WRC9 WRC 9 The Game

Paul Jeffrey · Apr 30, 2020

WRC 9 is just around the corner, and one of the new locations set to make an appearance in the game is the New Zealand Rally - with some first preview imagery from the states now out in the public domain.

Set to release on console and PC in September this year, with next gen console release slated for a little while afterwards, the ninth instalment of the WRC game series (can you believe we are on number 9 already?!?) looks to be shaping up rather nicely over at KT Racing - so much so that the studio have decided to release some preview footage from an early build version of the title - and already it looks fantastic.

As per usual, the upcoming game enjoys the official licence of the FIA World Rally Championship, this time taking the opportunity to recreate the 2020 season that is currently on hold, and as such returning favourites such as the Safari Rally in Kenya, Rally Japan and the featured Rally New Zealand.

“Roads in New-Zealand are amongst the most beautiful and the most appreciated in the Championship’s history.” tells Benoît Gomes, Lead Level Designer at KT Racing.

“Famous for its fast chains of turns and a sustained pace rhythm, along with breath-taking landscapes, Rally New-Zealand truly offers a particular experience. A long preparation work allowed us to replicate, as closely as possible, the luxuriant vegetation, the light and unique ocean views, as well as the road’s topography and surfaces, mainly composed of gravel. We’re convinced that players will enjoy taking up this challenge as much as we did in WRC 9.” concludes Benoît Gomes.

WRC 9 Key Features:

3 new rallies: Japan, New Zealand, Kenya
Over 50 official teams and their livery from the WRC, WRC 2, WRC 3 and Junior WRC
Over 15 bonus cars that have left their mark on the history of the WRC
Exclusive new game modes soon to be discovered

WRC 9 will release on Xbox One, PS4, PC this September 3rd.

Want to know more about this new game? No worries, keep an eye out for the upcoming WRC 9 sub forum here at RaceDepartment to engage with your fellow sim racing fans.

azaralamouri · Apr 30, 2020

VR anyone?

Shannon Flynn · Apr 30, 2020

I've bought every release of these games since the beginning.

MIGHT take a break this year, unless they finally implement customizable online rallies with cumulative times rather than the usual single stage mode.

In reality, I'll probably end up pre-ordering so I can get all the classic vehicles

Yoflo · Apr 30, 2020

i bought 2008 version but this Time no VR no buy

turbo86 · Apr 30, 2020

A whole "new" game for just 3 new rallies, a bunch of liveries and a few "historic" cars. Seriously they could have simply released a DLC for WRC8. Not that i care about any of KTs junk...i'm just saying...

Case_ · Apr 30, 2020

I wonder if they'll finally realize how FOV works.

ShredatorFIN · Apr 30, 2020

If FFB is still the same, just 3 new stages and no VR (nor SimVibe)... count me out

Not to mention, probably Epic Fail Store exclusive again

RufGTI · Apr 30, 2020

turbo86 said:
A whole "new" game for just 3 new rallies, a bunch of liveries and a few "historic" cars. Seriously they could have simply released a DLC for WRC8. Not that i care about any of KTs junk...i'm just saying...

What we also have to take in mind:
- There will be at least one location less compared to WRC 8 (according to the 2020 WRC Wikipedia page), even when including the postponed Italy and Argentina rounds and the cancelled event in Portugal.
- Citroen left the championship, so there is only three different current top-tier cars to choose from.
- Overall there will be a smaller number of cars to choose from because the developers have always done this based on the entries in the events completed by the time the game was released. So far only three events have taken place.

azaralamouri · Apr 30, 2020

I don't care about DLC cars and stages same as the guys in the comments but I'll keep my positivity and good hopes.

WRC8 was a good game/sim and sure WRC9 will be better in the main aspects that matter like the physics and the handling.

Freakinbananas · Apr 30, 2020

It looks good I have to say!

sKeno · Apr 30, 2020

turbo86 said:
A whole "new" game for just 3 new rallies, a bunch of liveries and a few "historic" cars. Seriously they could have simply released a DLC for WRC8. Not that i care about any of KTs junk...i'm just saying...

and if they released it as dlc other people would complain.

Case_ · Apr 30, 2020

Pretty sure they have no choice but to release it as a new game if they want to keep the license, even if they wanted to go the DLC route (but why would they?)

chris cadby · Apr 30, 2020

I just hope they have sorted the frame-pacing issues. Loved the game but on a 144hz monitor even at 90fps I'd get stuttering, which seemed to affect a lot of people.

TheRealCeeBee · Apr 30, 2020

no vr, no triplescreen support, lousy fov, 3 tracks.. this is a dlc for wrc8 not a game.

Dr. Death · Apr 30, 2020

Time to subscribe to pewdiepie then.

DeVxC · Apr 30, 2020

Epic first look because it's Epic St... get it? ahhhh funny...
Why they doing this again? Epic paying them so much to be exclusive? I don't get it. I never imagine we will have exclusives on PC first loot boxes now this...

Scott Borchardt · Apr 30, 2020

If it's on Epic = no buy
no VR or at least track IR = no buy

Nigel Mansell · Apr 30, 2020

I wonder how they make money via Epic Store. I'm also a PC user refusing to install more than one gaming client.

So, Epic Store get the exclusive, then quite a few Steam users (who love racing/rallying) don't buy it. I base this statement on forums posts, and YouTube vid comments. How is it financially viable??

Hopefully, if enough of us aren't buying it, due to Steam being our client of choice, then this may be the last year (2 year deal?) that Epic gets an exclusive.

So - for the 2nd year running, sorry Kylotonn #NOSTEAMNOBUY

For me, the fact that there are few incremental improvements isn't so vital. In the main, most racing games in a 1 year cycle, are flawed - and see very few game-changing improvements.

ShredatorFIN · Apr 30, 2020

Nigel Mansell said:
I wonder how they make money via Epic Store. I'm also a PC user refusing to install more than one gaming client.

I'm against having all these different gaming clients too, but seems to be reality these days :/

However, GOG Galaxy 2.0 is pretty great, it combines Steam, Origin, Uplay, Rockstar Launcher, Epic Store etc. into one platform. So you need just one program to launch all your games. You don't have to see ads about GOG store or anything like that, it combines everything into one neat library, games start easily with just one click

GOG GALAXY 2.0 - All your games and friends in one place.

Connect GOG GALAXY 2.0 with other gaming platforms and bring together games you play and the friends you play them with in one powerful app. With GOG GALAXY 2.0 you won't have to juggle between multiple clients to access your games and see what your friends are playing. Join the Open Beta and...

www.gog.com

Of course doesn't remove the need to install clients like Steam, Origin etc. first, if you bought the game on those. But at least launching can be done from one app, without having to juggle between multiple DRM interfaces and logins

You can add even singular game .exes manually, that aren't under any of those. For example old games etc.

Case_ · Apr 30, 2020

I love people crying about a game being offered on a different store than the one they like (despite the fact the one they don't like is far more forthcoming to the game developers and publishers). It's so beautifully 2020 level of absurd. It's basically people demanding freedom of choice to be removed in favor of a monopoly because they hate the fact it would take them three clicks to start a different client.