The rally niche within sim racing is a competitive battlefield of dust, dirt and debris. EA Sports WRC and DiRT Rally 2.0 are two modern heavy hitters in the genre - we want to know: Which one do you prefer, and why?
Opel Manta Rally Car. Image: Codemasters
A hit to a title's reputation within a niche audience normally spells disaster, but the most recent DLC has been reecived more favorably with the addition of Rally Poland and Rally Latvia. There has been a small surge of players returning to the sim, but the player numbers still do not match its older counterpart, DiRT Rally 2.0.
Rally Poland spec 2024 Ford Puma Rally1. Image: EA Sports
If you love rallying, you have more than likely played WRC's industry predecessor, DiRT Rally 2.0. If you decided to leave WRC when that update came out, then Codemasters other rally title was more than likely the title you fell back on. The other classic option for rally fans is the fantastic Richard Burns Rally, but that is an entirely different beast.
Does this new update and roadmap for WRC attract you back to the title if you have been back playing DiRT Rally 2.0? Are the new official 2024 cars and Rally Poland and Rally Latvia enough to tip the balance in WRC's favour?
Yaris Rally2 Finland livery replacement. Image: Rodrigues27
What WRC does have over DiRT rally 2.0 is some of the stage variety and length. When you are locked in and are driving a stage at ten-tenths, the scenery flashing past you, you get lost in the dynamic world of the stage you are driving. The longest stage in WRC stands at a staggering 34.4km. That is over double what DiRT Rally 2.0 offers with its comparable longest stage being capped at just 16.4km.
With the improvements to WRC's force feedback over time, is it comparable to DiRT Rally 2.0 on your setup? Is it considerably better or worse? The driving physics is always a personal preference, but that is what we want to know. Which do you prefer?
Colin McRae's Skoda Fabia in DiRT Rally 2.0. Image: Codemasters
However, looking past these issues what is the main thing that draws you to either WRC or DiRT Rally 2.0? And, perhaps even more interestingly, what would EA Sports WRC need to pass DR2.0? Let us know which additions, features, adjustments or fixes you would like to see in order for EA's current offering to draw you back in. We will make sure to highlight them in a follow-up article!
Let us know in the comments below which title you like to play, WRC or DiRT Rally 2.0. Feel free to make comparisons to other rally titles as well if you prefer something a little more niche!
Opel Manta Rally Car. Image: Codemasters
Reputation
Ever since its launch, WRC has had a number of issues when it comes to the opinion of its community. The EA anti-cheat that was implemented in version 1.9.0 drove a lot of skeptical players away from the sim and outright disabled the game for all Linux users.A hit to a title's reputation within a niche audience normally spells disaster, but the most recent DLC has been reecived more favorably with the addition of Rally Poland and Rally Latvia. There has been a small surge of players returning to the sim, but the player numbers still do not match its older counterpart, DiRT Rally 2.0.
Rally Poland spec 2024 Ford Puma Rally1. Image: EA Sports
If you love rallying, you have more than likely played WRC's industry predecessor, DiRT Rally 2.0. If you decided to leave WRC when that update came out, then Codemasters other rally title was more than likely the title you fell back on. The other classic option for rally fans is the fantastic Richard Burns Rally, but that is an entirely different beast.
Does this new update and roadmap for WRC attract you back to the title if you have been back playing DiRT Rally 2.0? Are the new official 2024 cars and Rally Poland and Rally Latvia enough to tip the balance in WRC's favour?
Driving Feel
Upon release, EA Sports WRC was heavily criticised for over-complicating the force feedback. The title had an empty feeling and a lack of communication between the wheelbase and the game itself for some. Over time, this has been improved, and with the right settings, you can have a great experience. However, a lot of rally fans still turn to DiRT Rally 2.0 for that immersive and gritty feeling that a Rally game should give the player.Yaris Rally2 Finland livery replacement. Image: Rodrigues27
What WRC does have over DiRT rally 2.0 is some of the stage variety and length. When you are locked in and are driving a stage at ten-tenths, the scenery flashing past you, you get lost in the dynamic world of the stage you are driving. The longest stage in WRC stands at a staggering 34.4km. That is over double what DiRT Rally 2.0 offers with its comparable longest stage being capped at just 16.4km.
With the improvements to WRC's force feedback over time, is it comparable to DiRT Rally 2.0 on your setup? Is it considerably better or worse? The driving physics is always a personal preference, but that is what we want to know. Which do you prefer?
What truly matters to players?
It is clear that a large majority of WRC's fanbase was not impressed with the anti-cheat update, but DiRT Rally 2.0 has also had its fair share of issues and bugs that have forced players away, especially with game performance at launch.Colin McRae's Skoda Fabia in DiRT Rally 2.0. Image: Codemasters
However, looking past these issues what is the main thing that draws you to either WRC or DiRT Rally 2.0? And, perhaps even more interestingly, what would EA Sports WRC need to pass DR2.0? Let us know which additions, features, adjustments or fixes you would like to see in order for EA's current offering to draw you back in. We will make sure to highlight them in a follow-up article!
Let us know in the comments below which title you like to play, WRC or DiRT Rally 2.0. Feel free to make comparisons to other rally titles as well if you prefer something a little more niche!
