Automobilista 2 News

The latest update brings another batch of physics & AI improvements along with further updates to both new and old content, including more tracks with support for the new flag LED panel feature.

A minor but notable adjustment to the tire modelling of both modern slicks and wet treads has been fastracked with this release, sharpening up the feel of the tires that received the adjustment - these are listed in the changelog below. The changes have no major repercussions on user setups or overall performance of the cars.

On the AI front, adjustments to AI lateral movement rates, distances passing routines are triggered on and enabling of a function for AI in faster cars to "see" slower cars further up ahead have made line switches more flowing and also reduced hesitation both when passing for position as well as dealing with lapped traffic. Further improvements on this area are already in the works. AI also improved for several tracks with a new batch of fast line redos.

MULTIPLAYER LOGS & REPORTS WELCOME!

On the Multiplayer front, users that experience showtopping reliability issues are now welcome to post their session log files in our forum to provide us with valuable info towards debugging these remaining
issues.


Both AMS2 + Season Pass 2020-2022 & AMS1 Ultimate + AMS2 Bundles have now been deactivated from the Steam store page - there are now two AMS2 All-Inclusive options in offer packing AMS2 Base plus the full DLC collection at a 15% overall discount.

The two options offer the same thing, the difference is the first is designed for owners of the two separate Premium DLC Packs, while the second aims to cater for owners of the 2020-2022 Season Pass. As a New User looking for the complete AMS2 collection, you only need one of them.

As we progress with new DLC releases, both Bundles will be updated accordingly - this way, new users have a single-click option to acquire all existing AMS2 items at any point in time without duplicating their DLC purchases, while existing users get the option to expand their AMS2 collection with only the items they may be missing.


[h3]V1.5.5.2 CHANGELOG[/h3]

UI & HUD

• Fixed Automatic Clutch input bind label being inconsistently named in different states
  

PHYSICS

• Minor slick tread adjustments for LMDh, F-HiTech Gen2, F-V12, GT1, GTE, GT3 (both gens) GT4, G55 Cup, GT5, G40 Cup, StockV8 (all seasons), Super v8, LMDh, Cadillac DPi, P1 (both gens), Group C, F-Reiza, F-Ultimate Gen2, F-USA Gen1-3 & 2023 (speedway compound)
  
• Minor wet tire tread adjustments for F-Classics, F-HiTechs, F-V12, F-V10s, F-Reiza, F-Ultimates, F-USAs, F-3, F-Inter, F-Trainers, LMDh, DPi, P1, P2, P3, P4, GTE, GT3, GT4 classes
  
• Adjusted baseline pressure for GT3 Gen2 and LMDh to account for the removal of tire warming blankets (setup reset recommended)
  
• LMDh: Slightly increased brake torque
  
• Added medium compound option for F-HiTech Gen2
  
• McLaren 720s Evo: Increased the max bumpstop/packer range to 4cm from 1cm
  

AI

• Adjusted distance AI cars look ahead for slower lapped traffic & added new parameter for faster cars to see even further ahead
  
• Slightly increased avoid ratios for AI in lower aggression ranges
  
• AI line redos for Cascais, Fontana Speedway, Montreal Historic 1991, Le mans Bugatti, Kansai East & West
  
• Further adjustments to AI rates for lateral movements & distance thresholds for passing routines to kick in
  
• Increased fuel threshold for AI to decide to pit for fuel on a long track for Endurance cars (LMDh,
  Cadillac DPi, P1 (both gens), GTE, GT3 (both gens)
  
• Bumped up AI skill spread on ovals to the same level of main road course variants to minimise excessive pack racing on ovals
  
• Adjusted AI tire wear degradation for all F-USA classes
  
• AI calibration pass for GTE & LMdh, DPi, P1s, Super V8, F-V12
  AI wet performance calibration pass for F-Classic Gen4, F-Hitech Gen1&2, F-V12, F-V10 Gen1&2, F-Reiza, F-Ultimate Gen1&2
  

TRACKS

• Le Mans: Additional 3D marshals; Fixed visible gaps in the track near Porsche curve; Adjusted armco lod switching near Mulsanne: Added more of the remaining trackside objects; Adjusted an abnormal bump in the runoff near the Arnage exit curb; Fixed issue where tirewall objects might not be rendered in some external cameras; Adjusted track cameras in Bugatti layout to remove obscured views
  
• Added LED flag panels to Kansai, Interlagos, Hockenheim & Monza
  
• Fixed safety car parking location for Kansai & Hockenheim
  
• Nurburgring 1971: Fixed the misalignment and added collision to the Continental Podium barriers in the paddock
  
• Jerez 1988: Fixed body parts lod behavior on some 3D animated actors
  

VEHICLES

• Fixed car exterior rain effects oscillating between dry and wet
  
• Mercedes AMG GT3 Evo: fixed inverted cockpit banner
  
• GTE: Added luminescent number panels
  
• BMW M8 GTE: Updated display & improved cockpit lights; Added windshield banner
  
• F-HiTech G2M2: Fixed cockpit windscreen and mirrors double mesh issues
  

This is a complementary update to the latest V1.5.5 release, introducing a new "high beam" headlight option along with other bug fixes & improvements.

The release of this update marks the end of the Free Trial period for the Circuit des 24h Du Mans & Endurance Pack Pt1 DLCs, the latest new content now restricted to users who own the respective DLCs.

[h3]NOTE ON NEW HIGH BEAM OPTION [/h3]

One-button headlight operation can be achieved one of two ways, subject to user preference:

1) When binding only the HEADLIGHTS button the single button will cycle all modes on repeat OFF-LOW-HIGH-OFF...

2) When binding only the HIGH BEAM button the LOW will be controlled automatically with other vehicles lights as was previously the case. When the lights are on the bound button will toggle directly between LOW and HIGH settings

[h3]V1.5.5.1 CHANGELOG[/h3]

GENERAL

• Altered algorithm for max visible vehicles setting to bias towards vehicles ahead
  
• Added High Beam headlight mode for local player
  

PHYSICS

• LMDh: Disabled max ERS deployment per lap which had inadvertently been left enabled; Improved BUILD and BALANCED deployment modes for Le Mans 24h layout by conserving energy in higher gears
  
• Fixed player auto ERS activating QUAL during outlaps
  
• Disabled tire blankets for LMDh & GT3 Gen2 classes as per current WEC / IMSA rules
  

AI

• Adjusted AI tire wear rate for LMDh & GT3 Gen2 classes
  
• Adjusted AI brake usage for LMDh, P1 (both gens) & Cadillac DPi classes
  
• AI calibration pass for F-V12, F-V10 Gen1 & Gen2, F-Reiza, F-Ultimate Gen1 & Gen2 (dry & wet)
  

AUDIO

• McLaren MP4/12: fixed missing starter sound.
  
• F-V10 Gen1: Fix attempt to address dissapearing sounds in MP
  

VEHICLES

• LMDh/GTE/GT3 (all Gens): Adjust base headlight brightness
  
• Fixed lighting on carbon material cars in secondary light sources
  
• BMW M Hybrid V8: New safety lights; Added rain streaks added for side windows
  
• Cadillac V Series R: Added rain streaks for side windows
  
• Porsche 992 GT3-R: Corrected display with inverted best lap and split time
  

No change in version number as exes remain the same - build 2490 changelog:

LMDh: Minor diffuser baseline lift adjustment (all models); AI calibration pass
GT3 Gen2 (all models): Set the LD default final drive to the longer option
LeMans 24h / Bugatti : Added missing crowds on garage grandstand; Further LOD and performance tuning; AI line redone for 24h layout (faster, smoother & less late braking)
Porsche 963: Adjusted driver animations

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

It´s the end of an incredible year for Automobilista 2 - one that brought the sim major gameplay developments, many exciting new cars and tracks and scores of new players. It has also been its highest grossing year, almost four years after its initial release.

To celebrate the end of this great year in style with old and new players alike, the very last day of the year brings a new game update as AMS2 hits v1.5.5 along with Le Mans and several state-of-the-art 2023 Endurance race cars. The two new DLCs will remain free for all at release and into the first few days of 2024 so everyone gets to enjoy AMS2 at its very best.

We wish everyone a magnificent 2024 - we will continue pushing flat-out to keep it filled with great sim racing!


[h3]IMPORTANT NOTES:[/h3]

Developments that haven´t made it to this release but that are in the works for future updates:

1- Developments to the headlight options - we have added a feature for AI to flash their headlights at incoming traffic as an immersion feature but there isn´t actually a high beam for the AI or the player yet - we are working on update is to improve visibility under standard lights. A higher intensity beam that you can flash coming up lapped traffic is for next cycle

2- More detailed LMDh ERS modelling - while the performance of PU unit and haversting / deployment overall is pretty accurate, the current model doesn´t simulate all properties of the hybrid system as mandated by the rules - likewise for the next cycle

3- Seasonal foliage and a few remaining trackside objects will be added to Le Mans in a complementary update

4- We are aware of some users regularly running into loss of controller input and / or calibration with the release of new updates, USB port swaps or controller driver updates. We have been trying hard to debug this for a few months to no avail. Usually just restarting the game resolves that, but if it doesn´t instead of creating a new profile, you may just delete Doucuments\Automobilista 2\savegame\[ProfileNumber]\automobilista 2\profiles\default.controllersettings.v1.03.sav and that will only force you to start your controller configuration from scratch rather than all game configs. We continue pushing to find a definitive fix.

5- The Multiplayer Logging Report thread is going live later on today - please use it to post logs from Multi sessions where you might have had issues in; league / event organizers who are able to collect the logs from participants on a same session that ran into trouble will be especially helpful to debug remaining reliability issues.

6- Steam pages for the new DLCs will go live with a complementary update later this week.



[h3]V1.5.3.5 -> V1.5.5.0 CHANGELOG[/h3]
CONTENT Tracks

• Added Le Mans featuring Circuit des 24h du Mans, Bugatti layouts (part of the Circuit des 24h du Mans DLC, free for all for the first few days
  

Cars

• Added LMDh class featuring BMW M Hybrid V8, Cadillac V-Series.R, Porsche 963 GTP (part Endurance Pack Pt1 DLC, free for all for the first few days)
  
• Added GT3 Gen2 class featuring BMW M4, Mclaren 720S EVO, 2023 Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO, Porsche 992 GT3-R (part Endurance Pack Pt1 DLC, free for all for the first few days)
  

GENERAL

• Added official support for driver swaps with a generic AI driver, fixing previous inconsistent skill level compared to the other drivers in the session
  
• Added support for working track light LED panels (WIP, only Green / FCY states for now and only Le Mans & Montreal already set up for them)
  
• Added option to limit maximum number of visible vehicles
  
• Multiplayer: Added some additional MP logging around an unrecoverable condition when the local client is promoted to session host. Removed geographic restrictions on dedicated server searches. Increased MP browser list refresh speed
  
• Added/Updated Championships for F-Vintage, F-Retros, F-Classic, F-HiTech, F-V12, F-V10, F-Reiza, F-Ultimates (all Gens), Stock Car Brasil 1979-2023, Copa Montana, Sprint Race, pCup Brasil, GT1, Group C, BMW M1 Procar
  
• Added series points sets for user custom Championships for majority of all classes
  
• Improved raindrop visuals and dynamics & updated rain drop and rain streak textures to achieve denser raindrops
  
• Adjusted undertray sparks dynamics and colouration
  
• Logitech G923 (low torque) TrueForce device improved sustained ffb effects / overall strength.
  
• Added Class Scoring option to Custom Championship editor
  

UI & HUD

• Added class filter to championship end of weekend screen
  
• Fixed pole position bonus points showing race bonus points on champ scoring selection dialog
  
• Fixed long session lengths escaping their bounding box on Start New Championship screen
  
• Fixed localisation and alignment issues on Controls screen active suspension labels
  
• Fixed cancel/save buttons sharing same key bind on Edit Grid page
  
• Updated motorsport preset for Group C
  
• Added event presets for LMDh+GT3Gen2, LMDh and GT3 Gen2
  
• Interlagos 1993: Added missing track map in HUD display for Interlagos 1993
  

PHYSICS

• Added support for progressive third springs (used by new LMDh cars & Cadillac DPi)
  
• GT3 (both gens): Adjusted body drag for all models & engine peaks for AMG Mercedes & Porsche to rectify excessive terminal top speed
  
• Added Low Downforce setup configurations for GTE
  
• Adjusted traction control actuation for GTE, GT4, GT3 Gen1 (all models)
  
• Revised FFB for GT1, GTE, GT Open, Porsche Cup, GT4, Ginetta G55 Supercup, GT5 and G40 Cup (all models)
  

AI

• Added car-specific AI race start mistake scalar overrides so AI for more modern formula cars (F-Reiza / F-Ultimates) with advanced clutches don´t struggle with major burnouts off the line, while those happen more often in stats with F-Vintages / F-Retros / F-Classics / F-V12 / F-V10 Gen1
  
• Adjusted AI launch performance on wet for all high power formula classes listed above
  
• Slightly increased the likelihood of AI making a mistake during braking when under pressureDisabled AI half-spin mistakes on corner exit
  
• Caterham (all models): Adjusted AI suspension rates & increased roll torque stab in attempt to minimise issues with higher curbs
  
• Increased amount of AI lifting off the throttle under blue flags
  
• Kart 125 shifter: fixed bounce when spawned to track
  
• AI calibration pass for LMDh, DPI & P1 (both gens)
  

AUDIO

• Added reverb and wall reflection volume sliders to AUDIO options
  
• Fixed missing starter sound for: F-Trainer, F-Classic G1M2, F-Vee, McLaren F1 GT1
  
• Metalmoro MRX P3 Turbo: adjusted engine sound and position
  
• Fixed engine starter sound for Camaro SS, VW TSI Cup cars
  
• Adjusted curb sounds so volume is less dependent on tire loads
  
• Fixed missing doppler effect in trackside audio for ARC Camaro and Kart Cross
  
• Adjusted surface sounds for McLaren Senna & Karts
  
• Adjusted engine sound for F-Hitech G1M4
  
• increased gearshift volume for Porsche 911 GT3-R & VW Polo RX
  
• Camaro SS: fixed missing startup sound and adjusted external chase cam sound rev range
  

TRACKS

• Interlagos 1991 / 1993: Fixed issue with the pitwall collision causing strange FFB on contact
  
• Cleveland: Reduced chance of a player car missing the timing sector triggers which results in the lap not recorded
  

VEHICLES

• Fixed shader emissive LCD and LED screens being too bright at night and too dim during the day
  
• Updated cockpit display for GTE, GT3 Gen1, GT4 (all models) to suit shader developments
  
• Fixed Chevrolet Corvette C8 Z06 windscreen HUD being too dark at night
  
• GTE: added leader lights on the Porsche 991 RSR and Corvette C8.R
  
• F Classic G4M2: Fixed bonnet camera clipping
  
• Mclaren MP4/7: Fixed wheels and brake disc´s pivot points
  

Greetings Everyone!

Here we are for our final catch-up of the year, just in time for Christmas!

As hinted in the November Dev Update, we weren´t quite done with the year just yet with v1.5.3 - rather that was to be the platform for the AMS2´s 2023 grand finale. If you have been keeping track of the forums or our social media you´ll have an idea what it is about, but it´s in this Christmas Special Dev Update that you´ll get the full scope of what we have been putting together for the Holidays. Without further ado, let´s begin unwrapping!

[h3]Circuit des 24h Du Mans & Endurance Pack Pt1 Incoming![/h3]

At this time last year we were on the verge the Brazilian Racing Legends DLC along with the first Historical Track Pack - both were meant to set the theme for a 2023 filled with historical open wheelers and historic tracks to suit them, and what an year it has proved to be for fans of those!

The book isn´t quite closed on that front yet, but with the final update of 2023 we are setting off in a different direction as we begin a push to make AMS2 as compelling for Endurance racing fans as it already is for fans of modern and historic formula cars, and as strong for Multiplayer racing as it has become in Single Player.

The first step in thar journey is nothing less than the introduction of the mecca of Endurance racing to AMS2 - as announced in the June Dev Update earlier this year, the license for the 24h du Mans circuit had been secured and the goal was to deliver the modern version of the track before the end of this year.


Part of the track team has been dedicating themselves to the project ever since, modelling the main mesh with the aid of detailed laser scan data. The rest of team has joined them after wrapping the Historical Track Pack Pt2 last month, and in the last few weeks they have together made a grueling push to complete it in time for the Holidays. We are thrilled to confirm they have succeeded with flying colors, and the plan is on to release the track as a dedicated DLC at some point in this final week of 2023. The DLC featuring the modern 24h track along with its shorter Bugatti layout is estimated to sell for US$ 9.99 / 8.99€ .

Beyond the ultimate Endurance race track, an initial batch of ultimate Endurance racing cars as together with Le Mans we will also be releasing Endurance Pack Pt1, featuring four new GT3 Gen2 cars along with three LMDh Hypercars.


Two of the new GT3 Gen2 are as per their names evolutions of the existing Gen1 models - the Mercedes AMG EVO and the McLaren 720S EVO. Joining them are the BMW M4 GT3 and the Porsche 992 GT3-R.


The LMDh Hypercars in turn represent the new leading Endurance prototype class which made its debut in this year´s race to immense success, with exciting cars and a competitive field full of new contenders. Endurance Pack Pt1 features three of these contenders: The Porsche 963, the Cadillac V-Series.R and BMW M Hybrid V8, which didn´t race in this year´s Le Mans but did make its debut across the pond racing in the 2023 IMSA championship.

Endurance Pack Pt1 DLC featuring all four GT3 Gen2 cars and the three LMDh models is estimated to sell for US$ 9.99 / 8.99€ .




Both the track and the car pack is just the beginning – a second Endurance Pack is already being assembled r for 2024 to add more cars to both classes, but also new contenders to GTE, LMP2 & LMP3 classes; We can´t yet confirm which and how many there will be, but it´s fair to expect them to have a more Latin flavor to them.

Further down the road, we will travel back in time several historical versions of Le Mans, along with the cars that made history in them - but those are topics for 2024!

[h3]Shader Updates[/h3]


We have an initial batch of shader updates coming with V1.5.5, bringing some nice visual enhancements for to no significant performance cost

Continuing what we started in the previous update, sparks have received further adjustments to their visuals and dynamics, looking much more accurate now:
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

We also have initial developments to how rain interacts with the car models, in particular the way rain droplets hit, stream, and get wiped off from the windshield - more to come here.
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Car number panels for the new endurance cars are now made of LEDs and also feature leader LEDs as per their real counterparts racing in WEC and IMSA so they can be seen at night. Inside the car, we have fixed the emissive shader for LCD and LED screens, correcting them being too bright at night and too dim during the day


There is more to come here both for these specific shaders as well other visual details we are aiming to improve on over the course of 2024. Thanks to the resources of the Madness engine and the skills of our 3D & 2D artists AMS2 has always been beautiful but as can be seen in the images illustrating this article, we´re not resting on our those laurels and will continue pushing to keep AMS2 competitive with the best of them in 2024, without compromising its exceptional optimization.

[h3]Further V1.5.5 Features & Improvements[/h3]

With fresh new Endurance content comes the need for the game to offer better Endurance features, and V1.5.5 introduce some valuable initial steps there.

On the AI front, besides improving what type of driving mistakes the AI is subject to as well as how and when they may occur and further calibration refinements both to their performance as well as pit strategy decisions, we have added official support for AI driver swaps in pitstops - upon pitting and choosing to swap places with an undefined AI driver, the car will be under AI control for the stint until the next stop (assuming player decides to take over then). This feature has already sneaked in the last update but the AI performance wasn´t scaled appropriately to the AI Strength the player was running, which has now been rectified. As most new features in AMS2 this one will also get expanded in the future - users will get to choose which AI drivers from the existing pool get to be their teammate(s), what sessions and stints each of them will run as well as who gets to start and finish the race.


Furthermore, AI drivers will now flash their headlights at slower traffic ahead as they come up to lap them just as is typical in Endurance racing

One common complaint we got from users regarded the lack of performance options for night time racing -we have addressed this shortcoming by adding the option for user to configure the maximum number of visible vehicles, as upon investigation that proved to be the main performance draw during the night as each car model would be hit with various light sources from track as well as opponent´s headlights.


We also have a number of audio improvements, amongst which new user options to adjust the level of overall audio reverb & wall reflections.

Another cool new feature is the addition of working flag LED panels to higher grade tracks that feature them in real life - initially only green and full course yellow flags will be activated in the panel, but that will evolve in future updates to also display local blue and yellow flags.
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Last but not least, v1.5.5 will bring a batch of new single player championships fully set up with appropriate rule presets, including regional and international Endurance challenges. Multiclass points system are now supported for both the built-in and custom championships created by the player, with a range of new points system to pick from.

[h3]The Road Around the Corner - AMS2 in 2024[/h3]


2023 has proved to be another very strong year for AMS2, and it´s heartwarming for us to see so many of our users enjoying the game more than ever before..

Rest assured there are no plans to slow down in 2024, although users should expect game updates to generally grow more spaced out, with new updates taking up to 2-3 months - as new developments become more complex and the user base continues to expand there is a bigger focus in keeping the public game stable as even more important that such developments are not introduced until reaching a higher level of maturity and stability, demanding longer development timeframes. Such developments include a built-in content management system, a substantial UI & HUD overhaul, a more powerful Dedicated Server Multiplayer tool and a groundbreaking career mode (although this most likely will only see public release in 2025).

We also have a long list of new tracks and cars lined up to boost what is already an impressive roster in 2024, with negotiations for some further premium licenses already well under way. Some of these will introduce further exciting classes from past and present along with fresh motorsports disciplines to make AMS2 even more diverse than it already is. For the most part however new content in 2024 will be focused in further populating existing classes with more contenders as well as increasing the choice of suitable tracks for these classes to race on.

Le Mans and the new Hypercars mark a strong initial stab at modern Endurance Racing, and with the tracks already in the sim the European and Brazilian Endurance racing scenes are instantly very well represented in the game as we wrap this final update of 2023.


It won´t go amiss for hardcore endurance fans however that other prominent manufacturers are still missing from the game, and that a couple of very traditional race tracks in the USA are still needed to make AMS2 truly complete for Endurance racing. We do have some red hot news they may look forward to early on next year, which should further highlight how exciting 2024 promises to be for AMS2 and Endurance racing fans alike - we look forward to sharing these with you all in our initial Dev Update of 2024!

In the meantime, as curtain begin to come down in another year I´d like to once again thank all our users in the name of the whole Reiza team for their ongoing support, without which none of this would be possible. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and the very best of times throughout your Holidays – may it be filled with exciting sim racing!