Category: Codemasters

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DiRT Rally 2.0 Game of the Year Edition Will Give Oculus Store Users Access to Bonus Content for the First Time

For those that love realistic racing videogames and virtual reality (VR), Codemasters’ DiRT Rally franchise has been one of the go-to series for several years with DiRT Rally VR arriving in 2016 and then DiRT Rally 2.0 adding VR support last summer. Today, the studio has announced DiRT Rally 2.0 Game of the Year Edition will be rolled out in a couple of weeks for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. There’s an extra boon for those that own the Oculus Store version, free access to all post-launch content.

DiRT Rally 2

In a blog posting, Codemasters confirmed that: “DiRT Rally 2.0 Game of the Year Edition brings with it a significant milestone to our players on the Oculus platform, who have only had access to the Standard Edition up until now.”

When the launch takes place: “all Oculus users will have their game updated to the Game of the Year Edition, making all post-launch content (including the Colin McRae: FLAT OUT Pack) playable in the dramatic world of virtual reality. If you’ve just got a headset and are ready to take on the world of rally, this is the perfect place to start,” the team adds. That means over 80 cars like the Peugeot 206 Rally and the Skoda Fabia Rally and 26 locations to race such as Wales, Monte Carlo, Sweden, Germany, Greece and Finland.

If you happen to own the Steam version which supports Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Valve Index headsets then you’ve been able to access additional content for a while. Those that purchased either DiRT Rally 2.0 Deluxe Edition or any full Season pack receive the new Colin McRae bonus content for free.

DiRT Rally 2DiRT Rally 2.0 GOTY includes seasons 1-4 and the Colin McRae ‘FLAT OUT’ pack’ featuring a new Scottish location, Perth and Kinross, with 12 routes, the SUBARU Impreza S4 Rally and SUBARU Legacy RS, and 40 scenarios spanning the legendary rally driver’s career from 1984 to 2006.

The digital edition of DiRT Rally 2.0 Game of the Year Edition will be available on 24th March while the physical versions (Xbox One and PlayStation 4 only) arrive on 27th March. For further VR related updates and announcements from Codemasters keep reading VRFocus.

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‘DiRT Rally 2.0’ Finally Gets VR Support for Rift, Index, & Vive; ‘No Plans’ for PSVR

An update to DiRT Rally 2.0 (2019) today has finally brought VR support to the game. Now available for $60 on Oculus and Steam, the game offers support for Rift, Index, and HTC Vive, though developer Codemasters also confirmed that PSVR support won’t come to the PS4 version of the game.

Launched earlier this year, VR support was not initially planned for Dirt Rally 2.0, but the VR community rallied (ahem) to get developer Codemaster to add VR as the studio had done with the original Dirt Rally (2015).

Today it’s finally happened. The game’s 1.7 update adds the VR feature to the Steam version, and the game has also launched for Rift and Rift S on the Oculus store.

While Codemasters says the game offers ‘OpenVR support’, only Index and Vive are listed on the Steam page. Other SteamVR compatible headsets like Rift, Odyssey, and Pimax ought to work too, though we’ve reached out to the studio to confirm.

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“Since launch our community has been very vocal about wanting a VR version of DiRT Rally 2.0, so we’re delighted to bring this to the PC version,” said Ross Gowing, Dirt Rally 2.0 Game Director at Codemasters. “It turns out that for many of our players VR is the only way to experience a rally game, and this will enable them to enjoy playing like never before.”

Image courtesy Codemasters

The Oculus version of Dirt Rally 2.0 also comes with exclusive community challenges and five Oculus-branded car liveries. However, it sounds like some of the game’s content isn’t yet available on the Oculus version, as Codemasters notes, “all Dirt Rally 2.0 post release content will be made available for Oculus at a later date.”

As part of today’s update, Codemasters said they do not plan to bring PSVR support to the PS4 version of the game.

Like every VR supported sim racing game, Dirt Rally 2.0 is going to play best with a dedicated racing wheel and pedals. Luckily we’ve got a great set of recommendations here right here.

The post ‘DiRT Rally 2.0’ Finally Gets VR Support for Rift, Index, & Vive; ‘No Plans’ for PSVR appeared first on Road to VR.

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The DiRT Rally 2.0 VR Update has now Gone Live  

When it comes to the addition of virtual reality (VR) support Hello Games’ No Man’s Sky: Beyond update has been grabbing all the headlines of late in preparation for next week. For fans of racing videogames, however, Codemasters has just dropped the exciting news that version 1.7 of DiRT Rally 2.0 has now arrived adding VR support.

DiRT Rally 2

Codemasters confirmed earlier in the year that it was working on VR support for Oculus Rift as fan feedback was so strong. The original DiRT Rally only supported the Oculus Rift, providing one of the best (and earliest) VR racing experiences. This time though, Codemasters is going one step further by adding OpenVR support for Steam into the mix. That means HTC Vive and Valve Index headsets will also be compatible with DiRT Rally 2.0.

The update is completely free to download for anyone who owns DiRT Rally 2.0, available via Oculus Store or Steam for £44.99 GBP. If you purchase the Oculus Rift edition will also receive five exclusive car liveries and be able to compete in special daily, weekly and monthly challenges. Additionally, the studio states: “All DiRT Rally 2.0 post-release content will be made available for Oculus at a later date.”

“Since launch, our community has been very vocal about wanting a VR version of DiRT Rally 2.0, so we’re delighted to bring this to the PC version,” said Ross Gowing, DiRT Rally 2.0 Game Director at Codemasters in a statement. “It turns out that for many of our players VR is the only way to experience a rally game, and this will enable them to enjoy playing like never before.”

DiRT Rally 2

For all those PlayStation VR owners out there, Codemasters has confirmed it has no plans to support the headset.

It’s not just VR support included with version 1.7 either. The studio has included DirtFish as a Test Drive location plus a bunch of branded liveries. DirtFish may also come to Freeplay in a future update. Naturally, there are several tweaks and improvements in the bonnet.

DiRT Rally 2.0 features racing locations in New Zealand, Argentina, Spain, Poland, Australia and the USA, with over 50 off-road cars to chose from. As further updates are announced for the VR version VRFocus will let you know.

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Dirt Rally 2.0 VR Surprise Launches On Rift, Index And Vive

Surprise! Durt Rally 2.0 VR is now available on PC VR headsets.

Back in Februrary, we reported that Codemaster’s latest racing game would get Oculus Rift support this summer. The game launched without VR support later that month. Now you can play the entire original title inside the Rift. But here’s a nice surprise; OpenVR support means you can play it on the HTC Vive and Valve Index headsets too.

“Ever since VR was teased many months ago it’s been at the top of the community’s wishlist and now it’s here,” Codemasters wrote on Steam. “This is the perfect time to revisit the game or jump in for the very first time.”

The Dirt Rally series is known for its visceral first-person gameplay, which makes it a great fit for VR (if a little uncomfortable). Check out the first trailer for the support below.

This is almost exactly what happened with the first Dirt Rally. It released without VR support initially before coming to Rift and then, later on, on PSVR. We were big fans of that support, at the time calling it the new high watermark for VR racing games. Three years on, that hasn’t changed; last week we included Dirt Rally in our list of the best VR racing games.

That paints an encouraging picture for Dirt Rally 2.0 VR. We’ll try and bring you full impressions as soon as possible. The game costs $59.99 on the Oculus Store and the same on Steam. This being a racing game, it’s best played with a gamepad controller. It doesn’t support motion controls.  And that’s it; get to enjoying Dirt Rally 2 VR!

The post Dirt Rally 2.0 VR Surprise Launches On Rift, Index And Vive appeared first on UploadVR.

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The Best VR Racing Games For PSVR, PC VR And More

Few things come more naturally to VR than racing. The best VR racing games let us get behind the wheel of impossible machines and put our foot down. The results are fast, thrilling and visceral.

But racing is a broad term; it doesn’t just have to mean driving. In fact, VR’s physicality has brought about an entirely new wave of racing games unlike any we’ve seen before. So when rounding up our list of the best VR racing games, we only thought it fair that we threw those in too. As such, we’ve split our list into both driving and non-driving racing games so those of us without a license can join in.

So what are the best VR racing games? Speed down our list to find out.

Best VR Racing Games: Driving

Best VR Racing Games Driving

Assetto Corsa (PC VR)

If you’re looking for strict simulation, you can’t go wrong with Assetto Corsa. Kunos Simulazioni’s long-running racer is packed tight with different makes of cars and tracks spanning the world over. Its pinpoint precision racing remains practically unbeaten in the field and, if you want more of it, there’s an army of extra content to dive into. Assetto Corsa might be the oldest game on this list but it’s also one of the best.

Project Cars 2 (PC VR) – Read Our Coverage

Sticking with simulation, Slightly Mad Studios’ most recent racer is typically exhaustive too. Project Cars 2 overtakes both Gran Turismo and Forza with its army of 180+ car models and extensive number of tracks. But its going the extra mile that really makes Project Cars 2 shine, with dynamic weather conditions and a huge career mode to tackle. This one will keep you busy for a good while.

Wipeout Omega Collection (PSVR) – Read Our Review

Once PlayStation VR was announced, Wipeout VR seemed inevitable. Fortunately, unlike Gran Turismo Sport, Sony didn’t mess it up. Wipeout Omega collection is already an impressive tribute to the sci-fi racing series, bundling three games worth of content into one. Throw in VR support and it quickly becomes one of the most essential games yet seen on headsets. This is visceral, vibrant racing as its very best, though you may want to keep a sickbag at the ready.

DiRT Rally (Oculus Rift, PSVR) – Read Our Review

There’s been a disappointing lack of Codemasters racing games for VR platforms thus far. More are on the way but, for now, DiRT Rally remains a prime example of how to do VR racing right. This is a different kind of sim, taking you to rocky roads and twisty forests and daring you to put your foot down. Again, it can be tough on the stomach but the adrenaline that comes from nailing a drift is unparalleled.

Best VR Racing Games: Non-Driving

Rush (PC VR, Oculus Quest, Oculus Go, PSVR)

If getting behind the wheel isn’t your thing, how about a wingsuit? Rush is a popular high flying racer in which you can glide down mountains, narrowly dodging tress and rocks in pursuit of checkpoints. Challenge your friends in over 90 tracks across four environments, physically tilting your body to master each course. Rush is tough to m

Sprint Vector (PC VR, PSVR) – Read Our Review

When we thinking about racing games we think about driving. But the truth is it would be a crime to do a VR racing list without mentioning Survios’ sublime sprinting game. Sprint Vector is about as close as you’ll get to Mario Kart in VR. The game uses a finely-tuned arm swing mechanic to help you skate down tracks as a supernatural athlete. Throw in power-ups, climbing and flying and you have one of the most dynamic racing games yet made for VR.

To The Top (PC VR, PSVR) – Read Our Review

To The Top is similar to Sprint Vector, only a little more vertical. The game uses your hands as the main way of getting around, hoisting yourself up over obstacle courses and flinging yourself forwards. It’s an unconventional racing game for sure, but it’s undoubtedly one of VR’s best.

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DiRT Rally 2.0 Could Become the Best VR Racing Experience of 2019

When it comes to racing videogames my preference certainly veers towards the rally genre more than any other. While you don’t get that neck to neck adrenaline of racing side by side against other competitors, it’s the complexity of the tracks that wins me over. Rather than lovely flat tarmac which suits ultra-low hypercars, rally stages tend to be a mix of surfaces and environments which are simply awesome fun to drive/slide through. So when Codemasters confirmed this month that upcoming title DiRT Rally 2.0 would be getting virtual reality (VR) support I was more than a little happy.

DiRT Rally 2.0So much so that I decided that DiRT Rally VR was worth another play as it had been awhile. And as luck would have it the studio granted VRFocus access to the review build of the sequel – the standard version – so it only seemed right to have a little comparison between the 2016 VR version and the 2019 non-VR version. Why you may ask, simply because.

Let’s start by saying this isn’t going to be a review of DiRT Rally 2.0 that will come later in the year with the official VR version which is slated for release on Oculus Rift during the summer. What I will say is if you enjoyed the original, and Codemasters manages to perfectly optimise the sequel for VR then Oculus Rift users are in for a treat.

DiRT Rally 2.0 is every bit the improved sequel, plenty of cups, time trials and other challenges, better-looking visuals, yet keeping the series authenticity. The cars have just the right amount of twitch, teasing you to throw them ever faster around corners, yet one small brazen mistake with the throttle and you’re into a tree, off a cliff or both.

DiRT Rally 2.0It was after several races on DiRT Rally 2.0 looking at the screen that the VR yearning kicked in. I may love rally style racing experiences but I’m not particularly good at them – average at best – finding that my preferred viewpoint is inside the car, at the wheel. So it was time to jump into DiRT Rally VR – both played using an Xbox One controller by the way – to see the difference. Obviously, the sequel looked better, and thankfully Codemasters has improved the menu system so it’s not quite as daunting for new players. But that wasn’t what interested me, instead, I was looking for that racing immersion, that greater sense of driving the cars and the perils of what can happen if things go wrong.

Instantly, the VR version felt right, being able to look around the vehicle, in the rear view mirror and at my co-driver. As someone who drives in real life, spatially aware of the size of my car and the world around me, VR allows me to employ those same senses far more accurately than a standard ‘flat’ videogame. As such, racing in VR becomes far more instinctual – a proper racing setup would probably add to this – so I’m not crashing as much achieving better times over each stage and therefore placing higher.

Then it was time to switch back to DiRT Rally 2.0, and what a difference. The six rally locations – Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Poland, US and Argentina – all look glorious, with different times of day and changing weather effects, yet they were missing a spark. And that’s the ability to put me directly behind the wheel of a car which is insanely fun to drive.

I’ll admit I’m biased towards VR – I wouldn’t be here otherwise – and I’ve always said certain genres of videogame have particular synergy with the technology, horror being one, racing is another. Codemasters has played with VR once so hopefully, the next time will be even better. As long as DiRT Rally 2.0 can be ported in its entirety without needing a super ridiculous GPU to run it, then you’ll know where to find me this summer, wearing out the handbrake on my VW Polo GTI R5 in Australia.

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DiRT Rally 2.0 Confirmed for Summer 2019 Launch on Oculus Rift

When Oculus Rift arrived in 2016 one of the best racing titles available came from videogame veterans Codemasters in the form of DiRT Rally. It still holds up well now, even so, an update wouldn’t go amiss. When the studio announced DiRT Rally 2.0 there was no mention of virtual reality (VR) support, that was until October last year when Chief Games Designer Ross Gowing said: “if there’s enormous demand for it then yeah we can do it.” Well, it looks like that has been the case, with Codemasters confirming a VR version last week.

As the studio stated in a Twitter posting, it was listening to VR fans, deciding to port the racing title. This also looks to have been aided by Oculus, with the company obviously realising it would be a massive boon for Oculus Rift to have DiRT Rally 2.0 on the headset.

Major studios don’t always tend to bring their bigger titles to VR because it doesn’t always make commercial sense. With the technology still fairly niche, the extra expenditure involved in porting to VR can’t always be recouped, possibly why Codemasters didn’t make DiRT Rally 2.0 VR compatible from the start. Which is why it seems plausible that Oculus came along with some cash to make the port a reality, and in the process gain a sizable exclusive for release this summer.

What has been detailed just yet is what form DiRT Rally 2.0 will take on Oculus Rift. Will the videogame be fully supported by the headset, so all modes, cars and extras are included? Or will it be a cut down version like Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown or Gran Turismo Sport, with specific modes and reined in features that deny access to the entire experience?

DiRT Rally 2.0 is scheduled to launch for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on Tuesday 26th February 2019. It’ll feature six rally locations around the world and is the official videogame of the FIA World Rallycross Championship. It’ll feature cars from the 2018 season as well as eight of the official WorldRX circuits at launch, with players having access to a wide variety of both historic and modern day cars. The title will also include support for a massive range of driving peripherals for that authentic racing feel.

As further details regarding the VR version of DiRT Rally 2.0 are released, VRFocus will keep you updated.

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‘DiRT Rally 2.0’ is Getting VR Support After All, Coming to Rift This Summer

It seems some cajoling from both the racing sim community and Oculus itself has gotten through to DiRT Rally (2015) studio Codemasters, because the upcoming sequel, which was once slated to release only on consoles and PC, is now coming to the Oculus platform this summer.

DiRT Rally is currently one of the best racing sims available on VR headsets, so when fans of the series heard that Codemasters was making DiRT Rally 2.0, it was clear we were in for another highly-polished off-road adventure. However soon after the title’s announcement in Fall last year, it appeared the studio had other plans, saying that VR wouldn’t be apart of the launch roadmap.

“We’re focusing on making the core game experience before launch – and after that, if there is demand from our community, then we’ll explore the possibility,” McGrath told USGamer back in September.

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DiRT Rally 2.0 is set to release on February 26th, and while that won’t initially include VR support, it appears at least we’ll be getting Rift support sometime this summer.

There’s no word on whether the VR version will be an Oculus exclusive at this point, but considering the tweet from Codemasters below, it’s possible Oculus helped fund VR development on the title.

DiRT Rally 2.0 includes a new authentic handling model, tire choice, and surface deformation. Off-road environments span New Zealand, Argentina, Spain, Poland, Australia and the US.

The game boasts eight official circuits from the FIA World Rallycross championship, complete with licensed Supercars and support series. Events and championships will be available in both a single-player Career Campaign and a competitive online multiplayer.

The post ‘DiRT Rally 2.0’ is Getting VR Support After All, Coming to Rift This Summer appeared first on Road to VR.

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Codemasters Holding Back on VR For Formula 1 Title

Many critics and fans were somewhat surprised to learn that the latest Formula 1 videogame, F1 2017 would not feature any virtual reality (VR) capability. A member of the Codemasters development team reveals some of the reasons behind that decision.

F1 2017 is due for release on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC today, 25th August, 2017. but there are no plans for a VR mode, something that many have questioned, since the sit-down position of racing titles tends to make a good fit for a VR experience.

Creative Director Lee Mather spoke to GamesIndustry.Biz about that choice: “We’ve certainly given a lot of consideration to VR,” Mather said, “It’s a little trickier for us because we’re pushing the boundaries when it comes to our physics. We have a lot of elements on screen with the OSD, so that’s a lot of information the player would have to process in VR. The changes to move the game onto VR would be fairly significant, and we wouldn’t want to do it if it meant compromising any area of the game. That’s why we’re holding back on that at the moment, but it’s something we’re considering.”

F1 2017 is facing some tough competition in the racing genre this year, with Gran Turismo Sport and Project Cars 2, both of which feature VR compatibility, as well as the relaunch of Need For Speed and Forza Motorsport 7. Mather comments: “We’re a niche within a niche to a degree,” he says. “Racing games are a niche in themselves, and we are unique within that and that’s our big selling point. We aren’t just a racing game; we’re a representation of a full sport. So whereas other racing games may appeal to racing game players, we appeal to Formula One fans as well. We’re pulling in people who love the sport as much as we’re pulling in people who love games and racing. That’s where our place is and that’s why we’ve got such a dedicated fanbase every year.”

VRFocus will bring you further news on developments within the VR industry.

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Something for the Weekend: The Best VR Discounts on PlayStation Store

This year’s summer sale on PlayStation Store may have come to an end, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still bargains to be had. This week’s round-up of discounted titles looks specifically at PlayStation VR, and we have two AAA titles available at a reduced price for a limited time.

DiRT Rally Banner

DiRT Rally

The DiRT Rally + PlayStation VR Bundle includes the full DiRT Rally videogame, the DiRT Rally PlayStation VR downloadable content (DLC) add-on and the three Fully Loaded DLC packs: the Ford Pack, the MINI Pack and the Rallycross Pack. Currently reduced by a whopping 72%, down from £57.99 GBP to just £15.99, this discount will be available until 6th September 2017.

The Assembly screenshotThe Assembly

A first-person puzzle adventure, The Assembly is a videogame designed specifically for virtual reality (VR) but can also be played without the PlayStation VR head-mounted display (HMD). The Assembly is available at a 50% discount, now priced at £9.99, until 6th September 2017.

In The Assembly, the player takes on the role of two different characters as they operate within a morally challenging organisation. VRFocus delivered a review of The Assembly upon its Oculus Rift debut, stating: “There are a lot of design decisions that have been made purely to cultivate the immersive nature of VR and are hugely successful in that regard, while significantly less successful when played on a traditional monitor; a trait that will offer other developers lessons on how to capitalise on the strengths of VR.”

That wraps up this week’s look at the latest VR discounts. VRFocus will be back next weekend with the latest series of software bargains available for various VR HMDs.