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GTR 3 Real SimBin and the GTR series of games are notorious in the sim-racing history books but despite their past glories there have been torrid times too. The history of SimBin is a fun one to read but what cannot be denied is that their games were some of the very best for racing simulation fans. For long time followers of the genre you may be thinking ‘GTR 3 is already in development is it not?’. Well yeah it was, I still have the GTR 3 announcement trailer on my Xbox 360 in fact, and we all remember that screenshot where they took a dig (‘threw shade’ for you kids out there) at Forza and Gran Turismo, but alas irony has a way of being pretty ironic, as the game seemed to go into hiding and experience a delay that Polyphony Digital would be proud of! Skipping forward only a short near to 5 years since we last heard anything, RaceDepartment has scooped that GTR 3 is on its way and that SimBin UK and Sector3 Studios (of RaceRoom Racing Experience fame), are in the process of creating the new instalment for a 2018 release. Unlike previous GTR titles which were PC only, GTR 3 will be coming to console too, on the PS4 and Xbox One. For so long console players have wanted a PC type of racing simulation on their side and now there seems to be a barrage of them consistently landing. It will also utilise the splendid Unreal 4 engine and so should be looking fine in the visuals area. Day to night transitions along with dynamic weather conditions have been confirmed too, with the tracks being prone to hazards such as aquaplaning. Puddles will pool and then gradually disappear as the cars move through the standing water or the weather improves due to the dynamic water control. Better damage modelling is another aspect that will be getting a substantial improvement with the new title, over the current system seen in RaceRoom. From the interview it does appear they view those on console as wanting less of a real experience than their PC counterparts, but here’s wishing they mean that the options will be there for them to do this, rather than the game being fundamentally set up this way on those platforms. "I think another point we need to take note of is, whilst the PC community would love this hard core simulation thing which is fine, as Allan said there is a console community that aren't going to fully adhere to that. The product at the end of the day needs to appeal to both sides, hardcore racer as awell and the casual gamer. – Chris Speed, Sector 3 CEO Take a look over at RD for the full interview and prepare for yet another incredible racing sim to vie for our affections. [via RaceDepartment]

Assetto Corsa Takes The Highlands Road A good amount of new images and a couple of videos of the still as of now unnamed fictional Scottish location heading to Assetto Corsa has been posted by teaser-pleaser, Marco Massarutto. The new selection of images that have appeared over the last few days gives a further look at the Highland town track that the Audi Quattro S1 rally car was also shown in at the end of last month. We don’t know how many of the four track layouts this area will feature in, but we can see that this part which is made up of cobbled streets and surrounded by homes is before the longish narrow high-speed section. [gallery type=rectangular" link="file" size="seven-post-image" ids="6574,6575,6576] Through only still images it is difficult to get a sense of how a course runs, and so thankfully, Massarutto has added some videos to his page. Rushing through at high-speed with a Ferrari 488 GTB, the small clip provides an idea of the challenges and thrills that can be expected at this point. var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_GB/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.8&appId=159301820896907"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); " data-width="auto" data-show-text="false"> Some classic racers were also visible in the images shared. The best view of the “Highlands” track was in the latest video where we see a much longer video of Massarutto threading the 488 GTB (he REALLLY likes this car) through the opposing racers, racing cleanly and speedily as he aims to make it from last place all the way to first. " data-width="auto" data-show-text="false"> With very little space to run off the road. The edges are littered with rocks sitting close to the painted white lines and there are objects dotted along that will cause your vehicle damage or even end your race. The new track is expected in “late February” and will be available as free bonus content for all platforms. Whether they will all get the content at the same time is something we will have to wait and see. Assetto Corsa is OUT NOW on PC (Steam), PS4 and Xbox One.

DiRT 4 Announced! Surprise! That’s Codemasters today as they decided to drop the announcement that DiRT 4 is coming to PC, PS4 and Xbox One this June. DiRT 4 will take the “passion and authenticity of off-road racing to the next level” and wants to have players embracing the “thrill, exhilaration and adrenaline” that this sort of racing is renowned for. Giving players the ability to create in what they play on is always welcome and DiRT 4 will do this through a new system called “Your Stage”. This creation tool gives players the ability to create unique rally routes at the touch of a button: select a location and set some parameters and the game will do the hard work in creating a stage that can be raced and shared with friends. We will need to wait for more info before knowing how light or deep players can get involved with the whole process. Following hot on the heels of acclaimed rally racer simulation DiRT Rally, it is likely that the game will steer more towards the arcade spectrum but maybe with an air of authenticity that some of the previous titles seemed to move away from. With DiRT 4, we’ve sought to combine the levels of thrill and realism from last year’s DiRT Rally with the fearless excitement, fun, and adrenaline-fuelled races previously seen in its critically acclaimed prequels DiRT 2 and DiRT 3. – Codemasters blog DiRT games always tend to result in a very polished and enjoyable gameplay experience and do very well at showcasing the different types of motorsport. Factor in some massive crashes and a lot of laughs and you have a recipe for a racing game that can be enjoyed by many. [gallery type=rectangular" link="file" size="small-post-image" ids="6524,6525,6526,6527,6528,6529,6530,6531,6532,6533,6534,6535,6536,6537,6538,6539] [via Codemasters blog]

DiRT Rally PlayStation VR It’s been a bit of a fairly quiet time with info pertaining to DiRT Rally recently, but today a surprising announcement was made out of nowhere that the outstanding rally sim will be getting PlayStation VR compatibility. Announced through the official Codemasters blog, the support for PSVR will be provided by an upcoming DLC add-on and will be available from the PlayStation Store for existing owners and be included in an upgraded retailed boxed version. It won’t be a long wait for it either, as it appears Codies have been working away like busy beavers as we will be seeing it in the “coming weeks”. DiRT Rally is already seen as the ultimate rally racer and the addition of PSVR support will only raise that higher. Those players who are lucky enough to be able to have a full setup will find themselves immersed as much as is possible without being behind the wheel of an actual rally car. The PS VR functionality will give you a fully immersive off-road experience, with the upgraded game supporting every car, every route and every discipline within DiRT Rally. But wait, there’s more! Hang onto your seats baby ‘cause the update will enable an ability to have a second player to take on the role of co-driver, using the buttons and touchpad of the controller to send instructions to the driver. [gallery type=rectangular" link="file" size="seven-post-image" ids="6490,6491,6492] Nothing can go wrong there then... [via Codies blog]

Console ‘Red Pack’ & Porsche Pack Vol 2 OUT NOW! Here we are, into the beginnings of 2017 and Kunos Simulazioni and 505 Games are right on it, as today saw the release of the ‘Red Pack’ and Porsche Pack Volume 2 for PS4 and Xbox One. In fairness, they did say the simultaneous landing of the packs would happen but as has been seen previously, it’s not always the case to blindly believe this will be the case. var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_GB/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.8&appId=159301820896907"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); " data-width="auto" data-show-text="false"> Both of the packs which have been available on PC for months, were very much eagerly awaited by players on both console platforms. And so to get them two dropping at the same time is going to put many of them in a right cheery mood. Assetto Corsa ‘Red Pack’ - Contents Ferrari SF15-T Ferrari F138 Ferrari 488 GT3 Maserati 250F 6C Maserati 250F T2 12C Maserati GranTurismo MC GT4 Lamborghini Aventador LP750-4 SuperVeloce Red Bull Ring circuit Deciding between the two however isn’t the only issue facing those on Xbox One right now. As has become almost routine for those players on the Microsoft system, experiencing new frustration with additional content has shown itself again: this time being that Season Pass holders are unable to unlock the content they are entitled to. Kunos are aware and looking into it and hopefully this problem will be resolved in not too long. Assetto Corsa – Porsche Pack Volume 2 Porsche 911 GT3 RS Porsche 718 Spyder RS Porsche Cayman GT4 Porsche 718 Boxster S Manual Transmission Porsche 718 Boxster S PDK Porsche 919 Hybrid 2015 Porsche 911 GT1 Porsche 962c Long Tail Porsche 962c Short Tail For those able to download the content and have it work as expected, plenty of new vehicles and a new track awaits them. Be it taking the duo of Ferrari F1 cars around the numerous locations the game has to offer or hanging on to a Porsche 962c as it tries to wrestle away from your control. The new thrills are due to be bountiful with all the new machinery and new track that is included inside the two packs. This latest release brings the console versions of the game to v1.11 and along with a number of fixes, delivers another free Porsche. The Porsche Cayenne is the second of the free Porsche triplets promised, giving everyone some more Porsche to play with even if they do not buy any of the new content. No word on the console Porsche Pack Volume 3 right now, but that can be forgiven. However could it also make an appearance this month? It will be interesting to see what Kunos does, as the delayed 911 RSR 2017 that was meant to be in the PC release of the pack last December, is pencilled in to become a free upgrade to that pack some time this month. Available now, the Porsche Pack 2 and the Red Pack are included in the console Season Pass, or can be purchased separately on the PlayStation and Microsoft Stores.

How’s it gawn?! As the famous sign when you enter the country says, ‘SCOTLAND welcomes you’. And that is exactly what these latest images from main Assetto Corsa teaser-geezer Marco Massarutto are saying too. Revealed to us in the end of year blog, this new fictional track that is now undoubtedly confirmed to be based in Scotland, shows off traces of everything that my home country is known for: beautiful scenery, tight winding roads, grass, old architecture and wait… is that rain? [gallery type=rectangular" link="file" columns="2" size="seven-post-image" ids="6480,6481,6482] Perhaps not, maybe just a bit of optical trickery going on in that image as look how clear the right side window is. It would however be natural for a Scottish location to have to put up with the occasional ‘it’s pishing it down’ wet spell mind you, but maybe that will need to wait for a sequel. Happily, this new track, available in 4 different configurations will be given away as free bonus content at some point within the first bite of this year and is set to delight circuit, drift and endurance fans. As of yet the track is unnamed but it shouldn't be too long before more details start to drip out in reference to it.

Assetto Corsa 'Red Pack' on Console Has a Release Date! The news in relation to Assetto Corsa continues to spill out as the release date has been set for when the ‘Red Pack’ will drop on PS4 and Xbox One. Revealed on the official social channels of the title, the DLC will arrive at the start of next week on Tuesday, January 10th. It is yet another and welcome addition to Kunos’ simulation racer and is the one often asked about and has been near the top of the list of content players have wanted to see released on their consoles next. Its popularity is mostly garnered because of the inclusion of a pair of fairly recent Ferrari Formula One racers, the 2013 F138 and 2015 SF-15T – with the F138 running in the final season where the cars would house a glorious sounding V8 before the idiots at the FIA changed the rules to go with the wasp sounding crap we have these days. Two Ferraris is not all you get in this pack, the full breakdown on what comes with it was talked about only a couple of days ago but for the tl;dr amongst you, a bulleted list has been put down below. Assetto Corsa ‘Red Pack’ - Contents Ferrari SF15-T Ferrari F138 Ferrari 488 GT3 Maserati 250F 6C Maserati 250F T2 12C Maserati GranTurismo MC GT4 Lamborghini Aventador LP750-4 SuperVeloce Red Bull Ring circuit In total there is seven new vehicles and a new track for buyers to play with and play on and if Kunos stick to their word, the Porsche Pack Volume 2 should be coming on or around this date also. The ‘Red Pack’ will be available on their respective stores on the date of release specified above for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as a standalone purchase or is included as part of the Season Pass. It is already out and available for the PC on Steam. Note: main image is from the PC release

Porsche Pack Volume 2 PS4 & Xbox One Should have known that there was nothing to worry about when the Assetto Corsa ‘Red Pack’ release for console announcement was made yesterday, but it did seem a bit unnerving that there was no mention of the accompanying second Porsche Pack. Those worries can be put to rest as Kunos have just posted on their social channels that 'Porsche Pack Volume 2' is also heading to the consoles next week, just like they promised in December last year.. A quality bit of racing pedigree is on display in this second pack, as it contains some of the most iconic models known in Porsche racing such as the 962c (long and short tail), 911 GT1 and the 919 Hybrid 2015. (Trailer below is from the PC release) Modern day is represented too with the 911 GT3 RS, Cayman GT4, and 718 Boxster in both manual and PDK transmission guises. The classic 718 Spyder RS finishes off the list in style. Well providing nothing has changed between the PC release and this one, that should be what can be expected. Assetto Corsa – Porsche Pack Volume 2 Contents Porsche 911 GT3 RS Porsche 718 Spyder RS Porsche Cayman GT4 Porsche 718 Boxster S Manual Transmission Porsche 718 Boxster S PDK Porsche 919 Hybrid 2015 Porsche 911 GT1 Porsche 962c Long Tail Porsche 962c Short Tail Another free Porsche, the Cayenne Turbo S will be making its way in through the latest associated update too, as every Porsche Pack arrival brings with it another of the free trio of Porsches, so that everyone can enjoy some extra Porsche-powered fun. It is good to see the console catching up with the PC in the content stakes, and from the look ahead posted at the end of 2016, we know that there is a lot more to come to the sim-racer aside from that which has still to come to the PS4 and Xbox One, that is already available on the PC.

Get Ready For The Red Pack In the final months of last year, we were given some sort of idea for when Assetto Corsa’s 'Red Pack' would finally make its appearance on console when it was said to be coming in January along with Porsche Pack Volume 2. Well they weren’t lying as Kunos have just posted that the ‘Red Pack’ is due out next week (trailer below is for the PC) on both PS4 and Xbox One. Taking them at their word, we expect that the team have learned from that previous bout of unfortunateness (that even a word?) to hit them and will be fully aware of what needs to be done to get them out on time for both platforms. Should you be wondering why this pack is so highly talked about and always asked for, well it is because of the inclusion of two Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 cars: SF15-T and F138. The SF15-T was driven by Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Räikkönen in the 2015 season and was the year of those crazy looking platypus-like noses, whereby the F138 was raced by Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa in 2013 and was the final season where the V8 engine would be used. And it is not only those two that come with it. There is a third Ferrari in way of the 488 GT3, a Lamborghni Aventador SuperVeloce, Maserati 250F and 250F T2, and a GranTurismo MC GT4. A new track is also a part of the pack. The Red Bull Ring which is situated in Austria is a fast but challenging circuit that is ideal for the new F1 cars to be let loose upon as well as the several other vehicles that litter the main game and have joined through DLC. Assetto Corsa ‘Red Pack’ - Contents Ferrari SF15-T Ferrari F138 Ferrari 488 GT3 Maserati 250F 6C Maserati 250F T2 12C Maserati GranTurismo MC GT4 Lamborghini Aventador LP750-4 SuperVeloce Red Bull Ring circuit When the date is locked down we will be sure to post it up. Interestingly, there is no mention of the second Porsche Pack 2 after it was said to arrive at the same time as the Red Pack. Has this been postponed? It’s getting hard to keep up with all these mixed signals all over the place. Assetto Corsa is out now for PS4 and Xbox One and is available for PC on Steam. Don’t forget that the Season Pass on console gives access to the 3 Porsche Packs, Japanese Pack and The Red Pack. Note: the media shown is from those of the PC release of the pack back in July 2016.

Assetto Corsa 2017 Look Ahead Tasked with writing an end of year post for the official website, our favourite teaser-geezer Marco Massarutto, has revealed a nice amount of features and content that will be landing on Assetto Corsa in 2017. Within it we discover that more free bonus cars and tracks are heading to the game alongside confirmation that the recently released Customisable Championships mode, which came to the PC version last month, will also be coming to the consoles. There was also acknowledgement that work is still being carried on delivering Private Lobbies to the consoles. Not one to keep too many secrets hidden away, Massarutto announces that there will be a brand new created from scratch fictional track based in Scotland! Yeah my home country people!! Can’t argue with their choice, we do have some epic roads (and scenery) here. Arriving free as bonus content in the early part of 2017, this new circuit has been created in partnership with Nvidia and Sparco because apparently the “ideal” circuit doesn’t exist in the real world *ahem Nordschleife*, and will consist of 4 different configurations, incorporating city track, drift layout and endurance course racing. This track will allow you to enjoy each car included in Assetto Corsa, from the very little and quiet Abarth 595 to the racing cars designed for endurance racing, to the GT cars you are enjoying so much. We’ll unveil more details very soon, our aim is to release it within the Q1 2017. Whether these are all set in one place or spread throughout (!), we will need to wait and see. The Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway is unfortunately going to be a bit later coming to the game than Kunos originally wanted, but it will drop in the first half of 2017. As for the cars, well they get even better! Free bonus content alone will itself provide players with the Mazda 787B, Maserati Quattroporte, Miata NA and the new Audi TT. Whereas premium content will begin with the “British Pack”. Comprising of those that make up the latest line-up from McLaren, Lotus and maybe some others, as is hinted at. Kunos, as an Italian developer, unsurprisingly have a real devotion to Ferrari. And as was clear from the several that came with the vanilla game, in DLC and the Scuderia F1 editions included inside the incredible 'Red Pack', this is excellent for players. And with Ferrari celebrating their 70th Anniversary in 2017, AC is set to get a dedicated pack containing 7 of the prestigious marque’s models with the AC community getting a chance to get involved in the choice with a poll. Continuing to grow, the future is looking good for Kunos and AC. Putting the final touches together in the opening of a new studio that has come about as their current base of operations at the Vallelunga circuit undergoes maintenance. These new digs will be better for them as it will have dedicated areas for VR, testing, multiplayer and R&D. There may also be the opportunity for inviting fans and supporters, where they might be shown top secret 'NOT FOR MASSARUTTO’S EYES AS HE WILL SHOW IT' type work in progress. :p Lastly, for all of you AC players who feel you are not showing enough support to the game through the buying of everything they release, you will be ecstatic to hear that as a result of their partnership with SPARCO, there will be some official Assetto Corsa merchandise available for you spend your money on. So now you can deck yourself out as an AC obsessed fanatic... or just buy an item or two, whatever takes your fancy. Assetto Corsa is available for PC on Steam and PS4 and Xbox One to on their respective marketplaces, as well as any many good retailers. [via Assetto Corsa blog]

Porsche Pack Vol. 2 / Red Pack Console Info Console players of Assetto Corsa will be happy to know that Porsche Pack Volume 2 is heading for submission this week and that news has finally broken about the PS4 and Xbox One ‘Red Pack’ too. From a post made on the official console blog by 505 Games Community Manager, Antonela Pounder, we find that the second Porsche Pack is going into the ‘check it doesn’t explode the console’ submission process at Sony and Microsoft this week, meaning a release now for early January looks certain and not the proposed “December” they mentioned earlier. (boo! j/k) Porsche Pack Volume 2 is a real favourite with us here at turboduck, as it comprises of some truly iconic Porsche racing history in the Porsche 962c in both long and short tail varieties, and the 911 GT1, along with some equally delectable road going metal of the 911 GT3 RS and Cayman GT4. The latter of which is regarded as one of the best handling and driver thrilling cars in its price bracket. Assetto Corsa – Porsche Pack Volume 2 Porsche 911 GT3 RS Porsche 718 Spyder RS Porsche Cayman GT4 Porsche 718 Boxster S Manual Transmission Porsche 718 Boxster S PDK Porsche 919 Hybrid 2015 Porsche 911 GT1 Porsche 962c Long Tail Porsche 962c Short Tail In light of all the Porsche hype and excitement, it has been easy to forget about another of the stellar DLC drops for AC that came donkey’s ways back in July to the PC – the ‘Red Pack’. Proving you can never have too much of a good thing, the console version of the ‘Red Pack’ will release at the same time as Porsche Pack Vol. 2!! And no it’s not just full of Ferraris. Being Italian themselves, Kunos Simulazioni are very proud of their heritage and also that of their country's most famous marques, and the Red Pack demonstrates why in superb form. From the stable of the Prancing Horse there is not one, but TWO Scuderia Ferrari F1 cars in way of the 2015 season SF15-T and the 2013 V8 powered F138, along with the 488 GT3 racecar. Where there is a Prancing Horse there is usually a Raging Bull snorting angrily and in the virtual space this is no different, as the one and only Lamborghini of the monstrous Aventador LP750-4 SuperVeloce makes itself welcome onto the list. Another Italian legend of motoring history is Maserati, and they are well represented as to why with the early classic Formula One racing 250F 6C and the 250F T2 12C. Modern times is given a place too, as the (imo) gorgeous GranTurismo MC GT4 racecar makes up the last of the vehicles to come with the pack. Assetto Corsa - Red Pack Ferrari SF-15T Ferrari F138 Ferrari 488 GT3 Maserati 250F 6C Maserati 250F T2 12C Maserati GranTurismo MC GT4 Lamborghini Aventador SuperVeloce But wait, there’s more! The Red Bull Ring of Austria is also included in all its authentic laser scanned glory, increasing the track selection by another notch in what is already quite an impressive line-up. [gallery type=rectangular" link="file" size="seven-post-image" ids="5062,4923,5084,4905,5044] What about Private Lobbies? We knew you would ask this and thankfully so did the AC squad so we’ll just let them tell you. Don’t worry… They’re coming! ? Private lobbies are a big job, but the team are working incredibly hard to bring them to Assetto Corsa. While we don’t have a release date yet, you can expect them in the new year as part of a major update. More info soon! There is a promise of more info, a review round-up of the past year and an insight into what 2017 will bring by (I do like to tease them) Marco Massarutto and we will be sure to share that as it becomes available. [via Assetto Corsa blog] Note: the images shown are media from the PC releases.

GT Sport Screenshot Feast! A pile of screenshots has been released for GT Sport by developer Polyphony Digital to go alongside the release of the latest trailer that was shown at this year's PlayStation Experience. Although dynamic time and weather will NOT (!) be a feature of GT Sport, the official images set out to make us forget about this as they contain numerous examples of times of day and their lighting conditions. Showing various examples from the likes of the Nürburgring, Brands Hatch, Willow Springs, Tokyo, and the fictional Fisherman’s Ranch rally circuit, it is clear to see that the game will certainly be a real looker no matter what time the races will take place, with those on a PS4 Pro and an HDR-enabled 4K tv getting the best out of what's on offer. Masters of the craft of creating a truly photorealistic look, the images could easily be mistaken for real life shots if the logo wasn't there on some of them. However let's wait and see if there is more to salivate over than just the pretty visuals. GT Sport aims to make a release at some point in 2017 for PS4 and PS4 Pro. GT Sport - PlayStation Experience 2016 Screenshots [gallery type=rectangular" link="file" size="seven-post-image" ids="6245,6244,6243,6242,6241,6240,6239,6238,6237,6236,6235,6234,6233,6232,6231,6230,6229,6228,6227,6226,6225,6224,6223,6222,6221,6220,6219,6218,6217,6216,6215,6214,6213,6212,6211,6210,6209,6208,6207,6206,6205,6204,6203,6202,6201,6200,6199,6198,6197,6196,6195,6194,6193,6192,6191,6190,6189,6188,6187,6186,6185,6184,6183,6182,6181,6180,6179,6178,6177,6176,6175,6174,6173,6172,6171,6170,6169,6168,6167,6166,6165,6164,6163,6162,6161,6160,6159,6158,6157,6156,6155,6154,6153,6152,6151,6150,6149,6148,6147,6146,6145,6144,6143,6142,6141,6140,6139,6138,6137,6136,6135,6134,6133,6132,6131,6130,6129,6128,6127,6126,6125,6124,6123,6122]

PS4 Assetto Corsa v1.10 Update Back in late November Assetto Corsa on PS4 received the long-awaited Porsche Pack Volume 1 and the v1.09 update. Unfortunately it seemed to introduce some issues with it at the same time, the most annoying being with some wheels such as the Logitech G29 and Thrustmaster T300 where the steering was basically broken. And you need to be able to steer while racing as this isn’t NASCAR after all. *runs* Other fixes are included too in the small list which is shown below. Assetto Corsa – v1.10 Update Fixed broken steering rotation on wheels including G29, T300 Fixed horn button on certain wheels Fixed “Real Racer” trophy Fixed force feedback setting in UI Fixed wrong ghost car timing Fixed sound problems on certain tracks caused by reverbs Fixed Monza 66 invisible wall Fixed track temperature [via Assetto Corsa Facebook]

PlayStation Experience GT Sport A stupidly gorgeous new trailer for GT Sport has been unveiled at this year’s PlayStation Experience for us to feast on. Looking absolutely stunning and highlighting key visual features that the game will incorporate such as 4K support on PS4 Pro, HDR lighting and VR, we are also given looks at multiple forms of racing including rally and night racing along with the whole pre-race build-up as crews prepare the cars which are then seen pulling out of their boxes and lining up behind the pace car on the grid. In a game that is endorsed by the FIA it stands to reason that the whole show is being recreated accurately. It’s a nice touch but like the pre-game build-up sequences in football games such as FIFA and Pro Evo, it will likely be watched once or maybe twice before the ‘Skip’ option will be used every time thereafter. The trailer is clearly a technical look-at-this, rather than anything substantial about how players will actually play through it which is fine but with the other racing games out and due out (Forza 7) this has to be a title full of substance, and less about just the style; no matter how well it does it. Sound is well done in the trailer though it is more than likely dubbed as if there is one thing the past has taught us, and as George 'Dubya' so eloquently put: ‘fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice… *pause* ...you can’t get fooled again’ – so yeah we’ll wait and see before tearing up at those visuals if the sound once again makes us want to tear our hair out. Oh yeah, it’s out in 2017. Not early 2017, or summer 2017, or late 2017, no, just 2017.

The Crew: Hot Pursuit The race and the chase is on as The Crew ‘Calling All Units’ expansion is now available on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. Originally scheduled for a mid-morning GMT release, there appeared to be some technical issues that have since been resolved. The new content, if you haven’t been following the info drops and media that has recently come out, puts players behind the wheel as the Police in a new storyline featuring 12 missions, and introduces us to a new character, Clara Washington. In this new scenario you are Washington and will be helping in her quest to bring down a rising gang of street racers called the Harvesters. The prologue of the new story can be played by everyone, giving a taste of what the new expansion offers through two missions where you will first pick-up a crate and run with it to a destination, then switch roles to a cop where you will then pursue who you were just prior. After that though, the expansion will need to be purchased in order to gain the free Police Mercedes and to continue on with the story. Understandably however it is not the single player that is the main draw of this for many players. Nope, it is the ability to have a good old chase online with real people and CAU does this quite well. Start off by doing the run alone and then embrace the chaos as all of a sudden you are being helped by and chased by a group of players who are working together to achieve their goal. Finding others is easy as notifications will show inviting you to take part in a challenge that is already underway. Many different vehicles are available for the police in varying Specs for all kind of terrain. Street, Performance and Circuit are ideal for when on the roads and Raid and even Monster Truck is there for when things get a bit more bumpy off the beaten track. Taking down players as a cop is done by having the suspect’s vehicle within a 30 meter range for a period of 7 seconds. There’s no boxing in or having to ram against a barrier and hold them there required here. It’s not as simple as it sounds though as each side has abilities they can use to hinder and help them in their task. Police have access to the following: Speed Hack – This ability breaks the acceleration of any Street Racer in a range of 150 meters. EMP Field - The EMP Field can deactivate the brakes of any Street Racer in a range of 150 meters. Jammer – When used, this ability deactivates all UI items (BreadCrumb, Radar, crew widget, 3D tags etc …) of the target in range. EMP Shock – the EMP Shock makes every opponent in range lose control of their vehicle. Back on target – if the players are too far away from their target, they have the possibility to use the back on target ability to reduce the distance. Whereas Street Racers get to use these: Flashbang – this ability blinds the cop players and AI in range, and removes their UI elements for few seconds. Unlimitro – gives unlimited nitro to the caster and his support players in range. Guardian – This ability is a protective one, once launched, it will cleanse all the abilities sent by Cops for few seconds. EMP Shock – the EMP Shock applies a single shock to the target and makes the opponent’s car lose control and grip for a few seconds. Back on target for support players – if a support Street Racer (i.e, non-crate holder) is too far away from the crate holder, he has the possibility to use the back on target ability to reduce the distance. Each player gets to choose 2 of the above options from the menu before the chase and can also change them at anytime during too. Doing so means taking your eye off the prize and could result in doing you more harm than good unless you are quick! Plenty of new vehicles come as part of CAU too and there are all types here. Comprising of eleven that are brand new to the game including the extremely popular Nissan GT-R (R35) available in both normal and police versions. The full list of what is included in the original CAU release is shown below. We’ve highlighted the completely new with Nissan GT-R (FS / Perf / Police Perf) Jeep Wrangler (Full Stock / Street / Dirt / Raid / Police Dirt) Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupé (Police Street) Lamborghini Aventador (Police Perf) Ford F-150 (Police Raid) Lamborghini Gallardo (Police Circuit) Abarth 500 (Police Monster Truck) BMW S1000R (Police Perf) Koenigsegg Agera R (Police Perf) Hummer H1 (Police Raid) Pagani Huayra (Police Perf) Ferrari F12 Berlinetta (Full Stock / Perf) Kawasaki GPZ 900R Ninja 1984 (FS / Street / Perf / Circuit) Kawasaki KX450F (Full Stock / Street / Dirt / Raid) Indian Chief Dark Horse (Full Stock / Street / Perf) Ducati Hypermotard (Full Stock / Street / Dirt) KTM 1190 RC8 R (Full Stock / Perf) + RC8 R Track (Circuit) Mercedes AMG GT (Full Stock + Perf) + GT3 (Circuit) Maserati MC12 (Full Stock + Perf) + MC12 Corsa (Circuit) As you play through the many other events and missions of CAU you will find AI opponents named after many popular and dedicated people from the community of the game. Thanks to the incredible generosity of Ivory Tower and co. you can find YouTuber spoon Blackpanthaa in there, along with The Crew reddit head honcho Elongo06 as well as some muppet called Tee Duck. I’m sure they, just like us, have said a massive WAHEY! THANKS GUYS AND GIRLS!! to those who made it possible for us fools to get ourselves involved. The Crew ‘Calling All Units’ is out now for PC, PS4 and Xbox One for $24.99/£19.99/€24.99. It can also be bought with the new The Crew Ultimate Edition that is out as of today. With it, there also comes updates to the handling for multiple cars, and all bikes have received a better turning rate and improved suspension settings. Bug squashing has been done too, with fixes for the behaviour of AI, audio and more. For the full range of all of this check out the source below. [via The Crew blog]

Porsche Pack 1 for Console Tomorrow is the day for the consoles to get the first Assetto Corsa Porsche Pack. Well the PlayStation 4 will anyway as unfortunately the Xbox One version has received a slight delay. Rest assured though that Kunos are on the case and are in their own words “working flat out right now and doing all they can to solve the issues” in order to bring the Porsche pack and update to the Xbox playerbase. Already out for the PC, the pack includes some of the most iconic Porsches known. From the modern hypercar of the 918 Spyder to the ‘they actually made this thing’ 917/30 Spyder. Porsche Pack Volume 1 - Contents Porsche 911 Carrera S Porsche 918 Spyder Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.0 Porsche 718 Cayman S Porsche 917/30 Spyder Porsche 935/78 ‘Moby Dick’ Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport A new update will accompany the pack release too in version 1.09. This will bring a number of fixes and improvements along with two pieces of free bonus content: the Porsche Panamera G2 Turbo and the historic Silverstone circuit. On the console there seems to be a fair amount of having to take the good with the bad, but it's undeniable that AC is one of the best racing simulators available on console. The original proclamation of the intent to bring the console version up to that of the PC seems to be getting chipped away as time goes by. There's still time though, so they may very well surprise. UPDATE V 1.09 FIXES AND CHANGES – Upgraded physics engine and network protocol to bring them in line with the PC version of Assetto Corsa as of release 1.9 – Upgraded FMOD to latest 1.08, and done a lot of tweaks and fixes to the audio of all cars – Fixed some problems with the AI on race start – Fixed crash when suspending the game during a multiplayer race – Fixed a recurring crash with Special Events, caused by a certain sequence of actions in the launcher – Fixed bug that blocked users from pushing turbo to 100% – Fixed bug with Traction Control level selection – Fixed several translation issues – Fixed a degenerate collision triangle in Brands Hatch that was causing the simulation to break when hitting it – Added support for visible checkpoints in Time Attack mode – Added new controls presets – Added support for Porsche-specific car features and Special Events – Added support for DLC content: Porsche Pack #1 – Added driver skins Remember that the Porsche Season Pass (search for it on your respective platform) is a great buy if you intend to pick up every one of the three Porsche packs, with a generous discount compared to buying all of them individually. And even though PC has had Porsche Pack Volume 2 already, it has been affirmed for December on console and hopefully should be earlier than arriving right at the end of it like this one has. [via Assetto Corsa]

Say It Isn't So Stefano! The console version of Assetto Corsa is a fantastic simulation racer and really takes the fight to the main stays of Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport on PS4 and Xbox One, but there are things lacking within it that you just wouldn’t expect to be in this day and age. And despite some of this such as the lack of Private Lobbies and being unable to use DLC online being addressed by the team at Kunos Simulazioni, a recent reply by founder and Lead Programmer Stefano Casillo to a member called 'Donnced' on the official AC forums seems to indicate that the consoles will not get full race replays, a photomode (!) or the Showroom mode that is on the PC. The response shown above doesn’t completely rule them out, however it is easy to ascertain that if they were to come, it would certainly be some way off from now. From a look around it looks like replays are done in a manner not of the norm that titles usually go for, whereby a number of games will record the actions in the race and then replay them through the game engine to recreate the session recorded. AC though, with its large filesizes must use another method. Not having a photomode is enough to make us cry, as we adore this feature and really enjoy it when our members post in our dedicated Gaming Media forum or share their stuff in the Gallery. You see, ever since taking those first shots in GT4 many years ago, it was exciting to think how the future would allow us as players to use and showcase our media, and sure the new consoles have a function to take a screenshot built into them but, being able to jump out and set up your shot just right makes a dedicated option for it, that much better. In my view… EVERY GAME SHOULD HAVE A PHOTOMODE!! Showroom is akin to Forzavista or Photo Travel in the Gran Turismo series – allowing players to check out the vehicles in more detail and see how much attention to detail has been paid to the recreation of the models. [via GTPlanet]

Porsche Pack 1 PS4/Xbox One Release At long last, Assetto Corsa console players will be able to savour in the Porsche delights that those on PC has been able to enjoy for more than a month, as a release date for Porsche Pack Volume 1 on PS4 and Xbox One has been confirmed. Coming on November 29th for both platforms, the first of the three packs is releasing a lot later than many would have expected. Funnily enough, this date is only known because it was posted as a comment on their Facebook announcement about the release of Porsche Pack Volume 2 for PC. Assetto Corsa – Porsche Pack Volume 1 Porsche 911 Carrera S Porsche 918 Spyder Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.0 Porsche 718 Cayman S Porsche 917/30 Spyder Porsche 935/78 'Moby Dick' Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport So two Porsche packs have dropped on PC before console gets even the one! Obviously the method of getting content onto the Sony and Microsoft networks is going to be different, but more than a month after the PC has had it through Steam? Perhaps there was a problem that they had to resolve in the certification process? ...yeah let’s believe that. Ignoring the long waiting time, the fact that a date is now set is going to relieve some of the pressure on those who have been waiting for it. And there is no doubting really the value for money that the packs provide, especially if the Porsche Season Pass offer is taken up. And if you’re wondering about when PS4 and Xbox One players will be able to sample the only just released Porsche Pack Volume 2, well that will be “in December”.

’Calling All Units’ Key Giveaway Players of The Crew can get themselves in with a chance of winning a ‘Calling All Units’ expansion key with the latest Community Challenge to go live in the game. Open to all players and platforms from November 16th - 22nd, the Los Angeles based ‘Fake Out’ challenge will pit them against a prison bus that is accompanied with a heavy police escort. At the end of the challenge the top 20 players on each platform of PS4, Xbox One and PC will be sent a key. It is also important to note that in order to take part game accounts must be linked to Uplay, as this is how the lucky winners will be contacted. It's unclear if the key will activate before the official release of the 29th or if those who win will need to hold off until then before activating, but seeing as it is only a week either way, it really isn't that much of an issue to be fair. The Crew 'Calling All Units' expansion is out November 29th on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. [via The Crew blog]

Pure Porsche Excellence With a week to go until Assetto Corsa Porsche Pack Volume 2 is released for the PC version of Assetto Corsa, Marco Massarutto has been at it again in just casually dropping images of some of the contents of the pack on his own Facebook page. The first Porsche pack was quite something to behold when images were shown of it before its release but these latest shots are on another level due to the cars that are in them. Real Porsche pedigree is on display with the 911 GT1, 919 Hybrid 2015, 911 GT3 RS and the classic 718 Spyder RS all getting their own images but the one that really catches your attention – or at least it did mine – is the group shot of the 3 racecars of the 911 GT1, 919 Hybrid 2015 and the 962c all together on track. This image alone will sell the game to people as that is like a holy trinity in itself. Two cars are missing from these showings though: the 718 Boxster S and the Cayman GT4, however we get the feeling that they will grace us with their presence in not too long if past showcases is anything to go by. UPDATE://1 - Marco posted this brilliant shot of the 718 Spyder RS and the 718 Boxster S side-by-side. Quite a difference in size in the more than 50 years between them. Assetto Corsa – Porsche Pack Volume 2 Contents Porsche 911 GT3 RS Porsche 718 Spyder RS Porsche Cayman GT4 Porsche 718 Boxster S Manual Transmission Porsche 718 Boxster S PDK Porsche 919 Hybrid 2015 Porsche 911 GT1 Porsche 962c Long Tail Porsche 962c Short Tail The PS4 and Xbox One are still waiting for Porsche Pack Volume 1 and it is coming but wow it would be mighty annoying to have the second Porsche pack drop before the console even gets the first. Assetto Corsa Porsche Pack Volume II is due to release on November 22ndvia Steam for PC. Don’t forget that you can buy the Porsche Season Pass (also available on console) and enjoy a saving of 28% on buying the three packs individually. UPDATE://1 - Posted November 15th, 2016 @ 17:03 pm GMT

Assetto Corsa Will Get Private Lobbies After all the delays that the console version of Assetto Corsa experienced, you would have honestly expected Kunos Simulazioni to realise that certain features such as Private Lobbies and the use of purchased content online to be obvious ones to have. This was not the case though, as for whatever reason these were left out. Being a small team we can of course allow them some sway in this matter but just looking on their official channels you can see that the lack of Private Lobbies is probably the most often raised criticism. And rightly so, after all many a racing game has come and gone and given players the ability to set up their own lobby, where like-minded racers or friends can join without the worry that some random is going to cause trouble or disruption. It also allows for leagues and championships which the more hardcore of the racing community are very fond of. Then there is being able to use your purchased DLC online, I mean come on this should be common sense should it not? A bad start can tar a title and turn people away indefinitely and the only way to bring it back in front of them is for those who are still playing to show that the game is vastly improved over what it was. Naturally, this takes the support of the developers to give these people a reason to keep playing in order to exhibit the changes but it can be done, just look at DRIVECLUB after all. Incredibly, as we approach the proposed release date of Porsche Pack Volume 2, the consoles still do not have Volume 1. There is no release date even hinted at yet and so those on console will just have to keep waiting until a date is officially revealed. Porsche Pack Volume 1 Porsche 911 Carrera S Porsche 918 Spyder Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.0 Porsche 718 Cayman S Porsche 917/30 Spyder Porsche 935/78 'Moby Dick' Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport Just like the PC saw last month, the console update (Version 1.09) that will accompany the pack will include the Porsche Panamera G2 Turbo as well as the historic Silverstone circuit for free. [via Assetto Corsa forum]

Power Up Ready! The ‘Calling All Units’ expansion for The Crew which puts cops against street racers is less than three weeks away from release and it is time to learn about the abilities that both cops and racers will have to themselves as well as those they will share the use of. Starting with the tricks that the Street Racers will be able to pull to evade capture there is “Flash Bang”, this will temporarily blind and disorientate opponents and is likely to cause some havoc if used at the right moment. “Unlimited Nitro” should need no explanation whereas “Guardian” will remove any negative effects on you or nearby allies, while also providing a short period of protection. Police have “Jammer” which will remove the UI of the Street Racer making for map knowledge a much needed skill especially when racing around the urban environments. Not sure if that is the only police specific ability but it is the only one mentioned in the source. Both factions can use “EMP Shock”, this common power-up messes up the direction and steering of the one hit with it and will be most useful when employed in a way that will make the victim crash or fly off a cliff. Only 2 abilities can be equipped at a time so there will be some strategy involved in picking what will work best for the situation ahead. Joining up with others will make this easier and is something that is definitely encouraged. Making for what should be a number of fun and frantic occurrences. The Crew ‘Calling All Units’ is out November 29th on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. [via The Crew blog]

The Crew Celebrates Turning 2! The Crew is coming up for its second anniversary in December and those behind the game want to reward those who have been there since the beginning of that journey with a free Lamborghini and an exclusive sticker! If you were playing the game back in December 2014 or joined the party in January 2015 then an in-game Lamborghini Huracán will be yours for free, along with a stylish 2-year anniversary sticker! The Crew’s second anniversary is coming up in December this year! As we prepare to celebrate this important milestone, we can’t help but think about everything that has been accomplished since we first revealed the game, and how much we’re grateful for our incredible community. - The Crew official site The reward will be pushed out to all who are eligible with the launch of the ‘Calling All Units’ expansion on November 29th. All that’s needed to gain it for those who fall within the above criteria is, to log in once the expansion is live and the Lambo and sticker! will be unlocked on your account. You do NOT need to own any of the expansions in order to be eligible. The Crew ‘Calling All Units’ expansion is out November 29th for PC, PS4 and Xbox One. [via The Crew] Personally I just want to say it has been quite the experience following the early days of the mentions of Ivory Tower and what they could be working on. I can still remember when Speeder shared that tiny first screen they found digging around the early Ivory Tower website, showing that it was a car game. Then a few months later I came across a couple of renders by an Ivory Tower muppet that again sparked off the imagination engines going off in people. Mixing in some hear-say and reports about the possible name, finally we saw it, The Crew was revealed at E3 2013. So I want to give a massive shout out and big thanks to: Julian Gerighty, Soufyane Brahimi, Anne Blondel-Jouin, “Fergus”, natchai, Ubisoft and the whole Ivory Tower team for all their support and general goodness they’ve shown to us here at turboduck. From sharing general information, answering questions or providing us with beta and game codes to giveaway. The respect we've been shown has been above what we deserve in all honesty and I cannot thank them enough for it, and I absolutely cannot wait to see what else and new is to come from The Crew crew.

The Crew - Police STOP! The latest expansion for The Crew is heading out on duty next month and the details on how the unlocking of police vehicles in the ‘Calling All Units’ (CAU) expansion have been set out. First and foremost is that every player will be able to do the Police prologue, providing they have done at least the original game prologue first. After completion of that the Police shop will unlock in Chicago and this is one non-buyers of the expansion will find their access to what the expansion offers stop. [caption id=attachment_5790" align="alignnone" width="800] Welcome officer. Have a free Mercedes![/caption] Owners of CAU meanwhile will be given their first police vehicle in the way of the brand new to the game Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupé when they access the shop for the first time. Other pursuit models will be available to buy with both Crew Credits and Bucks. If you don’t want to use your hard-earned game currency or real-world spent cash then these vehicles can also be unlocked by completing chases. Street racers need to deliver a crate to a designated location and the police have to catch and arrest the Street Racer trying to make the delivery. A win will give the player the chance to earn a vehicle part as part of their loot; 10 parts is needed to create a Full Stock Street Racer vehicle whereas those playing as Police will need to double that and acquire 20 parts. The chances of looting a vehicle part will vary based on the difficulty of the chase (Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum). If you don’t win a part the first time, you can retry a chase as many times as you like until you do. - The Crew official site Crate chases are launched by the Street Racers, so officer gamer’s chance of grabbing a part depends on the difficulty selected by the runner. Pursuers don’t just jump in blind though, they can see what the difficulty is and therefore can choose to participate or decline the chase if they feel it isn’t of any benefit to them. Unfortunately patrolling the freeroam roads and highways isn’t possible as player-controlled Police will not be able to chase those going about their illegal business. It’s understandably to stop harassment but the fact of the matter is that there are players out there who would want this. So why not make it optional or even better, create a mode or server instance where this could be the case? The Crew ‘Calling All Units’ expansion is due out November 29th for PC, PS4 and Xbox One. Source: The Crew

Better sound? That would be Grand With every new Gran Turismo there is always that inevitable wait, delay and disappointment felt due to the lack of attention in the areas that have been cried out to be improved by its community and fans. GT Sport was looking to continue this tradition on – and may still do so – but with the announcement recently that the new GT will support 4K, HDR and in a rather surprising admission, not have VR being fully-playable but instead having a ‘VR Tour’ mode, it certainly seemed to be more of the same with little attention not being paid again to those areas that need it. However off-screen videos captured at Paris Games Week and the Paris Motor Show are showing a cause for excitement as an area that has been sorely lacking for the series, sound, is showing a real sense of improvement. Gone is the super screechy tyre squealing, replaced instead with a real-world noise that is more authentic and hints to what the car is doing. And when you have reports like this by Eurogamer showing their surprise at the sound being thrown out by what they are playing, there has to be something going on that people are noticing. Engine notes are starting to properly resemble those of the real thing – the Mercedes-AMG GT S seen in the video by PlaneteGT above has that throaty angry sound that AMG Mercs are known for and the Dodge Charger shown in the video by MotoGamesTV below has a real grunt to it. It’s not perfect but it is an improvement for sure. There is still work to be done but it does suggest that the grab of the former Forza Audio technician was a damn good one, and that they are showing Polyphony Digital how to do what has been asked for so long. If Kaz and co can see just how much accurate sound means to people then there is a real hope that GT Sport, even if not a proper GT title (that will be GT7) because of its more esports focus could be the game to take the GT series out of the shadows that it is, in my opinion, now in due to titles such as Forza Motorsport, Assetto Corsa (though still needing work on the multiplayer side) and even Project CARS. Considering how long it has taken to get into and tackle this area, I guess we might see accurate damage represented in GT8 ??? GT Sport is due out in 2017 for PlayStation 4 and will be enhanced for PS4 Pro along with some doodads for PS VR.