PC1 Project CARS: Patch 1.4 release notes

Project CARS Audi LMP1.jpg

Stephen Viljoen of Slightly Mad Studios released the notes of the upcoming 1.4 patch that will resolve various issues with Project CARS on the PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One platforms.


Currently the developers have not yet given out a release date for this patch but it's expected as soon as they receive green light from various external parties.

General
  • Pagani Monza Clubday invitational event - No longer causes the game to crash when using a specific livery on the Pagani Huayra.
  • PC - Fixed an issue that would cause the game to crash while watching saved replays, when shared memory is enabled.
  • PS4 - Anisotropic filtering has been increased to help reduce blurry textures.
  • PS4 - Temporal anti-aliasing has been further optimized. This reduces the ghosting effect and additionaly gives the player full control via a slider to tweak the resulting image according to personal preference.
Performance improvements
  • Xbox One - Various performance optimizations, adding up to an average of 5-6% performance improvement. This results in an overall smoother experience.
  • PS4 - All shaders have been rebuilt using new shader compiler, giving a significant performance boost in some areas.
  • PS4 - CPU performance gains due to new more aggressive code optimisations.
Physics & AI
  • The AI loss of grip that results from tyre degradation as a result of wear is now more noticeable.
  • The AI will now show much more realistic grip loss when running on slick tyres in the rain.
  • First pass improvements on various tracks to enhance the AI performance and ability (Azure Circuit, Donington GP, Watkins Glen, Bathurst, Nordschliefe)
Pitting, tuning, setups
  • Fixed an issue where certain street cars would pit for tyre change during rain when they already had the correct tyres fitted.
  • Fixed an issue where custom vehicle setups were lost when progressing through sessions.
  • Improved the system used to select the most appropriate tyres based on current and predicted weather conditions.
  • Ensure that the AI always pit when they need to change tyres based on the weather conditions.
  • The Default strategy will now correctly show the tyres that will be fitted on the player vehicle during a pit stop.
  • The pit stop routine will no longer start during online races until the player closes the pit stop menu. This ensures that the player has enough time to select or configure an appropriate set of actions before the pit crew start working on the car.
  • Tyre pressures will now be correctly set when the player changes to a new set of tyres.
  • The currently-active Pit strategy will now remain in action when advancing through race sessions.
Online
  • Fixed an issue where the player was sometimes given a large time penalty when exiting the pit lane.
  • Fixed an issue where the remaining session time displayed an incorrect value in the Tuning screen.
  • Fixed an issue that at times would prevent a player from entering a race, after joining a second online lobby.
  • Fixed and issue where the Track Location popup would at times appear on some screens.
  • PS4 – The lobby browser now displays random lobbies instead of always the oldest lobbies.
  • PS4 – Fixed an issue where network features could not be used after resuming from rest mode.
  • PC - The lobby browser now automatically extends the search distance for lobbies when not enough of them are found using the default filter. Lobbies that are hosted further away (and therefore have potentially worse latency to all peers) appear at the bottom of the browser, and are colour coded with yellow or orange icons do indicate the quality of the connection.
  • PC - The session host now regularly sets the current timestamp into a session attribute, so that sessions with too old timestamps are not displayed in the browser. This prevents stale sessions with no active host from appearing in the session browser.
  • PC - When joining a session, the client now attempts to request the member details multiple times before giving up. This helps to improve the success rate of joining online sessions.
  • Xbox One – Fixed an issue where matchmaking was not filtering the race length correctly.
Controls – All platforms
  • Fixed pedals and triggers that vibrates during replays.
  • Fixed an issue that causes the wheel centring spring to be active during driving.
  • Improved force feedback strength and tweaked the default force feedback parameters for all supported wheels based on community feedback.
  • Further enhancements to the steering feeling – Improved blending between the tyre force spring and the steering lock spring.
  • Improved behaviour of the wheel force springs while navigating the menu system.
Controls – PS4
  • Fixed an issue where the player got stuck on the career screen when entering driver name using a wheel controller.
  • Improved the support implementation of several older Fanatec wheels, such as the GT2, GT3, and CSR.
  • Fixed the Fanatec CSS so that it works correctly in sequential mode.
  • Fixed the Fanatec CSP pedals to save the calibration correctly if player calibrated only pedals.
  • Fixed the Fanatec CSP ABS rumble.
  • Fixed the Fanatec CSW handbrake.
  • Game Pad - Tilt Control support implemented to allow controller tilt to be used to control the vehicles.
Vehicles
  • Adjusted handbrake strength on vehicles which are equipped with handbrakes.
  • Fixed an issue where the rain wipers’ state did not reset correctly when restarting a session.
  • Fixed an issue where light glows from a vehicle behind the player would sometimes appear in front of the player.
  • Fixed fuel pressure gauge calibration in several cars.
  • Fixed an issue where a white border would at times appear around the brake light glow of certain cars.
  • Ford Mk.IV – Improved the collision model to prevent vehicles wedging in under other vehicles.
  • Formula Gulf, Gumper Apollo, Formula Rookie - Fixed and issue with the livery sets that caused the livery selection to display wrong liveries.
  • Lykan Hypersport -Statistics updated to latest manufacturer specification.
  • Lotus 72D - Improved handing characteristics, exposed bump stops to be adjustable in the vehicle setup, reduced cold sensitivities of the slick tyres, adjusted the AI speed, wear and rain tires to match the player’s experience.
  • Karts - Reworked the Karts optimization to help address performance drops with a lot of Karts on track.
  • McLaren 12C GT3 - Adjusted the vehicle pose to more closely match the real car.
  • BMW M3 GT4 – Improved the accuracy of the levels at which the oil and water temperature warning lights will activate.
  • Ford Escort RS1600 - Improved the collision and wheel contact model to prevent climbing over other cars in collisions.
  • 250cc Superkart – Improved the default setup to address controller issues on higher speed tracks, and improved the AI handling.
  • Lotus 49 – Improved the AI handling of the vehicle in corners and in close racing.
  • Pagani Huayra - Reduced fuel consumption to around 3mpg in hard track use, and improved cooling to prevent engine overheating.
Tracks
  • Bathurst – Removed cones in the pit lane that was causing cars to get stuck.
  • Watkins Glen – Fixed a number of accuracy issues around the track.
  • Lemans 24h – Improved the race line at a few corners to keep the LMP cars off the curbs as this was causing the cars to lean over on two wheels.
  • Silverstone National – Vehicle grid placement reworked to more closely align with the painted start boxes.
  • Hockenheim (various layouts) – Reworked the wet weather reflection mapping to address incorrect object reflections.
  • Willow Springs – Fixed an issue where the vehicle could drive through the barriers when exiting the pits.
GUI
  • Driver Network Profile - Visual tidy up to improve usability.
  • Fixed an issue where very thin lines would not always appear.
  • Added support for better info display on the Community Events page.
  • Fixed the issue where HUD customization was not saved on exiting a session.
  • Fixed an issue where the Potential Lap time display on the Lap Info board would be inconsistent with the sector times being displayed.
  • Monitor/Spectate mode - Fixed an issue where the vehicle being viewed would automatically reset to the player’s vehicle on leaving the monitor screen.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I called you out for being a fanboy because, for whatever reasons, you have been unable to accept any criticism whatsoever about PCARS, and looking through the other thread about bugs it seems you have a very strong stance on that. You are jumping to the defence of a game that is, without a shadow of a doubt, fundamentally broken upon release.

I believe you are reading the posts incorrectly (or 'assuming' that's the agenda). I only comment when something is blatantly incorrect. People will like pCARS, people will hate it. I personally don't care. What I do care about is people spreading untruths, and that's mainly when I comment.

Does pCARS have bugs? Yep. Are the developers addressing them? Yep. Are the developers addressing them fast enough? I believe they are moving as fast as possible to provide fixes/updates without making things worse. Working too fast in software can just create more problems at times.
 
Everyone thinks they understand software development. They also understand how to run a multi-million dollar business. Really, they know everything there is to know, and it's all just common sense. Strange everyone else doesn't agree.
 
@Kyle Pearson

A career in politics beckons, answering a question or statement without a answer seems to be a gift.

@Kurupt CDN

Correct me if I am wrong but this a sub forum on a forum that caters for sim racing. That is why are discussing a broken single player career mode in a sim racing game not third world issues of inequality, debt burden or clean drinking water etc. If I feel the need to discuss those I will head on over to the appropriate website/forum.

@sniper420

Keep up the good work we'll fight the power while the world burns in apathy and nonchalance.

I can't understand how people can defend something that is indefensible. I bought this game for the single player career mode, it's broken therefore it is a faulty product.

Most games I can think of are indeed buggy when the game has gone 'gold' usually a few weeks before release. But in between the game going gold and the said release devs usually work on the game so when it actually releases there is a day one patch that addresses the issues.

SMS appear to have cracked open the champagne and cigars before fixing the game and buggered off on holiday.

In the modern way of game releases this is not how it is done.
 
Everyone thinks they understand software development. They also understand how to run a multi-million dollar business. Really, they know everything there is to know, and it's all just common sense. Strange everyone else doesn't agree.
Here's a thought... Don't release a broken game packed full of game-breaking bugs. Don't lie to your customers about what they are purchasing. Update and patch features that were promised as a selling point as a priority and in a TIMELY manner.


How about just finish the game before selling it to the public?
 
@Kyle Pearson

A career in politics beckons, answering a question or statement without a answer seems to be a gift.

Contrary to beliefs, I'm not part of the SMS staff. I don't work for SMS nor do I have access to private SMS information.

With that, how can I respond to his rant/concerns/questions?

Anything that I could respond with would be pure speculation without any facts or knowledge backing it. I don't think that's what's desired. He's looking for someone who works specifically from SMS to give him direct responses, not some "fanboy" like myself....
 
The delay in the 1.4 patch is due to content being included and they want them all to release at the same time.

I've been rather vocal about the PC patch/s taking so long until I read a post on the main forum about a June 5th community event (you can see it yourself in game) in game that requires content we don't have yet. Needless to say, it's delayed now.
 
Unlucky dude, I paid 49.75 equivalent of your finest New Zealand dollars
Awesome! That's a sweet as deal :) If I had paid that I probably wouldn't care as much as I do now haha.

I reckon that I bought into the hype. I suppose that's my fault in the end.

Next time I will wait for the peer reviews.

I'd rather wait a few more months and purchase a full game rather than suffer through the game-breaking bugs and patches that plague not only this game, but many other modern releases.

I'm complaining that the career mode was broken on release and is still broken to this day, 4 weeks later. 4 weeks after spending $100 on a digital download...
It annoys me that the best estimate of a fix is at least two weeks from now...

Nothing at all has been guaranteed in the patch. The (long term future) patch note itself is incredibly ambitious, without any clear focus. This worries me a fair bit...
 
Awesome! That's a sweet as deal :) If I had paid that I probably wouldn't care as much as I do now haha.

I reckon that I bought into the hype. I suppose that's my fault in the end.

Next time I will wait for the reviews.

I'd rather wait a few more months and purchase a full game rather than suffer through the game-breaking bugs and patches that plague not only this game, but many other modern releases.

I'm complaining that the career mode was broken on release and is still broken to this day, 4 weeks later. 4 weeks after spending $100 on a digital download...
It annoys me that the best estimate of a fix is at least two weeks from now...

Nothing at all has been guaranteed in the patch. The (long term future) patch note itself is incredibly ambitious, without any clear focus. This worries me a fair bit...
CD keys site are your friend Mr Sniper, I never pay steam prices unless it's on offer. I know there are issues but I'm a patient man and over the years I've grown apathetic to gaming as this happens to every game. Yes we all know it's not right but other than have a rant, what can we do. I bet If SMS said right we're going to release this version but there are issues or you can wait another year and we'll try to resolve the issues, we would all have said release the hounds I want to play it now!!!!!
 
Last edited:
Very nice fixed and good job. But... Just drove some rounds on Laguna Seca and and a very agressive player joined. He drove in to me and several times tried to block the track with he`s car. And i couldnt do anything else than try and vote him off. There should be a kick/ban option for the host of the lobby. period
 
  • Like
Reactions: ONT
If this was a simple 1 car, 1 track sim, I could understand this. If this was a version 2 of a previous release, yes again. But, considering that it is a new and complex program/platform with tons of cars and tracks, along with a lot of options, there are going to be bugs. If we accept your concerns, pCARS may never have gotten released. Yes, there are bugs and tweaks that they are addressing, but considering what I have, it's more complete and less buggy than some sims I have played. Especially ones that where on their 3rd or 4th version of previous releases.

3 options:

1) Don't release until all bugs and tweaks are ironed out

2) Release as is and don't issue any patches

3) Get it as polished and crash-free as possible and continue to issue bug fixes and tweaks.

I am very happy chosing option #3.

People are complaining because most if not all of the fixes in this patch should have been included / fixed before they released the game... The game is fundamentally broken as it stands... Having an almost 2 month wait (maybe longer if the issues persist after this patch!) after paying a lot of money for a game is ridiculous. I bought this game for the career mode which was hyped by the developers as the next best thing since sliced bread. As Lazarou said above, the AI in the rain makes it unplayable. It's broken. I'm annoyed at the length of time this patch will take to implement and I have every right to complain.
 
That patch is needed ASAP!

I just wasted an hour in a MP lobby just to get a jump start penalty, after not jumping the start and then the dreaded 425 second "cut track" penalty upon exiting the pits. Not happy!

I love this game but it needs to be fixed.
 

Latest News

What's needed for simracing in 2024?

  • More games, period

  • Better graphics/visuals

  • Advanced physics and handling

  • More cars and tracks

  • AI improvements

  • AI engineering

  • Cross-platform play

  • New game Modes

  • Other, post your idea


Results are only viewable after voting.
Back
Top