After months of waiting, EA Sports has finally revealed its first official WRC game in trailer form. Announcing much about the game, here are just a few reasons to get excited - and one to be skeptical about.
Image credit: EA Sports
Earlier this week, rally fans got the news they have waited months for. Indeed, having taken over the official WRC licence at the start of the year, the world expected EA Sports would release a new title in 2023.
Rumours of different release dates and secretive influencer trips lead to this week’s trailer and game announcement. EA Sports WRC will release on 3 November with those that pre-order the game gaining access 31 October. But is it worth spending your hard-earned money on a game that currently only features a trailer?
Here are four reasons to get excited about this new game – and a further reason why it is worth remaining sceptical.
This newest take on an official WRC title however will use the far more recent Unreal Engine, renowned for its rapid and realistic lighting calculations. In fact, one can see just how much more contrast is available in the newest trailer compared to previous games. Furthermore, the colours look softer and more true-to-life rather than the boosted saturation of old.
EA Sports WRC looks fantastic. Image credit: EA Sports
Despite many gamers’ concerns about Unreal’s anisotropic filtering and sometimes pixelated motion blur, this upgrade is certainly something to get excited about. In fact, flying through Finnish trees and powering within Greek dust is sure to provide more immersive lighting than Dirt Rally 2.0 or WRC Generations.
It seems this variety of models is also coming to EA Sports WRC. In fact, the reveal announced a whopping 68-strong car list at launch. An in-progress list is currently available on the game’s website and already features some great cars. Group B monsters, a whole host of modern feeder series models and obviously, the hybrid heros currently tackling Akropolis Rally Greece will all provide fun.
Subaru Impreza in EA Sports WRC. Image credit: EA Sports
Unlike Kylotonn Games’ versions of rallying’s greatest models in history, every car features immaculate attention to detail in DR2.0. As a result, one can surely expect the same level of care in the upcoming game. Every single one of the 68 models present in EA WRC will be as true-to-life as the team can make it.
Whilst recent Codemasters rally games have featured somewhat uninspired locations, surrounding and layouts, this new official WRC game will bring brand new stages to the fray. In total, a massive 18 different rally locations – every 2023 WRC round – have been announced for the game. The final 19th Central Europe Rally will join as a post-launch free update.
This new game is a great opportunity to craft fun stages. Image credit: EA Sports
Having to create all-new stages, this is the perfect opportunity for Codemasters and EA to overhaul their location creation process. Looking back, it is no secret that KT Games and the previous WRC franchise have had the edge in level design. So perhaps, the new official designers can draw inspiration and produce unique road sequences in EA Sports WRC.
It seems a lot of that knowledge in offline progression-based racing is transferring to rally. In fact, a pair of game modes announced for the new WRC game are catching the eyes of many. Moments is essentially a copy of the F1 Replay game mode from F1 23 in which scenarios from the 2023 season will be available to replay for rally fans in the hopes of over-turning results.
Builder mode lets you create your own rally car. Image credit: EA Sports
The game mode that truly grabs headlines, however, is the Builder mode. Here, players will essentially become the team leader of a fourth manufacturer to join the Rally1 regulations. Taking a basic body design and building it up with various engine, suspension, hybrid and brake options, one can create their ultimate rally racer. Once your car is ready, you compete in the World Rally Championship in the hopes of winning the manufacturer’s championship.
Find out what Overtake’s Champion Joe thought of the EA Sports WRC reveal trailer.
In this sense, the gravel physics appeared fun whilst the tarmac handling featured an odd floating sensation that ultimately resulted in grip being overly effective. Indeed, driving on asphalt was like gravel with the grip turned up. Combine this with the inconsistent ice of Monte Carlo and you have a game that can feel unsatisfying to drive.
Hopefully, the work EA is doing to the engine will provide a starker difference in overall feel between snow, gravel and tarmac. However, until gameplay trailers and reviews release, it is surely wise to remain sceptical about EA Sports WRC. That said, if you played Dirt Rally 2.0 and found its physics enjoyable, then you will surely find this title just as good, if not better.
What is your favourite part of the EA Sports WRC announcement? Tell us on Twitter at @OverTake_gg or in the comments down below!
Image credit: EA Sports
Earlier this week, rally fans got the news they have waited months for. Indeed, having taken over the official WRC licence at the start of the year, the world expected EA Sports would release a new title in 2023.
Rumours of different release dates and secretive influencer trips lead to this week’s trailer and game announcement. EA Sports WRC will release on 3 November with those that pre-order the game gaining access 31 October. But is it worth spending your hard-earned money on a game that currently only features a trailer?
Here are four reasons to get excited about this new game – and a further reason why it is worth remaining sceptical.
EA WRC Graphics Look Great
As with every brand new game trailer, the first thing to note about EA Sports WRC is its graphics. Previous Codemasters rally games featured graphics from the developer’s in-house Ego engine. Essentially an engine created in the mid-2000s, some may call it outdated and indeed, recent rally games never popped graphically.This newest take on an official WRC title however will use the far more recent Unreal Engine, renowned for its rapid and realistic lighting calculations. In fact, one can see just how much more contrast is available in the newest trailer compared to previous games. Furthermore, the colours look softer and more true-to-life rather than the boosted saturation of old.
EA Sports WRC looks fantastic. Image credit: EA Sports
Despite many gamers’ concerns about Unreal’s anisotropic filtering and sometimes pixelated motion blur, this upgrade is certainly something to get excited about. In fact, flying through Finnish trees and powering within Greek dust is sure to provide more immersive lighting than Dirt Rally 2.0 or WRC Generations.
Content Aplenty in EA WRC
One of the main positives of Dirt Rally 2.0 was the scope and detail of vehicles available to drive in the game. The title featured everything from 1960s low-power endurance rally racers to modern machines built to tackle any stage with perfect precision.It seems this variety of models is also coming to EA Sports WRC. In fact, the reveal announced a whopping 68-strong car list at launch. An in-progress list is currently available on the game’s website and already features some great cars. Group B monsters, a whole host of modern feeder series models and obviously, the hybrid heros currently tackling Akropolis Rally Greece will all provide fun.
Subaru Impreza in EA Sports WRC. Image credit: EA Sports
Unlike Kylotonn Games’ versions of rallying’s greatest models in history, every car features immaculate attention to detail in DR2.0. As a result, one can surely expect the same level of care in the upcoming game. Every single one of the 68 models present in EA WRC will be as true-to-life as the team can make it.
New Stages To Explore
Car content is certainly important in rally games, but perhaps even more important are the stages. In fact, rallying is all about have one shot at getting the perfect run through a stretch of complex road.Whilst recent Codemasters rally games have featured somewhat uninspired locations, surrounding and layouts, this new official WRC game will bring brand new stages to the fray. In total, a massive 18 different rally locations – every 2023 WRC round – have been announced for the game. The final 19th Central Europe Rally will join as a post-launch free update.
This new game is a great opportunity to craft fun stages. Image credit: EA Sports
Having to create all-new stages, this is the perfect opportunity for Codemasters and EA to overhaul their location creation process. Looking back, it is no secret that KT Games and the previous WRC franchise have had the edge in level design. So perhaps, the new official designers can draw inspiration and produce unique road sequences in EA Sports WRC.
EA Sports WRC Game Modes
In past titles, EA Sports and Codemasters have become the leaders in single player experiences and game modes. Indeed, the F1 Series’ My Team campaign and recent Race Replay mode provide brilliant long-term fun.It seems a lot of that knowledge in offline progression-based racing is transferring to rally. In fact, a pair of game modes announced for the new WRC game are catching the eyes of many. Moments is essentially a copy of the F1 Replay game mode from F1 23 in which scenarios from the 2023 season will be available to replay for rally fans in the hopes of over-turning results.
Builder mode lets you create your own rally car. Image credit: EA Sports
The game mode that truly grabs headlines, however, is the Builder mode. Here, players will essentially become the team leader of a fourth manufacturer to join the Rally1 regulations. Taking a basic body design and building it up with various engine, suspension, hybrid and brake options, one can create their ultimate rally racer. Once your car is ready, you compete in the World Rally Championship in the hopes of winning the manufacturer’s championship.
Be Skeptical of Dirt Rally Physics
Despite all this, there is still one reason to approach this new game with a level head. The physics engine of EA Sports WRC is being built from the existing Dirt Rally 2.0 model. While certainly a commendable game as a whole, the physics of both it and its predecessor felt compromising.In this sense, the gravel physics appeared fun whilst the tarmac handling featured an odd floating sensation that ultimately resulted in grip being overly effective. Indeed, driving on asphalt was like gravel with the grip turned up. Combine this with the inconsistent ice of Monte Carlo and you have a game that can feel unsatisfying to drive.
Hopefully, the work EA is doing to the engine will provide a starker difference in overall feel between snow, gravel and tarmac. However, until gameplay trailers and reviews release, it is surely wise to remain sceptical about EA Sports WRC. That said, if you played Dirt Rally 2.0 and found its physics enjoyable, then you will surely find this title just as good, if not better.
What is your favourite part of the EA Sports WRC announcement? Tell us on Twitter at @OverTake_gg or in the comments down below!
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