A Letter to Racing Game Developers: Offline Singleplayer is Key

Sim Racing Singleplayer.jpg
In a recent poll asking what OverTake community members plan on racing next, the results overwhelmingly pointed to offline racing. As a result, OverTake Editor Angus believes developers must listen to the call for greater single-player functionality in racing games.

Image credit: Reiza Studios

This is starting to feel like I am beating a very old and very tired drum. But sim racing online in the traditional public ranked servers, and even the idea of league racing is becoming more and more tiresome in my opinion. But thankfully, I feel less alone as last week, we ran a pole on the main page asking what the community is planning on doing next in sim racing. The result? Over half of us voted in favour of an offline experience.

Surely then, now is the time for game developers to listen to the outcry of the community, hit pause on the procession of always online arcade titles and ranked racing systems and instead give single player fans a bit of substance.

The proof is in the Poll​

Starting last week, OverTake Project Manager @Jimmi Allison launched a poll destined for the website's home page asking community members where we all plan on racing next. Initially focusing on a specific list of various racing games and ranked racing services, the comments show AI racing offline quickly became a desperately missing option.

50.3% of OT Users aim to race offline next.

50.3% of OT Users aim to race offline next.

Within a day of launching the poll, Offline racing had been added to the options and already amassed a great deal of votes, quickly hitting a majority. The response held over 50% of the votes throughout the week until now when, at the time of writing, Offline racing accounts for 50.3% of all responses.

Second place saw iRacing get 12.7% of votes whilst Le Mans Ultimate represented 10.8% despite its Early Access state.

Holding a majority of the votes, albeit from just 959 participants, this shows a renewed interest from community members in back-to-basics, offline racing experiences. And that is not the only reason developers should finally divide their attention away from the cash cow that is always online gameplay.

Always Online, Always Problematic​

In recent weeks, several stories within the open-world racing game niche have highlighted the major issue with always-online gaming, especially in the racing game world.

Earlier this month, Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown launched to, shall we say tempered success. You can read our review of TDUSC here. Whilst we appreciated fun arcade driving physics and impressive engine sounds, there was no getting around the, at times game-breaking, server issues leaving many stuck in loading screens or even unable to launch the game.

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown may look pretty, but feels empty.

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown may look pretty, but feels empty. Image credit: Nacon

Those lucky enough to enter the main bulk of TDU gameplay in its 2024 guise faced baron landscapes struggling to capture the life that a 1:1 scale of Hong Kong Island should. It seems the push for 'natural' player encounters whilst exploring the world led to a disappointing priorities ladder in which AI cars and other solo gameplay elements like a living world fell to the wayside.

This sort of title is no better after a few years however as Ubisoft's The Crew showcased earlier this year. Back in March, the first of its name was delisted from store pages. But it gets worse as not only could new players no longer purchase the game, but those who did buy the 2014 title could no longer access it either. The title's so-called always online servers now became always offline with servers shutting down.

Since then and no doubt following backlash from the decision, the game's developer has implemented offline modes for both The Crew 2 and the most recent Motorfest. But the first title which, in many fans' opinions was the best of the bunch, will never be officially accessible again.

How to Improve Offline Racing?​

This whole idea of putting effort back into the offline experience and pushing single-player development is not just about making games fun and as immersive as possible in the here and now. Instead, it is about ensuring a title lives on well beyond the community's online adoration has faded away. And all that starts with a fun and engaging offline experience.

I hope Assetto Corsa EVO gets better AI than the series' previous entrants.

I hope Assetto Corsa EVO gets better AI than the series' previous entrants. Image credit: Kunos Simulazioni

In my opinion, there are two main areas developers must make strides to ensure a captivating single player experience with one very much requiring the other. At the core of it all is stronger AI.

AI Development is Lacking in 2024​

AI, computer opponents or bots. Whatever you call them, the rivals that make single-player racing work are one key aspect in sim racing that struggles to receive the love of developers, especially in recent years. Sure, Automobilista 2 is set to receive vastly reworked AI mechanics whilst the likes of Le Mans Ultimate and iRacing are slowly pushing smarter AI. But for the most part, I feel progress has been slow when you consider the advancements of AI outside of gaming.

Take a look at chatbots like ChatGPT, and you will realise that these fully programmed computers almost give off an impression of self-awareness and reasoning. Whilst I understand that a field of 20 cars individually driven by a powerful open-source chatbot would blow up even the most advanced PC builds, selling the lie of aware AI is crucial.


We need to see rival cars that defend at the right time, react to how you are placing your car and think far into a race regarding tyre strategy and aggression. Instead, we currently have a collection of locomotives following a set of pre-selected train lines including pre-programmed spins and pitting at predictable tyre wear percentages.

Racing Games Deserve Better Career Modes​

But there is no point to competent and believe AI cars if it is just to set up random races. Recent racing game releases have also shown a lacklustre and uninspired approach to offline game modes. From EA Sports WRC's repetitive Career to Forza Horizon 5's campaign, the idea of an immersive Career Mode is desperately lacking in modern racing games.

I remember playing games back in my youth like V-Rally 3 with its cool contract signing idea and later the original Forza Horizon and its progression system restricting you to certain cars throughout the game. Nowadays, developers either throw every bonus at players from the get-go or make a game so hard that grinding for hours might just about earn you a set of fuzzy dice.

Then again, a truly iconic career mode requires a great amount of creativity and that is something I do not have. All I can do is hope a modern racing game will be released soon with immersive AI and a progression system that actually makes me want to come back time and time again.

Do you think racing game developers are doing enough for the single-player experience? Let us know in the comments.
About author
Angus Martin
Motorsport gets my blood pumping more than anything else. Be it physical or virtual, I'm down to bang doors.

Comments

Premium
I race 100% online, but I didn't answer the poll because the choices were too limited. There are a lot of racing communities on Discord that the poll neglected.
 
Premium
But you can, if your wife accepts that it's your hobby/sport and that you're not at home in theory. Close the door/basement and it's quiet. It's like you're going to the gym or to football for 2-3 hours.

It's all a question of expectations and agreement.

Do you want to race against the silly AIs? Of course, but that has nothing to do with sim racing and competition "here". And that's what most "serious" drivers are looking for here and in other leagues. Because it is just extremely fun to compete and every race is different against real drivers.

Have fun with casual racing anyway.


haha no, life and the world doesn't work that way. Maybe for you, but I have adult responsibilities.

My wife accepts that I sim race, yes, just as I accept she plays MMOJRPG's. Doesn't mean just because she or I are gaming the whole world is on hold until we're done. If something comes up and she needs my attention, she has it and vice versa. I'm in a race/or she's in dungeon doesn't work in my house. Who cares, its a video game, pause it or alt+f4, real life take precedence over video games. Gaming doesn't control my world or life. if I'm in the middle of a race and leading I'll alt+f4 if something comes up that requires my attention without a 2nd thought. And if I wanted privacy I could have it but I don't care about that. I honestly don't care about racing against others. I hate people. That does nothing for me at all. My expectations and the agreements are perfectly fine in my home and met. Nice of you to assume otherwise though.

Do I want to race against Silly AI's? Yeah, I don't mind at all. Most of the time that's what I do or practice/hotlaps or just drive laps until I get bored. I never said I was a serious sim racer either. I don't care about that at all. Its a video game after all. Also again, I hate people. I can't stress that enough. I don't find it fun to race with or against others. I find it stressful, and sim racing is my down time, I already deal with enough stress at my job, i don't need it when i come and I'm trying to unwind after a hard day. I have no interest in being competitive or competing against others in a video game. Been there done that and have the medals, trophies and awards to go with it. Its not fun to compete against others to me anymore, nor is it fun to race against real drivers anymore. I could care less, honestly.

I put it to you this way. I had iracing up until 2 months ago. Over a 3 year period I did 6 races, 6. Not 6 in 1 year, or 1 day, 6 over 3 years. I have enough cars and tracks that I get the discount prices when i buy new ones (The own 40 cars/tracks discount). I only did practice, SP races and time attack.


I do have fun, playing by myself.
 
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Premium
I think all the poll tells us is that offline/AI shouldn’t be forgotten after the last few years where it seems to have been a push for more multiplayer support.

I’ll guess some of the developers will realise that not everyone can sustain a long term multiplayer funded model. If they can progress the offline component they may well be able grow in that space and make it work financially.

The main problem is how much are people prepared to pay for content that sustains the developer outside of any kind of online subscription service. Another possible poll maybe 🤔.

What is the value to people of a new track or car pack? It seems to vary quite a bit from some comments in other threads. I don’t want to pay money for iRacing but I’d quite happily pay for more “official” content for the games that I do play rather than rely on mods.
 
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Premium
I hope I'm not breaking any rules by informally conducting a poll within article comments.

I'm curious, maybe comment or throw a like on this if you're primarily a single player racer but really have little desire for a career mode. Just like there seems to be “silent masses” of single player simracers, I wonder if there might also be silent masses of offline racers who really wouldn't care about a career mode.

For the record, I am indeed someone for whom a career mode holds pretty much no appeal at all. I just want to drive what I want to, on the course I want to, when I want to. For me the choice of an open/test session, an individual race weekend, or a championship, is all the event structure I can imagine ever wanting in a sim title. I'm just wondering how much of an exception I may be.
Did we already have a poll on this or am I remembering some one else asking for a poll on this?
 
Not that surprised that SP/MP is divided 50/50.

Myself I only race offline against AI for various reasons. One of which is that it is the only way to
enjoy some car/track combos that would be very difficult or impossible to find online.
One of the other reason is convenience, playing what you want when you want, with the settings that you want.
The idea of MP races is tiring to me, just thinking about it: it feels like a chore.

I've been beta testing for a while v1.6 of AMS2, which is my main sim. It has made great progress in AI behavior for sure, with some really immersive races.
There's a career mode planned for 2025, after physics and AI updates have settled to their almost final form. If AI is really up to it, there's an opportunity of something awesome here, as AMS2 has everything needed: from vast content to zillions scenarios possible in term of weather, race conditions, rules, etc.
 
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I used to enjoy online sim racing, especially in our Racedepartment clubs like Raceroom club and a few older clubs where there was (for a time) clean and sensible racing. But more and more I was put off by cheating, unfair driving and sloppy driving skills of other players who just didn't seem to care about ruining a race. So I went back to my PC sim racing roots and now I only do offline racing against the AI because in all honesty, AI races more fairly and sensibly. Jeez I still use Microprose GP4 because the AI racing is sublime on that one. So for me at 60 and I have been sim racing since about 1990, offline for me please Mr Developers.
 
OverTake
Premium
Just on the subject of single player, because I can see this is very divisive here.
Another thing to consider is that there is a portion of people that may have some level of social anxiety and don't want social interaction with that level of pressure. It's a good exercise to try and have some empathy because you never know all the reasons behind people's choices.
There is no one way to enjoy simracing, variety is what make this genre so much fun, we have choice.
 
It goes beyond racing games. It involves all simulation games. Judging by the popularity of of the career mods for Flight Simulator, i'd say that the majority of the players are interested in it. Players also love the career of Derail Valley. So it's not like the career feature is a "roleplay" niche. Simulation fans are very fond of all simulation,including career simulation.
 
It is news to me that the main cause for AI limitation is our limited PC performance. Where is the data backing your statement?

The data is plain... ACC has the least number of nodes on it's tyres and it's the only current sim that has it's AI on the same tyres and it's AI is terrible... No other sim with more than 1 point runs it's AI on the same tyres as the player...

ISI has always said the tyres are the limitation for the AI in rF2, S397 say no different now for LMU... Same with the SETA tyre model on the Madness engines... Too many nodes for that many calculations... So all run their AI on the original rFactor 1 tyre code pacejka...
 
there is a lot of reasons why players like to race offline than online imo this is reasons why
poor connections : there is some players in worldwide dont have a good internet or unstable connections due location or poor cables etc
material: some players dont have wheels to play simracing or they have wheels but not professional to race online so they play with keyboards or controllers
AI: you can race AI drivers with same performance as you if you want to fight with them unlike online if you rookie or newbie experience players will beat you easy
and a lof of reasons including what players like etc
 
The data is plain... ACC has the least number of nodes on it's tyres and it's the only current sim that has it's AI on the same tyres and it's AI is terrible... No other sim with more than 1 point runs it's AI on the same tyres as the player...

ISI has always said the tyres are the limitation for the AI in rF2, S397 say no different now for LMU... Same with the SETA tyre model on the Madness engines... Too many nodes for that many calculations... So all run their AI on the original rFactor 1 tyre code pacejka...
For years, ISI engine ran the tires on almost the same physics as the player, in the days of rf1, GTR2, etc. Running the AI on the player physics doesnt solve anything, because the main AI problems are usually raw pace, space awareness, proper attack and defense techniques, diferentiating passes for position and lapping people etc.

The differences in laptime has to do more with how the AI determine their path, and how they maximize performance, rather than what tires they are on.

So no, it has nothing to do with tires, or running the physics of the player in all AI cars.
 
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100% offline. I want the narrative and challenge of doing a 20 year career. My current career is on year ten, started with SRX, moved up to trucks in Nascar Racing 3, currently doing XFinity, will I be able to win the Cup series and Daytona before I retire in ten years time? Next planned career is mx-5s and GT4s in raceroom or iracing then graduate to GTs in LMU, and then on to hypercars. So decent AI is very important, career mode would also be nice but I can make my own if need be.
 
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Very important article!

I guess simracing channels, being made by people who are quite professional or even actual race drivers, and who have a considerable time for it, make us have the impression that online is by far the most popular (because for them, it does make a lot of sense to focus on that), when it's not exactly the case for normal players.

Online I like hotlap challenges (by the way, AMS2 lap times list being almost impossible to navigate makes me really sad lol) and occasionally I join a trackday server, but I don't like the need to wait for a specific time to play, and I honestly don't have the time nor interest in dedicating myself enough to this hobby to join leagues and such. Also, and very important too, I'm still a bad driver, so I prefer to not risk ruining other people's races (which is bad for them, and would make me feel bad too).

With close friends I do enjoy a lot racing online, but my few friends who like simracing very rarely have time to play.

I miss a lot good career modes, I'm ok with the AMS2 AI and Raceroom's one seems really good, but the lack of a structured career makes things much less interesting.
 
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I actually think that we should ignore this poll and take another :giggle:
cause we were a bit misleading. I mean... dunno if this is some kind a language barrier or something
but I answer "LMU" cause I thought, you know... the question was "Where are you racing next - which game?"

really just "where are you racing next" doesn't meant make much sense to me.
but I'll say it again maybe it's just me :geek:
 
Great to know there's a doctor in the house! ;)
Idk if you have any say in this matter, but most of the comments are the usual infighting, followed by comments
about how the poll isnt representative. Maybe overtake could invest some time in a proper-ish survey of the sim commununity. stuff like prefered games, control methods, vr/no vr etc. Could be some interesting/valuable data in there.
 
For years, ISI engine ran the tires on almost the same physics as the player, in the days of rf1, GTR2, etc. Running the AI on the player physics doesnt solve anything, because the main AI problems are usually raw pace, space awareness, proper attack and defense techniques, diferentiating passes for position and lapping people etc.

The differences in laptime has to do more with how the AI determine their path, and how they maximize performance, rather than what tires they are on.

So no, it has nothing to do with tires, or running the physics of the player in all AI cars.

Sure sure... It's not like this hasn't been well documented over the years by the devs themselves... :whistling:

It's the main issue I see with AI in AMS2, rF2 and LMU atm... The AI paths aren't exactly crap in those titles... And people without the computing power just don't see their ability to do the things you mention at a decently believable level, not the F1 series level but good enough to race against...

Cold tyre phases, different... Cornering speeds in slow corners, different... Cornering speeds in fast corners, different... Tyre wear, different... Rolling resistence, different... Therefore longer races are pretty much pointless unless I can tune the tyre files to my liking... Because the devs sure as hell don't get them in the right zones...

All of that computing for the passes, defensive techniques and space awareness all are better in the F1 engine because of the simplified physics allowing for more calculations to be done...
 
Sure sure... It's not like this hasn't been well documented over the years by the devs themselves... :whistling:

It's the main issue I see with AI in AMS2, rF2 and LMU atm... The AI paths aren't exactly crap in those titles... And people without the computing power just don't see their ability to do the things you mention at a decently believable level, not the F1 series level but good enough to race against...

Cold tyre phases, different... Cornering speeds in slow corners, different... Cornering speeds in fast corners, different... Tyre wear, different... Rolling resistence, different... Therefore longer races are pretty much pointless unless I can tune the tyre files to my liking... Because the devs sure as hell don't get them in the right zones...

All of that computing for the passes, defensive techniques and space awareness all are better in the F1 engine because of the simplified physics allowing for more calculations to be done...
All those things you mention can be programmed without the need to use the dynamic properties of the tires, or even other parts of the car, to a convincing level. They have been done in the past, and like i said, other games used the same physics for AI, and the results weren't any better. The problem with AI is not the physics, its the "brain" driving those physics, and its not about CPU power, its about either water tight programming and predicting algoritms, or using other AI methods that can, or not, be CPU intensive, but which have nothing to do with the physics.

The things you mention are very simple parameters that are all about grip, and that is very easy to simplify for an AI to go around the track.

The F1 game is better, because they can concentrate all their efforts in just on type of game, and they have been programming AI since the TOCA days, so they have a very solid base and experience, it has nothing to do with the F1 codies cars being less CPU intensive, which you have no way of knowing anyways.
 
I used to be involved in several online leagues for GTR2, AMS and AC but just not my thing at these days.

But the last thing I really want personally is a focus on career modes as a result of that.

The EA WRC one is a perfect example. This WAS their focus on a career mode, after many people criticised Dirt Rally 2's. But personally, I loved the DR2 was - it was perfect for me, after a couple of boring seasons to start, it found my difficulty level and then it just generated a new set of events for each 'season' for whatever car I wanted to drive - no two were ever the same.

The thing I miss as an offline player is the customisation options to race the grid I want to race against.

- I want to pick my opponent cars, liveries etc
- I want to be able to assign them what I believe to be realistic attributes (whatever attributes the game may have for them)
- I want to get able to have variety between (and sometimes within) custom championships


Is there any reason that games like ACC and WRC should lock this functionality away to me, who doesn't care about trophies or online compatibility or whatnot?

Both of those games interest me for their content, but there's £100 of ACC DLC on my Steam wishlist that I may as well remove and I have fewer than 5 hours in EA WRC because there are no game modes I want to play in it (and because it intensely stuttered for months after launch) with no intention of buying their 2024 pass.

IMO, games should come with a 'Content Manager' like ability to set up the championship or grid I want to run and then let me have at it. Kudos for Raceroom and AMS2 devs for at least acknowledging this.


(And yes, obviously I want the best on-track AI possible too)
 

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