Codemasters DiRT Rally out on Steam (Early Access)

Codemasters surprised everyone with today’s announcement that DiRT Rally, their latest game in the DiRT series is released on the Steam platform.  The game features a completely new physics rebuilt, that will

DiRT Rally is initially released as an Early Access download for PC. after the final version is released Codemasters might consider a convert to the Xbox One and PS4 console formats. As with the Project CARS World Mass Development format, Codemasters will now actively engage the community in the development of the new title.  Codemasters are planning to run their early access programme until the end of 2015.

You can purchase the Early Access version on the dedicated DiRT Rally Steam page.  Untill May 4th, 2015, the game will be on sale for 26,99€.  Interested gamers and simulator fans could benefit from an early purchase because Codemasters stated that the game price will increase throughout the Early Access program. After the player’s initial purchase, all game updates will be free.

The current release of DiRT Rally includes 36 rally stages spread across Monte Carlo, Greece and Wales, and a total of 17 cars, ranging from classic rally cars through today’s modern machinery. Codemasters will be adding more cars and environments as the development progresses.The famous Pikes Peak Hill Climb course is already confirmed, and many famous WRC locations will follow. also, the best circuits from the 2015 FIA World Rallycross Championship are in the pipeline.

Dirt Rally will also include a team management system. You will be able to hire up to four engineering staff that will work on your vehicle in between stages and help your career progress. They will become more familiar with your car help you unlock the full potential of the car.

Currently, the game already supports a variety of steering wheels such as the Logitech G27 and G25, Thrustmaster T500 RS and T500 RS F1 Racing Wheel and the Fanatec Clubsport v1 and V2 base units. The developers state that other wheels will work, but are not yet officially supported. The support for more wheels and controllers will be added during the development period.

Current Early Access Features:

• DiRT RALLY AND THE COMMUNITY: The community is DiRT Rally’s co-driver and their feedback will help shape the evolution of the experience. For players joining DiRT Rally in Early Access and the road ahead, the team want their feedback. They’ll be helping to test theories and providing vital data that will help to refine DiRT Rally.

• Experience 3 massive new real-world rally locations during the day – in dry, overcast, sunny, misty, wet, rainy and snowy conditions – and then take them on at night for a very different, intense experience that will challenge the elite.
  • Powys, Wales – Muddy, wet gravel stages and forest runs often in the rain during the day and at night.
  • Monte Carlo, Monaco – Tight, twisting, dangerous roads covered with snow and ice that wind through the Alps. Snow and mist affect visibility during the day and at night.
  • Argolis, Greece – Sweeping dusty gravel stages that take their toll on even the strongest rally cars in the intense heat of the Mediterranean in the bright daylight or at night.

• 17 CARS OVER 6 NEW AND CLASSIC CLASSES TO DRIVE NOW: Rally is about having the right car and DiRT Rally will have all of the right cars. At the start of Early Access, DiRT Rally delivers 14 cars and will be adding more cars over more classes in the future.

• NEW DRIVING MODEL: The physical simulation for DIRT Rally has been completely rebuilt to adequately capture how it feels to race across changing surfaces, and loose surfaces collect under the wheels during lateral sliding, creating a completely new feel to sliding around corners.

• RALLY CHAMPIONSHIPS, RALLY ASYNC & CUSTOM RALLY EVENTS: Take on a single stage and learn the calls in Custom Rally events, compete against increasingly skilled opposition in Rally Seasons or prove yourself against the entire community of players in Rally Async

• TEAM MANAGEMENT: Hire up to four engineering staff to work on your vehicle between stages. Drill down and hire them based on their contract length, wage demands, and on the insight they can offer over upgrades to the vehicles you own. Keep renewing an engineer’s contract and you’ll be able to give them perks that will help upgrade specific vehicles faster.

• UPGRADES: As you drive a vehicle in events your engineers will become more familiar with it and will research upgrades that will unlock the full potential of the car. DiRT Rally’s comprehensive upgrade system makes meaningful improvements to the car’s handling and performance to stay competitive in the Rally Async challenges.

• TUNING: Delivering the most comprehensive tuning system ever in a DiRT game, DiRT Rally enables players to tune their cars based on weather conditions, car condition and more to ensure they can refine their setup and get the car feeling right for their driving style.

• DAMAGE & REPAIRS: Off-road racing is tough and unforgiving; competing causes vehicles to suffer wear and tear as replicated by DiRT Rally’s comprehensive mechanical damage system. Thankfully, damage can be repaired by hiring Engineers to work in the team’s Service Area between stages. Much as in the Colin McRae Rally games, there’s a finite amount of time to repair cars between rally stages.

• PHYSICS-BASED ASSISTS: Being fast is about skill, not raw speed. Whilst DiRT Rally allows players to experience cars in their purest form it also offers a selection of real world assists similar to those seen in race and road vehicles. Traction Control works to minimise wheel spin, ABS increases your braking ability by preventing the wheels from locking up and Stability Control keeps your car from over rotating in the corners.