Here's everything you need to know about Rennsport - the new contender for the sim racing crown.
When you think of the best sim racing games, the likes of iRacing, Assetto Corsa, and rFactor 2 spring to mind. In 2024, though, Rennsport will try to unsettle the established order and join that list.
We now know how they'll try and do that too, thanks to their handy 2024 roadmap. The upcoming ultra-realistic sim racing game boasts cutting-edge Unreal Engine 5 graphics and an emphasis on esports and modding.
But can Rennsport stand out in the crowded sim racing market? We’ve got everything you need to know about Rennsport right here!
Latest news - 2024 Roadmap Confirmed
Rennsport's first "Radio check" video allowed both the CEO and Lead Developer of Rennsport to answer questions and lay out the game's roadmap for the year ahead.
They shared a handy diagram that splits the year up into quarters. Q1 focuses on Time Trial, with a new car in the Porsche Mission R, circuit in the Goodwood Hill Climb and a Day/Night cycle all coming to Rennsport on 27th March.
Next up is Q2, labelled as "Progression", with a TBC release date and both new tracks, cars, a new car class and also a new online ranking system all included. This will likely go live sometime in June.
One of the new cars will be a McLaren, as confirmed by Morris, the game's CEO.
Q3 focuses on Early Access, which will bring Early Access of the full version of the game. Q4 is Endurance, which will mean multi-class races, pit-stops and other elements we associate with professional endurance racing.
Exclusive Rennsport interview with Competition Company
Ahead of the first round of the ESL R1 tournament, we caught up with Competition Company to find out how Rennsport is revolutionising sim racing.
Rennsport
With state-of-the-art physics, a graphics engine powered by Unreal Engine 5, and a focus on modding and esports, Rennsport (German for “racing”) aims to be “the most realistic racing simulation possible.”
That may sound like a bold claim, but the team’s credentials at the new German developer Competition Company include “professional drivers, racing strategists, programmers and esports experts.”
Cars
Only a few cars have been revealed so far. Confirmed cars include models from Audi, Mercedes, BMW and Porsche:
- Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo
- BMW M4 GT3
- Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo
- Porsche 911 GT3 R (991.2)
- Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)
- Porsche Mission R
- Porsche 963 LMDh/GTP
- Porsche 911 (992) Cup
With a focus on German GT3 racing cars, Rennsport appears to be aiming to rival Assetto Corsa Competizione.
However, including the electric Porsche Mission R suggests other car types will be added, but the roster seems to predominantly focus on thoroughbred race cars.
Looking ahead, Competition Company told RaceDepartment it aims to have "hundreds of cars and hundreds of race tracks" in "three or four years."
Tracks
Players can race around accurately recreated versions of real-world tracks.
The first two tracks confirmed were Germany’s Hockenheimring and the Goodwood Hill climb made famous by the Festival of Speed in the UK. The last racing game to include the famous Hillclimb was Gran Turismo 6!
Since those first few tracks were confirmed, the following have also joined the list:
- Daytona International Speedway
- Monza
- Nurburgring GP
- Road Atlanta
- Spa-Francorchamps
- 8ETA
Gameplay
While we don't have much information to go on, a short Rennsport gameplay video gives us an idea of what to expect from the ambitious new sim racer.
Featuring a Porsche 911 GT3R racing around Hockenheimring, the early gameplay footage looks promising. It showcases realistic vehicle dynamics, authentic engine sounds, and smooth performance - even at this early alpha stage.
Platforms
For now, Rennsport is PC-only. This will allow Compe to make the most realistic racing simulation possible. No system requirements have been revealed yet, but it goes without saying that you’ll need a powerful PC to run Rennsport at maximum settings.
However, in a Tweet from 2022, Competition Company said “console versions are planned for post-release updates.”
Aside from Assetto Corsa Competizione, console sim racing games are rare, but Rennsport could fill this void. Although, we haven't heard anything since on a console version.
ACC’s impressive PS5 and Xbox Series X | S ports have shown that current-gen consoles can deliver an uncompromised sim racing experience on the latest hardware.
Modding
There’s also a focus on user-generated content.
Modding tools will allow the community to expand the game with custom cars, tracks, and liveries. Using a companion app, players can then manage and trade assets with other players on online marketplaces.
As games like the original Assetto Corsa have shown, modding support will help expand Rennsport's lifespan for many years.
Free-to-play
Like Raceroom Racing Experience, Rennsport will be free to play with access to a limited number of cars and tracks. A subscription model will also be offered giving access to all content and features.
VR support is also planned for a more immersive racing experience.
Esports and online multiplayer
As well as modding, Rennsport also has an emphasis on esports. Competition Company has partnered with ESL Gaming, best known for hosting tournaments for games like Battlefield 4, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Halo.
Now, ESL Gaming is ready to embrace virtual racing, using Rennsport as a modern platform.
In a Q&A with RaceDepartment, Competition Company confirmed the online multiplayer can be tailored to your racing style, whether you want to compete in endurance races or short sprint races.
Rennsport's online multiplayer will also have ranked races, leagues, and broadcast options for streamers.
Initially, online player counts will be limited to 12 in the beta but will increase in the final game.
Release date prediction
Rennsport is due to enter early access in Q3 2024, but the release date is yet to be confirmed. The final release will follow sometime in 2025.
There's currently a closed beta going on in January 2024 and the aim is to gain feedback from the sim racing community. Players can try Rennsport by signing up for the beta on the official website.
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