Automobilista 2 News

Greetings everyone! We hope you all have been keeping safe and catching up with your sim racing while we continue to go through these surreal times.

It´s now been a month since Automobilista 2 was released in Steam Early Access, and what a ride it has been up to here! It´s been great to see the game being overall very positively received and that the sim racing community shares our confidence about its future.

Most will not be aware but with both Stock Car Extreme and Automobilista 1 being free updates to those who bought the previous version of the game, Automobilista 2 is actually our first completely new title release since Game Stock Car 2013 back in November 2013! And despite the less than ideal circunstances surrounding all of us these days, we are happy to say the game has got off to a very strong start.

As we have continued to stress since the initial announcement, Automobilista 2 is a long term project but we feel we have now crossed the most challenging milestones, and are in better position than ever to develop the game to its full potential.

We hope you all continue to enjoy the ride as we continue to push on!

[h3]Automobilista 2 v0.8.7 coming up - Time Trial is Now In![/h3]


Version v0.8.7 will hit Beta in the coming hours, and after some early mileage in Beta to iron out any showstopper it should also be deployed to the Main version of the game.

The highlight of the new build is the availability of Time Trial Mode, given everyone the chance to see how they measure up iagainst the best in a hot lap running any car / track combo in the game!

The system is an evolution of the popular Time Trial mode we had in Automobilista 1, with the new engine bringing some great new features such as the ability to load ghost laps (both from the best time in the leaderboard or from your best placed Steam friend).

The new build will also see the addition of the Classic 1986 Brazilian Opala Stock Car season, fully revamped from AMS1 with all cars featuring their original authentic branding.

The new version will also bring further FFB & AI updates, along with the usual batch of fixes and improvements.


[h3]Multiplayer Development[/h3]

We are pushing to address the problems reported by users with glitchy collisions while running in Multiplayer races - previous builds have already corrected some innacuracies in the collision mesh of several cars, and we are now investigating potential adjustments in the netcode to fully recitfy the problem.

The presence of this issue and attention it is requiring has pushed back the introduction of the Multiplayer rating system, but we remain commited to complete the work on both fronts before the end of Early Access.

[h3]Next up - Kyalami & Sigma P1[/h3]

Next week will see the introduction of the modern Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, to go along with the Historical 1976 version already offered in the game.

The Kyalami Circuit has undergone a complete revamp in recent years which has put it in the map again of the major international motorsports series. We are very happy to celebrate this classic venue rising profile by bringing the track to Automobilista 2, hopefully doing justice to the technical layout and the picturesque beauty of the South African scenery - check out some previews:




Next week´s build will also see the introduction of a new Brazilian Prototype - the imposing Sigma P1 debuted in the Brazilian Endurance Championship in 2019, powered by a mighty Audi V8 turbo engine - the car will be fully revised for the new season complete with an engine built in-house, with the goal

[h3]Later on... Mclaren, Lotus & Brabham share the Track Again![/h3]

We are thrilled to confirm extensive licensing agreements with some of the most iconic brands in motorsports in Mclaren Racing, Classic Team Lotus and Brabham Racing, which will see a number of their Classic Grand Prix cars being added to Automobilista 2.

The first batch will not take much longer, including beauties such as the Lotus 72D, the Mclaren M23 and the Brabham BT44 pictured below:


These however will be just the beginning - more to come where these came from :)

[h3]Automobilista 2 - Early Access Price Bump Incoming[/h3]

With Automobilista 2 now one month into its Early Access phease and roughly halfway through the road to v1.0, we will be reducing the current 40% discount over its full release price accordingly next week as we hit v0.9.0. The Game will then remain with 20% off its v1.0 price (US$ 49.99 / €44.99 / R$ 149,99) until the end of Early Access.

If you haven´t yet got Automobilista 2 don´t miss the last few days to grab it still with 40% off!

[h3]One last thing, or Two...[/h3]


But we will talk more about these next month :)

Happy Racing folks, and stay safe!

Automobilista 2 v0.8.4.0 has been deployed now - here are some important info about the changes in this release:

BRAKES for all cars, including optimum temp ranges, wear, fade & failure properties have all been thoroughly revised according to the brake materials and specs of each car. These will address the brake failure issues from v0.8.3.2 and should hopefully provide more realistic wear and more "feel" on some cars.


CUSTOM DATE option has been temporarily removed from session options, now sessions will always run on default date for that track - with that we have also addressed the bug that would cause a new track selection to retain the default date of the previous track, which could be particularly problematic when for example the user switched from a Brazilian track with a December Summer default date to an European track, leading the latter to load with winter weather and temperatures with fairly big impact on physics that the user wouldn´t have an obvious visual cue for. Next step will be to add a custom season option along with seasonal foliage (which besided the added visual variety will provide the visual cue for different temperatures). Option to customize date may be added at a later stage once we have more systems feeding correctly from such a specific setting.


FORCE FEEDBACK: we have included an additional "NEW DEFAULT" profile featuring several Force Feedback developments, as an option to the "OLD DEFAULT" profile in the FFB UI - those with existing game settings will remain with "OLD" until they opt to switch to "NEW" . As the Gain, Low Force Boost and FX sliders work quite differently in the "NEW" profile, we want to give people the chance to opt into the new once they have understood how the Sliders may need to be adjusted.

Main differences with "NEW DEFAULT" relate to the Low force Boost slider. and how it interacts with the Gain slider.

In AMS2 "OLD DEFAULT" profile, Gain slider was a confusing device as overall output FFB path was setup badly, with Low Force Boost applied after Gain slider - this was problematic as essentially then you have as many combinations of what happens with signal as there are settings on Gain slider, leading to big inconsistencies (this explains some of the difficulties users had finding a good all-around FFB setting that worked well with all cars, specially on more powerful wheels).

With the "NEW DEFAULT" profile, Low Force Boost is applied before Gain slider, leading to more consistent behavior - it is now factored in the same order as AMS1.

Sample of differences in LFB curve with OLD vs NEW profile:


In the next build we will be adding further functions, including an updated tyre scrub formula & a minimum force configuration. Future builds will see a custom FFB multiplier per car so that users can fine tune each car to their preference. Once these and some other minor adjustments are completed, we believe AMS2 FFB will be ready for v1.0 release and by then "old" default profile will have been completely phased out.


V0.8.4.0 CHANGELOG:

CONTENT

• Added Interlagos Kart track (3 layouts)
  

GENERAL

• Disabled custom event date setting
  
• Fixed bug that would cause a new track selection to retain the default date of the previous track
  
• Fixed multiplayer client rebroadcasting (could cause clients to be dropped from server)
  

UI & HUD

• Added pedal input & engine power/torque data to telemetry screen
  
• Fixed reported issues with VR / Triple HUD customization (needs validation, will reset any previous edit in those types of display)
  
• Reenabled HUD selection for Options screen in-session
  

FORCE FEEDBACK

Added "New Default" FFB profile, with the following changes vs "old Default:

• "Remapped" Gain slider
  
• Improved Low Force Boost formula
  
• A more detailed calculation of steering linkage ratios and how they influence force transferred over to the rack
  
• Overall small change in FFB output
  
• More accurate self-aligning torque and factors in residual Mz, camber inclination Mz; steer gyro Mz
  

PHYSICS & AI

• Updated brake disc thickness, optimum temps, wear, failure, fade properties with variations depending on brake material, fixing brake failure issues from previous build & improving brake feel on some cars
  
• Minor adjustments to F-Classic tyre tread (all gens)
  
• Adjusted AI tyre rolling resistance in F-V12, F-3, Roco
  
• Minor AI performance update for Brands Hatch, Campo Grande, Donington, Guapore, Montreal, Oulton Park, Snetterton, Velocittá
  

VEHICLES

• Puma P052: Updated missing LOD levels, cockpit display, rim blur, windscreen
  
• Copa Truck: Added new parameter for Trucks to spawn in their pit slot rather then inside the garage, fixing bug in tracks where they wouldn´t fit the garage
  
• Adjusted MRX & Roco collision mesh
  
• Opala OldStock: Fixed bodywork mapping distortion
  
• Gol Copa Classic: Added missing LOD levels
  
• F-V12 : Updated #22 #23 community skin
  
• Copa Uno: Completed livery updates for all cars in the series
  

This is a hotfix to correct a few issues from yesterday´s build.

Changelog for v0.8.3.2:

• Fixed telemetry HUD switching
  
• Added new function to improve AI skill / performance on 1st lap
  
• Fixed inverted FFB on Fuscas, F-Vee, F-Vintages
  
• Adjusted gearbox tolerances for P052
  

V0.8.3.1 CHANGELOG:

CONTENT

• Added Puma P052 to GT5 class
  
• Added new Jerez layout (no Senna chicane)
  

UI & HUD

• Added initial HUD Layout Editor (from OPTIONS -> EDIT HUD LAYOUT)
  
• Added Initial telemetry HUD page
  
• Fixed missing car class icons
  
• Fixed class positions incorrectly displaying during single class/practice
  
• Fixed Superkart/ Stock V8 mini class icons
  
• Blocked lap timer incorrectly displaying in HUD 'off' variant
  
• Disabled currently unused containers/elements
  
• Created separate leaderboard and lap/position info HUD elements
  
• Disabled leaderboard by default on 'light' HUD variant
  
• Adjusted trackmap zoom mechanics & tweaked graphical elements
  
• Revised start light HUD element
  
• Adjusted text colour and border of player in HUD leaderboard
  
• Added missing vehicle stats for MIT Lancer R & RS
  
• Updated trackmaps for VIR (all configs), Snetterton (all configs), Velocitta (all configs), Jerez 2019; Added Missing track logo for Snetterton
  
• Increased vehicle preview resolution
  

PHYSICS, FFB & AI

• Reduced wheel contact factor in all open wheelers (reducing chances of cars launching into the air with relatively minor contact) & corrected mass of several independent detatchable parts
  
• F-Classic G3M1: Fixed default gear ratio for 7-speed gearbox
  
• F-Ultimate: Adjusted torque curve & throttle map for smoother power delivery
  
• Minor tyre tread adjustments to F-Classic (all gens), Ultima GT, MCR 2000, MRX P4, F-3, MIT Lancer R & RS
  
• Added TC / ABS to MIT Lancer R & RS when running Authentic driving aids
  
• F-Classic (all gens): adjusted default front wing setting for better aero balance
  
• Adjusted AI prudence when challenging human opponent
  
• AI behavior tweaks: smoother lateral reactions & brake application; less performance variation depending on AI skill when on throttle / brakes; less performance loss as AI driver loses stamina
  
• AI performance callibration passes for all cars
  

TRACKS

• Added alpha to coverage to all foliage shaders - improves quality, only works with MSAA
  
• Jerez: Reworked wet track material and puddle mapping; fine tuned road blend textures and vertex alpha blending to improve some blending abnormalities
  
• Oulton Park: Fixed pitwall collision bug
  
• Night lighting updates for Cascavel, Velopark, Kansai, Goiania, Jerez, Imola, Imola 2001, Imola 1988
  
• 
  

VEHICLES

• Copa Uno: Updated liveries (partial); Adjusted collision mesh
  
• Super V8: Adjusted collision mesh; Updated Vertex AO; Added detachable parts from Damage
  
• Gol Copa Classic: Added LODs & updated materials
  
• F-Ultimate: Updated liveries with logos
  

Automobilista 2 has been out on Early Access for a little over 2 weeks now, and it seems like a good time to share a bit more about our plans for the remainder of the Early Access period.

We have opted to go all the way in our initial proposal of 8 weeks of Early Access period, and may actually add a couple weeks more before official release in order to try make sure Automobilista 2 reaches v1.0 as well rounded and complete as we possibly can make it in this timeframe.

As ever, we stress that AMS2 is a long term project and development will continue way beyond the official release - v1.0 is all but a development milestone marking the game as "ready for normal consumption", or a reliable base for more serious racing both on and offline that allows users to make the best of the premium content to be added thereafter. That doesn´t mean it will be as complete or as good as it will ever be - we see plenty of room for improvement in every area of the game and remain commited to exploring that for years to come.

At this point in Early Access we are still managing to take substantial leaps on a weekly basis and we want to make sure these are rolled out to users in the shortest timeframe possible - to this end, excepting some unforeseen issue we will be deploying game updates every week from now to the end of Early Access, first in AMS2 Beta on Wednesday or Thursday evenings, and then (provided the new build doesn´t present any major issues) to AMS2 Release on Friday or Saturday morning at the latest.

Naturally this speedy pace of development may see the odd rough edge occasionally slipping through into releases, but we believe that at least for this Early Access stage it will be more value for users to have these updates rolled out at this faster rate - after Early Access you may expect the gaps between Beta and Release deployment to increase so we can better ensure releases are kept reliable, and new content rolls out already polished by a proper beta testing period.

Here´s an overview of what you may expect to see during AMS2 Early Access:

GAME MODES

The two currently disabled game modes will become available over the course of Early Access. TIME TRIAL will be the first to come, hopefully before the end of the month.

CHAMPIONSHIP mode will be limited to official series featuring in the game, such as Stock Car Brasil, Copa Truck, Formula Vee and Sprint Race.

While it is unlikely we will also manage to complete the Custom Championship System over the course of Early Access, this remains an important feature which should hopefully follow not too far beyond v1.0.

A career mode is also planned but as a longer term project.

MULTIPLAYER FEATURES

Two common requested features for multiplayer should be integrated during Early Access:

• Multiplayer Rating System
  
• Dedicated Server Tool
  

SIMULATION FEATURES

These are the features that have a substantial role in the simulated series currently in the game which we plan to add support for over the course of Early Access:

• DRS
  
• KERS
  
• Push-to-Pass
  
• Copa Truck Speed Trap
  

CONTENT

The following SERIES are already confirmed to be added over the course Early Access:
Opala Stock Cars 1979 & 1986 (Classic Stock Car Brazil series)
Omega Stock Car 1999 (Classic Stock Car Brazil series)
Copa Montana

Besides these, there are at least 4 MORE UNIQUE CLASSES adding a minimal of 10 NEW CAR MODELS in the works to be added to the Game over Early Access or shortly after - these are mostly content that have not yet been officially announced yet so can´t expand on the details just yet, but you may look forward to a fairly packed Dev Update later this month :)

The following brand new RACE TRACKS will be added over the course of Early Access:

• Kyalami 2020
  
• Estoril 2020
  

The following KART TRACKS from AMS1 are being revamped and are also expected to be added to AMS2 over the course of Early Access:

• Interlagos 2020
  
• Granja Viana 2020
  

A few more of the remaining AMS1 favorites will be upgraded & added to AMS2 over its shelf-life, but these will have to wait for after v1.0 release.

UI & HUD

Both UI & HUD will be actively developed over the course of EA, with new resources & options being added as well as fine tuning and expanding what is already there.

For the UI, the main additions planned for EA are:

• Saved Replay page
  
• Driver Profile page
  
• FFB multiplier per car in Setup page
  

On the HUD front you may expect the following developments to hit the game soon:

• Customizable HUD
  
• Telemetry HUD page
  
• Input & FFB meters
  

GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS & FIXES

Every front of the game will remain under active development and receive substantial upgrades over the course of Early Acccess. Below is a breakdown with a few highlights you may reliably expect to see in this period:

• General art standards are still under constant development and you may expect UPDATED SHADERS & TEXTURES for cars and tracks to gradually make its way in over the weekly builds, adding that little bit extra to the visual experience;
• 3D ANIMATIONS are obviously still very limited in AMS2 as we have continued to struggle with the exporting process for these assets in the new engine, and as consequence driver animations are still adapted SMS assets used as placeholders, and cars generally miss their animated wipers, suspension, animated damaged parts as well as vibrating parts, while trackside environment generally are still missing life - all of these will be addressed over the course of Early Acess;
  
• CAMERA CINEMATICS, specially for trackside cameras are mostly baseline conversions from the original AMS1 sets, and will be gradually revised to make best of use of the extra resources of the new engine;
  
• The Reiza / Automobilista 2 logos that populate the TRACKSIDE ADS are placeholders which will be replaced by both actual & accurate advertising;
  
• The generic DRIVER NAMES / SUITS / HELMETS will be fully customized per series, including series with real drivers;
  
• The fictional CAR LIVERIES, many of which are still basic 4k upscales of their AMS1 counterparts are in process of being revised & upgraded to be more life-like - all fictional series that haven´t already received this upgrade will be revised in time for v1.0, and we will also be adding Community Liveries selected from applications of Early Backers over this period.
  
• On a similar topic, ability to fully CUSTOMIZE CAR LIVERIES AND CREATE CUSTOM CARSETS is high on our priority list - no definitive timeline for this yet but we hope to manage it while still in Early Access.
  
• On the AUDIO front, there will be refinements and updates to engine sounds, and further developments to the audio engine, aiming mainly to maximise the racing environment outside the cockpit.
  
• PHYSICS & FFB are in constant process of evolution, and FFB in particular will receive some further developments and customization options in upcoming builds.
  
• AI DEVELOPMENT is one of our core priorities for AMS2 - besides the ongoing work to improve their behavior and consistency, we will also be working on their performance issues over the 1st lap and improve their strategical decision making.
  
• The various COLLISION ISSUES with open wheelers and with Trucks spawning on pit garages they don´t fit in are in process of being resolved; we are also investigating reports of car-to-car collisions in Multiplayer and ways to mitigate the excessive friction riding along walls and armco;
  
• Finally User Interface LOCALIZATION for FRENCH, GERMAN, SPANISH & PORTUGUESE languages will be added in time for v1.0 release, with Italian and Chinese to follow next.
  

There are of course other game & simulation features we hope to add or develop further, and areas such as weather system, livetrack presets, replay system, multiplayer resources that are also worth and will receive attention - the more substantial updates in these and other areas not covered above however are more likely to arrive beyond v1.0.

In any case we hope this provides a clearer picture for the short term development goals we have mapped out for AMS2 over this Early Access period - we will keep you posted if and when these plans are amended as we roll out the weekly updates, and also with our Development Update round-ups at the end of each month.