WRC8 WRC 8 The Game

[Paul Jeffrey]

Kylotonn Racing Games have confirmed this September will see the release of the next officially licensed World Rally Championship video game - WRC 8.

Imaginatively titled as always, the eighth instalment to the steadily improving WRC franchise of games is set to launch on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and PC this September, and promises to be an all round improvement on previous iterations of the long running franchise.

New for WRC 8 will be a revised physics system across the many varied different racing surfaces within the game, plus the inclusion of what looks to be an already very impressive looking dynamic weather system, presumably adding a feature to allow the 100+ official WRC stages to be experienced in a variety of different weather conditions.

Of the new dynamic weather, Bigben and Kylotonn had the following to say during a brief press release to accompany the brand new announcement trailer:

"A new dynamic weather system has been developed to add random elements to the driving experience, but also to increase realism in the game. Managing the weather is a real challenge for the drivers: modified grip, car settings adjustments, tyre selection optimization, weather team relationship to ensure the best tips and information on the latest conditions. More than mere visual effects, climatic conditions become crucial, especially in the management of your career"

Of course with the title coming out toward the end of the year, the new WRC 8 release will replicate the 2019 FIA World Rally Championship season, including the latest cars and drivers from the official teams' of the category. Featuring over 50 drivers, including the returning multiple champion Sébastien Loeb in his new Hyundai, 14 different events across over 100 individual stages, WRC 8 certainly lacks nothing in terms of scale.

Most importantly of all for sim racers looking to get their rally kicks, Kylotonn have promised that "WRC 8 will go above and beyond WRC 7, especially in the steering requirements and the realistic physics of the vehicles" - one of the weaker points from previous releases.

As well as the class leading WRC cars, the new game is also set to feature a selection of vehicles from the WRC 2 and Junior WRC categories, alongside a number of historic cars. Team management is also set to play a role in the expanded career mode, with the player able to improve their car by way of upgrades and team developments, of which more details are expected to be revealed in the near future.

Exciting times for fans of sideways action.

WRC 8 releases for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Steam/PC September 2019.

Check out the upcoming WRC 8 sub forum here at RaceDepartment for the latest news, discussions and conversation prior to the big game reveal this September!

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[Case_]

If you remember "Rally Championship Xtreme" - that one had arcadey physics, but I enjoyed the stages so much, in fact it's one of my favorite titles ever in terms of stage design. Again, Wales, or Isle of Man, every stage felt and looked so different as you progressed through it.

I only really remember Rally Championship 2000, its predecessor. That one had great stages for its time, and they were also real I believe. I certainly remember the 42 km long Pundershaw, driven in fog and twilight with blinking headlights

 

[KittX]

I only really remember Rally Championship 2000, its predecessor. That one had great stages for its time, and they were also real I believe. I certainly remember the 42 km long Pundershaw, driven in fog and twilight with blinking headlights

Yeah that too, even while everything being actually repetitive there, there is a still a lot of feel that you're going through the real place. I think my most fav was the 2nd stage of first rally, cannot remember it's name now. The one where the light rays go through the trees.

On a more important topic - have anyone tried DLC cars? How's the MKII Escort? I am on the fence about the DLC, after trying Stratos.

 

[White Hawk]

So, I’ve heard that this doesn’t support separate USB pedals, is this true?

 

[KittX]

So, I’ve heard that this doesn’t support separate USB pedals, is this true?

Not sure about pedals, but I have no problems recognizing a joystick for using as a handbrake. It just adds another controller to the list, and you can bind it.

 

[Case_]

No problems with separate USB pedals here.

 

[White Hawk]

No problems with separate USB pedals here.

OK, read a couple we’re having issues and this was a problem in previous games too, anyone with Heusinkveld pedals working OK?

 

[Ludwig von Mises]

OK, read a couple we’re having issues and this was a problem in previous games too, anyone with Heusinkveld pedals working OK?

I believe that is exactly the set of pedals that are causing problems. As far as I know, the only ones that are not recognized.

 

[White Hawk]

I believe that is exactly the set of pedals that are causing problems. As far as I know, the only ones that are not recognized.

Oh goody, that’s ridiculous, is it all of their pedals or some? I have Sprints.

 

[Ludwig von Mises]

Oh goody, that’s ridiculous, is it all of their pedals or some? I have Sprints.

Sorry, not sure. I'm a G29 user. Just repeating what I have seen/heard from YouTube and other forums.

 

[White Hawk]

Sorry, not sure. I'm a G29 user. Just repeating what I have seen/heard from YouTube and other forums.

Well I took the plunge and as it turns out Heusinkveld Sprints work just fine, must be the older Pros and or Ultimates that don’t.

 

[Ludwig von Mises]

Well I took the plunge and as it turns out Heusinkveld Sprints work just fine, must be the older Pros and or Ultimates that don’t.

Good to know. Thanks for informing us.

 

[anton_Chez]

Pro's work here. Binding is weird though but an improvement over the last game.

 

[MarkR]

The more I play WRC 8 the more I'm impressed with it, this is a superb rallying game, one of the best in gameplay terms for a very long time. I'll leave the absolute realism and sim value discussions to others with more technical knowledge. For me, this is a rallying game I want to play more of and has that one more go addictiveness to it. It's great to have a well-structured career with a clear sense of progression (I know career modes aren't for everyone but I enjoy them). There is quite a learning curve to going faster too, I'm much more adapted to the narrow tracks and finding ways to keep the speed up but it took me a while to adjust from DR2.0. Weather and tyre choice make a real impact in this game, I thought I was walking the Wales event in Junior WRC only to realise I was on soft gravel tyres for stage 3 and the final stage was all wet tarmac, my big lead quickly disappeared for a tense finish.

For all that's good and enjoyable it isn't perfect, far from it in fact and here are a few of the issues I've run into (Xbox One X version):
- AI difficulty and damage level can only be set at the start of a new career and can't be adjusted in-game.
- Career objectives are sometimes bugged. I've been informed by the game that I didn't achieve several objectives that I was never set - costing manufacturer reputation etc. Equally, I've sometimes been told I've achieved other targets that I also didn't have. Overall it made no difference to the game but there are definitely issues to be resolved.
- Special event difficulty seems to be variable, some (Training) are way too easy and some are punishingly difficult (Extreme Weather and some Historic), doesn't seem as if much balancing has been applied.
- If I just wanted to chase stage times or drive a specific drivetrain of rally car I'd stick with Dirt Rally 2.0, the difference between cars is more marked and handling seems more consistent to me.

It's fun to read the memories of others with games like Rally Championship 2000, the Manx International Rally in the Ibiza Kit Car is one of those all-time rally gaming memories. We've come a long way since that Lombard RAC Rally game that started it all for me!

 

[Jasje]

Anyone with an OSW/Simucube that is playing this game? Do you have any vibrations or do you feel the road surface? I don't.

 

[Glaniu]

FF doesn't work on Podium DD1. I tried the V2.5 option. What to do?

 

[anton_Chez]

Just canned effects when wheels slide heaps.

 

[RotcivHP]

So, I’ve heard that this doesn’t support separate USB pedals, is this true?

I'm using TS-PC + Clubsport V3 on WRC 8 without problems

 

[Rally_1337]

SimXperience has stated that there won't be any telemetry support for the title (from the game developers).

WRC series always had only DBOX support. Unfortunately, the devs don't seem to be open for other platforms.

 

[Rally_1337]

For PS 4, Xbox One and PC should follow later this week.

WRC 8 - PlayStation 4| Patch Notes (version 1.03)

Hello everyone!
A new update for WRC 8 is now available on PlayStation 4. Please read the Patch Notes below to learn about its content.
Career Mode

• Solving an issue where the “Rain lover” skill in the Career mode wasn’t working properly.

Bug fixes

• Solving a compatibility issue with the Handbrake TSS from Thrustmaster on the T300 & T-GT steering wheels.
• Solving an issue where the Lancia Fulvia HF had too much grip on the road.
• Solving an issue for the Toyota Yaris where the wheel was still visible even with the visibility setting off.
• The Ghost can now be activated/deactivated through the menus.

 

[Rally_1337]

Hi everyone, I found a problem in WRC 8 on x box one x and thrustmaster tx. currently I use a driving station on x box one x and thrustmaster tx with thrustmaster th8a gear shift lever and thrustmaster tss sparco handbrake yesterday I bought the much awaited wrc8 and today for the first time I tried it but when I went to set the controls of the steering wheel does not recognize the hand brake tss sparco in handbrake mode instead moving the lever down on sequential gearbox recognizes the tss sparco as sequential gear mode, very strange because on dirt rally, dirt rally 2.0, force 7, force Horizon and GT 5 recognizes both sequential gearbox and handbrake modes and everything works perfectly. Can any of you tell me something about the subject? Thanks to all in advance

Issues with this handbrake should be fixed in an update coming this week.