
 
I think this is the single most disappointing statement I've heard from Reiza to date. Their method is to deliberately throw out broken patches because it's the best way of growing the sim? This, despite the game already having a semi-public beta version which could easily catch the type of glaringly obvious issues present in the last patch? I'm sorry, but this is ridiculous. I bought the sim knowing it was a long-term project yes, but I did not buy it to be a paying beta tester.

I'd have rather they just admitted dropping the ball and assured us they'd be more careful in future. My respect level has just dropped a couple of notches, I'm afraid.
Maybe I am old and cannot remember, but to my recollection this sounds exactly like Reiza said it would roll out from the beginning.

I, personally, am far from disappointed, and this small team has my respect.
 
I think this is the single most disappointing statement I've heard from Reiza to date. Their method is to deliberately throw out broken patches because it's the best way of growing the sim? This, despite the game already having a semi-public beta version which could easily catch the type of glaringly obvious issues present in the last patch? I'm sorry, but this is ridiculous. I bought the sim knowing it was a long-term project yes, but I did not buy it to be a paying beta tester.

I'd have rather they just admitted dropping the ball and assured us they'd be more careful in future. My respect level has just dropped a couple of notches, I'm afraid.
Quality AWAYS beat quantity. Because quality makes you want more and no matter how much content you trow, if it's broken so will be your reputation and people will to trust in your work.

With this mindset, Reiza will aways be small.

BTW, I will only buy anything else for AMS2 in a far future, when content will be cheaper (Steam promos) and properly patched. I'm sick about being a paid beta tester.

I suspect that this is a bit of a misunderstanding caused by some rather poor wording from Reiza. I think what they actually meant is that it is the 'very aggressive development schedule' that is deliberate and not the 'rough edges.'
There aways have rough edges without proper care. Only with time you make things that time treasure.
 
Replays during practice sessions. Screw all the cars. No one drives them all anyway.
I'm not what you are asking for - there is a replay button (although hard to find) for replaying "test day" sessions, which I think of as practice. Or, are you referring to just the practice sessions as part of a race session?
 
Very excited for the new content. AMS2 runs great in VR, and on triples, and with motion support etc. All around great package, looks great, and driving feels very good. I admit there was a build that had me wondering, but I'm fully on board now.
 
Otherwise, good selection of GTs, but I won't hide my disappointment in some of the models used being so old, especially the Mercedes and Porsche GT3s being the old version of those cars when there have been two new versions of each since and the Porsche Cayman being the older MR model and not the 718 version. That version of the Merc in particular has rarely, if ever, raced against the 720S McLaren.

I think part of it is due to endurance imperio brasil still uses these old cars, with the old Vantage V12 just win in its class a few weeks ago. The second part is that these models are available from SMS, where it is either they can bring the old Cayman MR or no car at all as the 718 needs to be modelled from scratch. I rather have the Cayman than no car at all. The difference between Cayman MR and 718 won't be significant as both are built to comply with GT4 regulations. Older cars would suit the game more since South America tend to get newer cars later than EU or US. They are still racing old Reiter Gallardo, 458 GT3, M3 GT2 and so on there.

Seemed like there will be 4 GT3s and 4 GT4s, that is a pretty good number of cars for me. Still prefer if they focus more on Brazillian specific championships than turning this into another modern GT3 simulator.

If there is one car I want the newer one would be the 911 GT3R, the 991.2 version in ACC and R3E is a much better car to drive but it loses the unique behaviour of the old car that seemed to have a more unstable behavoiur.
 
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That sounds like game rewrite. New FFB, new physics, and we are getting tons of new content. How many people work for Reiza?
Yep... should have made AMS2 from AMS1 if that's the case, would give them more control and they could leave some content open as a sample like they did with the first one. Result would be better and Niels would be still making cars.
Just my 2 cents ofc...
 
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Wow, wow! fantastic news! This is very exciting. Great new content and things
are being fixed.

Great to read that the damage model is coming soon too, and also we are
having more animations on tracks. Helicopters and drones are fine, and
birds, of course, but I'd love to see persons waving flags too - this small
detail brings a lot of life to the Sim, it adds immersion when you see these
flags waving as you pass by.

GT3 and GT4 and a laser scanned version of Nords sounds awsome for most
sim racers to start with. Very nice stuff. Thanks Reiza for the commitment
and hard work!
 

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