Rally fans got a big surprise yesterday when Codemasters announced DiRT 4 would be releasing this summer. The game promises a lot of content, with over 50 off-road vehicles and the official World Rallycross Championship license. Now, a pair of Youtube videos from the Erased Citizens channel give us a better idea of what to expect from the game.
Right from the off, we see that players are greeted with two options for the physics: “Normal” and “Simulation.” The former is said to be more like the traditional numbered DiRT titles—fun and approachable—while the latter is set to be even more realistic than the recent (and much-lauded) DiRT Rally. Crucially, there will be separate leaderboards for each.
Next up is arguably one of the most exciting new features: the course creator, known in-game as “Your Stage.” Players are given just two sliders (one for length, one for complexity) before the game procedurally creates a stage. This could prove a massive boon for online racing, as every player will be on equally-unfamiliar ground.
Speaking of online, there is talk in the second video (found below) of the leaderboards being cross-platform. While the demonstration is done on the PlayStation 4, the idea is that the records will display players from all three platforms (including XB1 and PC).
Out on the gravel, DiRT 4 looks quite similar to DiRT Rally, which is no bad thing. The Evo VI taking on the twists and turns of Australia shows off the long draw distances and impressive particle effects players should enjoy. The Erased Citizens crew does mention frame-rates took a hit during more taxing moments of their experience, but as the game is in pre-alpha, there’s still hope for improvement before release.
One interesting detail spotted at the 4:00 mark in the video above is a drone hovering above the track. We’re very curious to know if that will have any benefit for players or spectators, a la Forza Horizon 3.
Stay tuned to GTPlanet for more news on DiRT 4 as it arrives.
DiRT 4 is scheduled for release June 9 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC platforms.
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