Generally, we try to keep ‘release candidate’ updates a low-key affair, since as a user you need to take some extra steps to be able to run the build. But this time we made an exception, this ‘RC’ is bursting with new and exciting things to test drive.
So yes, it’s that time again to be part of the rFactor 2 elite and try out a bunch of new features, a slew of bug fixes, or just enjoy previewing and taking in what’s ahead – before the masses get to!
During this last phase of development we’ve focused on a few key areas. On the graphics side, one hugely noteworthy addition is the brand new tech in the form of Screen Space Reflection (SSR). This means wet tracks will accurately reflect the environment in a way they never have before. Try out SSR by running any track in wet conditions. Additionally, we’ve done some extensive work on cloud rendering and balancing lighting in different conditions. You can read all about that below in more detail.
Devil’s in the details – some minor but long awaited requests like ‘remember password’ (we know, we know, we love it too) 
, ability to see and boot spectators, and various optimizations to make the UI more fluid and just-run-better overall, especially when transitioning from one area of the UI to another. We also added “asynchronous” server list loading. This means when you go to the race page where your favorites are, or the full matchmaker server list, the UI won’t annoyingly lock up anymore while it loads more entries.
Another very key area we have focused on heavily is making sure new users get some help with setting up their hardware and picking some base content from a simple list at start up. On a clean or first time install of rFactor 2 new users will be greeted with a wheel calibration wizard and simple set of Steam collections to choose from to quickly get some base content and start driving.
On the broadcasting front if you use our built-in overlay system, there are some very nice additions: DRS display for one, and RPM, speed, gear and pedal inputs are now visible – this should really spice up your league race battles!
As for the competition system, if you decide to try out the new RC, this version is a build bump to the latest opt-out default build. This means you won’t be able to join the public competition system. However, we are going to have some test competitions up and running for you to try out on the new RC. These test competitions will show up in the same place, you just need to join normally, no special steps needed. There will be two competitions running parallel: one with the Ferrari 488 GTE, the other with McLaren MP4-8. The McLaren MP4-8 can be downloaded for free by subscribing in the Studio 397 workshop, and the Ferrari 488 GTE can be purchased in our item store. On a side note, both competitions will be running the first ever ‘fixed setup’ races. This should even out the casual racing field a bit – less time fiddling setup parameters, more time racing!
If you haven’t already, opting in to the release candidate is easy: Follow these four steps and you’re good to go.
rFactor 2 Release Candidate Update Notes:
Steam Build IDs
- Client 6847975
- Dedicated 6847983
General
- rFactor 2 Build Bumped to 1125
- Added MetallicNoise.dds to Vehicle Common Maps so that it does not need to be packed with each car
- Updated Flag Stations so they will not assign to the Pit Path.
- Updated parsing of Flag Station Instances (cornerworkers, safetyworkers, digitalflags) so all instances are parsed and do not require any specific naming order.
- Added auto grouping of flag stations to the same point on track. Note: It is now recommended to only place Safetyworkers next to Cornerworkers or Digital flags to ensure a flag is waved or shown correctly.
- Made the distance to group flag stations together configurable (GDB: FlagStationGroupDist=30)
- Updated Yellow Flag and Blue flag logic to work correctly with flag station grouping
- Made the distance before and after an incident at which a yellow flag is waved configurable (GDB: FlagStationIncidentMinDist=20, FlagStationIncidentMaxDist=250)
- Fixed digital flags all flashing checkered the second a car finishes the race. Instead they now follow the logic of other flags and only flash progressively around the track as cars finish.
- Enabled chat command “/callvote nextsession” on a dedicated server to advance to next session.
- Removed Hide Cursor default assignment to “delete” key from controller settings. Note this does not affect existing profiles.
- Fixed cars showing up with the team name missing when using a custom team in multiplayer via the new UI
- Synced min/max ranges for options in the backend (playerbasefile) with the new UI’s default (JNIOptions)
- Added ability to specify slot using steam id for some chat commands
- Save steam id when a driver disconnects from a session
- SteamId is saved when somebody disconnects, so it appears in the result xml
Graphics
- Reviewed & updated all Cloud Textures
- Improved Lighting Calculations on Clouds and Atmospherics
- Fine-tuned and optimized rain particles (50% less particles now)
- Improved ModDev options with ability to force a specific cloud texture as well as set cloud cover at any point.
- Ensured that cloud textures are never loaded ad hoc, which would previously cause some stuttering online or in replays.
- Fixes for various issues that were present when the cloud update was previously released.
- Fixed an issue when saving PNG screenshots via the built-in game function where alpha information seems to get saved around the glows and glares, for example around the sun.
- Fixed an issue where Sunglare at dawn or dusk on ultra-wide or triple screens would be undriveable.
- SSR – screen space reflection implementation for wet road reflection
- Reduced Sky Exposure and rebalanced auto exposure for these changes
- Fixed issues with Night Time under-exposing.
- Enabled Auto Exposure adjustments whilst game is paused
- Slightly reduced TV Camera low-sun exposure levels
- Faster Exposure Adjustment on TV Cameras to reduce the noticeable fade when changing camera
- Fixed Differences in ToneMapper and Exposure in Showrooms vs In-Game
- Added Missing Ambient and Static Mappers to Default Showroom
- Fixed an issue where Static Mappers would not update after a game session time change
UI
- Load server lists (Internet, LAN, Favorites, Friends) asynchronously
- Added extra UI options for setting up steering wheel rotation settings (Rotation limit mode, max wheel angle mode, default max wheel angle).
- Ensured that appropriate settings are enabled/disabled with the right options.
- Readjusted Controller Calibrate layout so that all items fit without scroll bar
- Fixed Point to Point tracks wrongly closing loop
- Fixed unnecessary scroll bar on Display Options Screen
- Made it possible to sort the packages list by the installed column. Also made it possible to sort the multiplayer list by version while refactoring the table component config a bit.
- Fixed standings table alignment where long class names would cause problems.
- Replaced underscores in car class name with spaces and allow it to wrap to second if needed.
- Fixed bottom shadow sometimes being positioned wrongly in the lap history pop-up.
- Fixed an issue when losing a connection to the dedicated server that the network connection error dialogue would only show up when leaving a subsequent single player session.
- Added spectators to player list when in race monitor, and allow kicking/banning of them via the same process as kicking/banning an active player
- Updated event full-screen so only data that is needed for the elements being visible is fetched and updated.
- Fetch live standings in event screen with WebSocket instead of polling.
- Show total race time for race winner and the final gaps to winner for other drivers as they finish the race.
- Added start-up Wizard to assign basics controls at startup
- Fixed server join button not working if you clicked it on the outside of the “join” text.
- Fixed upgrade description not being visible with a long list of upgrades on the tuning screen.
- Fixed shadow positioning in packages table with only a few packages showing
- Fixed series list being empty if there were two series with the same name
- Added checkbox option to remember the password for a server.
- Your last selected server list type (Internet, LAN, Favorites, Friends) is now remembered on the multiplayer matchmaker screen.
- Removed useless scrollbar on options calibrate page when in an event.
- Added UI setting for toggling FFB strength direction between negative and positive.
- Added track type and length to track loading screen.
- Added disabling of “next session” button in single player admin controls when there is no next session.
- Made list layout the default layout on all pages that use it.
- Made changes to reduce time the light grey screen is shown, for example when leaving an event and returning to the main menu.
- Fixed the current selection (series, car, track) sometimes not loading in the main menu start and race screens.
- Made sky setting also affect the rain chance setting.
- Added showing raw range (min, max) for control axes on the options calibrate page.
Live stream overlay
- Class colors on text no longer working: No code changes; text color needs to specified with a “color” field in the custom overlay config.json along with the previous “backgroundColor” field.
- Added RPM, speed, gear and pedal inputs to the driver info overlay.
- Added error checking for endpoints failing when overlays folder does not exist.
- Added driver name options drop down to overlay control panel and updated overlay elements to use it.
- Added DRS active classes to battle box, extended battle box and tower overlay elements.
- Added DRS active text to battle box element.
- Fixed color swipe animation being positioned slightly wrong on some overlay elements.
- Fixed in-game panel toggling not always working.
- Fixed overlay not working at all if the configured overlay folder does not exist.
- Added prev/next buttons for season standings and in-race season standings elements.
- Added background color to control panel table rows when showing multiple car classes. The color is faded from the one defined in config.json for that class.
Modding
- Added a content error if a Cube Map is wrongly assigned.
- Added New AI Editor Methods for updating Cut Corridors including Finding, Normalizing, Setting to Corridor values, Setting to Collision Corridor values as well as setting if adjusting Corridors effects Cut Corridors.
- Added specific functions for Normalizing Corridors and Normalizing Collision Corridors.
- Fixed RealRoad errors loading Loch Drummond in ModDev
- IBL Road Shader: Made configurable the effects of the blue channel of a Road Detail Map. Now can enable/disable masking of the overlay function and the decal map.
- Added the ability to constrain a Camera to the Pitlane or the Main Track.
- Enable Trace logging by default in ModDev
As always feel free to report any issues or give your feedback via the forum or Discord release-candidate channel.
Happy racing ! (and testing) 😉
