rFactor 2 | Early Access Look at the New BTCC Content

BTCC for rFactor 2 Early Access 01.jpg
rFactor 2 gave me a chance to try out the new BTCC DLC content including two new cars and two new tracks set for release to the public on May 9th.

rFactor 2 has moved to a quarterly content release model in 2022, and the Q2 release set for May 9th will include the first batch of BTCC content. This first batch includes two BTCC cars and two new tracks on the BTCC calendar offered as DLC.

For fans of BTCC expecting a full game based on the series, this isn't ideal news. However, BTCC, Motorsport Games and Studio 397 have entered into a partnership that extends to 2027. We can expect more BTCC cars and updated liveries for the rFactor 2 content to be added later this year, and a separate BTCC game can still be expected in the future, though no timeline has been confirmed.

The Cars
The two cars on offer as part of this DLC release are BTCC series compliant versions of the Infiniti Q50 and the Toyota Corolla GR.

BTCC for rFactor 2 Early Access 02.jpg


The Infiniti Q50 won the 2021 BTCC championship , while piloted by Ashley Sutton and Aiden Moffat. It sports a rear-wheel drive layout and handles in a similar manner to a GT4 car. It's a blast to drive in rFactor 2, as curbs are very much in play and the car has a tendency to get loose on corner exit if you're too aggressive with the throttle.

The Toyota Corolla GR won three BTCC races in 2021 thanks to drivers Rory Butcher and Sam Smelt. Unlike the Infiniti, this is a front-wheel drive car and shares more in common with TCR race cars than GT4 in terms of handling. This car is also very forgiving when pushed hard through corners, and the fun factor is high thanks to more throttle being the answer when the car gets loose.

The Tracks
Donington Park and Brands Hatch are the two British tracks offered as DLC in this Q2 release.

BTCC for rFactor 2 Early Access 03.jpg


Donington looks and drives very well in rFactor 2. The trackside details are impressive, down to detailed spectators, curb scuffing and even the occasional aircraft taking off in the distance. This track was the highlight of the BTCC content for me, as it seems to be a great version of the circuit across many facets, and lends itself perfectly to tight racing action with the new cars.

Admittedly, I'm not a big fan of Brands Hatch, though this new version for rFactor 2 seems as good as any in sim racing. Like Donington, the level of trackside detail is exceptional and adds to the immersion of driving here.

Pricing and Availability
The two cars and two tracks are scheduled to be released as DLC on Monday, May 9th. There are a number of ways to purchase them:
  • Cars can be purchased for £4.29/$5.32/€4.99 each
  • Tracks can be purchased for £7.73/$9.59/€8.99 each
  • The ‘Touring’ bundle that includes the two BTCC cars, Brands Hatch and Donington Park can be purchased for £21.64/$26.83/€25.16
  • The Touring car ‘Double Pack’ which includes both BTCC Cars can be purchased for £7.72/$9.59/€8.99SRP
  • The Q2 ‘All in’ Pack including all the content from the Q2 drop can be purchased for £27.01/$33.50/€31.41SRP
Game Updates
In addition to this new content, the release of the BTCC content will coincide with several quality-of-life updates to rFactor 2, including:
  • A new sound engine
  • Particle effects
  • Downshift protection system
  • Further photo options
  • A refreshed safety car
  • Enhanced brake ducting settings
  • Additional user interface refinements
Let us know if anything (or everything) in this first BTCC content release or game update is something you're interested in trying or buying on Monday on Twitter @RaceDepartment or in the comments below!
About author
Mike Smith
I have been obsessed with sim racing and racing games since the 1980's. My first taste of live auto racing was in 1988, and I couldn't get enough ever since. Lead writer for RaceDepartment, and owner of SimRacing604 and its YouTube channel. Favourite sims include Assetto Corsa Competizione, Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2, Automobilista 2, DiRT Rally 2 - On Twitter as @simracing604

Comments

I don't like the pricing of content for rF2. Probably why I haven't played it for nearly two years.
huh....I was on the Hawaii Beta(iRacing's first tests via telephone lines & modems) didn't like the pricing(lol, of the long distance charges) haven't been back since. We all have our likes & dislikes. No worry there.
 
lol I will never understand why detractors need to vent in every single thread
Clearly many that don't like rF2 for whatever of 101 reasons have some sort of issues runs deeper

The question was clear

Let us know if anything (or everything) in this first BTCC content release or game update is something you're interested in trying or buying

yes interested in ! ..... anything else is just sour grapes and trying to put thread in a downer just because you don't like something, how juvenile

P.S.
Oh I forgot you got a entire thread for " what pisses me off " so use the freckin' thing and stop making every other thread a downer, find something useful to do ! :x3:
 
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Premium
A direct quote from Motorsport Games site: "The Company expects to continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future as it continues to incur significant expenses to develop new game franchises. Accordingly, the Company does not believe the existing cash on hand will be sufficient to fund its operations for at least the next 12 months."

https://ir.motorsportgames.com/news...ports-fourth-quarter-full-year-2021-financial
Motorsport Games' main shareholder - with 60% of its stock - is Motorsport Network LLC, a media mogul dedicated to racing - owning and operating Motorsports.TV (which has the rights to broadcast WEC/LeMans, SuperGT, etc...), the "magazine" AutoSport, etc.
It is extremely unlikely that Motorsport Network LLC will let MSG go under as it would be a financially unsound outcome for this venture and really bad publicity for them.
That information from the company itself is basically to inform the shareholders that the company will not be paying dividends to its shareholders in the near feature and to request for shareholders to put more money to fund its activities.
It's extremely common for companies to run in the red for a number of years until they become profitable (just look at Tesla).
Now, the issue is, if the shareholders will trust that the company will eventually become profitable or not, namely, if the videogame industry has space for MSG to capitalise on eSports and on those licences.
 
Oh yeah, I am rather happy with my T300, I knew they sometimes break for people. I never used it at more than 90% power though.
Got a t300 too got it second hand with the pedals for £120 was in mint condition too, I'm risky and run it at 100% all the time no issues yet had it 6 months plus but the fan is making odd noises lol
 
Perhaps because these cars are not just a 3D shell with slapped on generic physics?
Do you have any idea who much time is needed to develop a physics package, align it with reality (as much as possible) and then BOP with same class contents?
There is a rF2 modding group which has made a "fictional+based in reality" WEC+IMSA 2022 franken- mod with a number of scratch made HY (aside from the "real" Glick and the Toyota, they made a Porsche, a Bugatti, a Koningsegg, a Valkyrie, a Pagani, a Ferrari and a Lambo) as well as extra GTD cars (DLC-detuned Vette, the Huracan, the Mustang, the Lexus and the Acura) and they spent, collectively, amongst several drivers, thousands of hours getting the physics fine-tuned and the BOP done.
Can you please tell me what this mod is? It sound interesting
 
huh....I was on the Hawaii Beta(iRacing's first tests via telephone lines & modems) didn't like the pricing(lol, of the long distance charges) haven't been back since. We all have our likes & dislikes. No worry there.
I was there also - those long distance bills were a bit much - but it was so much fun :)

Now it's just $8 a month for a million times better experience.
 
huh....I was on the Hawaii Beta(iRacing's first tests via telephone lines & modems) didn't like the pricing(lol, of the long distance charges) haven't been back since. We all have our likes & dislikes. No worry there.

I was there also - those long distance bills were a bit much - but it was so much fun :)

Now it's just $8 a month for a million times better experience.

Hawaii was mind blowing for one month & then my Dad opened the phone bill, lol.
 
In 2022, content is not released. It is dropped. People are picking it up on the floor I guess. Just like that. Next logical step for 2023 would be to throw content. Or upgrade to droppings. Or droplets.
 
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rf2 has definitely improved over the years
but yeah, I think one of the biggest problems is - and i'm sure a lot of you will disagree - trying to be niche of the niche to give satisfaction to 3% of the sim races is just a bad direction, unless you have a ton of money and you don't care about profit, you want to be the best of the best

if you want to make money, but still be realistic, you have to find a ways to make it more appealing to more general players ( which is imo something RF2 struggles with the most, it's all overly complex to setup and get it working , for people who just want to hit play and go )

there is a reason why silly games like NFS / Forza / Gran Turismo sell in milions and while so many of you will say it's pure crap, well it makes a milions to those studios, allowing them to hire more talented people and perhaps fund their more niche projects

RF2 for example promised that they will try to help modders to get official licenses, making this a better for modders as well as RF2, but nothing happened, ? and if this was meant to be a big thing, again - tryign to make a RF3 with little more simplified approach would get way more people into it , ending up in a more popular sim , which perhaps wont' be as cutting edge/ realistic anymore - but is that a bad thing ?

if you are a person that only cares about the most realistic best ever, than you can't complaint about expensive DLC ( again, flight simmers will easily pay $100 for a single airplane, if it's worth it )
 
rF3 ain't happenin', at least not anytime soon, like years away. S397 has too much time & money & Manpower invested in 2. Plus, something EVERYONE seems to have not discussed in all these 'move on to rF3' posts. All the current content would be left behind. That means whatever comes with 3 and the follow-on DLC will be much of the same tracks & cars already covered but users will have to buy it all over again. Heck everyone whines now when one track is duplicated in a money saving bundle. Think of everything being redone and resold. Holy HeyZuess!
 
so expensive for what it is
Yeah. "for what it is" ... just electrons flying around. Definitely overpriced looking at the size of the electron. And we are getting A LOT of them. So, there should be volume discount! BTW, even these electrons are re-used. They have been here from beginning of universe. Looks like they are trying to unload on us a sh*t load of old used electrons! Way overpriced!;)
 
Yeah. "for what it is" ... just electrons flying around. Definitely overpriced looking at the size of the electron. And we are getting A LOT of them. So, there should be volume discount! BTW, even these electrons are re-used. They have been here from beginning of universe. Looks like they are trying to unload on us a sh*t load of old used electrons! Way overpriced!;)
In my case they're delivered via photons, and as photons are generally considered massless in comparison to electrons I should get the DLC for free ;)
 
Yeah. "for what it is" ... just electrons flying around. Definitely overpriced looking at the size of the electron. And we are getting A LOT of them. So, there should be volume discount! BTW, even these electrons are re-used. They have been here from beginning of universe. Looks like they are trying to unload on us a sh*t load of old used electrons! Way overpriced!;)
If you project the cost of all cars and tracks for BTCC at the same "discounted" price you get to over $100 if it goes through 3 parts. For something that is just a spill over of a most likely canceled game isn't cheap. Would you consider the BTCC game for $100+ as a bargain considering the market average cost for similar DLCs/games?
 
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In my case they're delivered via photons, and as photons are generally considered massless in comparison to electrons I should get the DLC for free ;)
I believe the cost comes from converting electrons to photons. And we can argue both ways - either "volume discount needs to be applied" or "it's extremely cheap, considering amount of needed work at reasonable frame rates". ;)
 

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