The incoming Le Mans Ultimate update adds a new Co-op mode. Here are some of the elements of the new mode sim racers can look forward to.
Le Mans Ultimate has steadily been worked on since its Early Access launch in February 2024. Bug fixes, new content and quality of life adjustments have all found their way into the sim, but the small offering of game modes has not seen any additions - but this is about to change with the incoming LMU update set to release on September 24.
In addition to new content in the shape of the Alpine A424 and Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 hypercars and COTA as a new venue, the long-awaited Co-op mode will be added. It will not be a classic multiplayer mode, however, instead taking an asynchronous approach, letting players complete their stints in their own time before "handing over" to their teammates.
Those who want to do an endurance race together but cannot align their schedulese to do it in one sitting will have an alternative with this mode. And it is not just simply pre-determining all of a race's settings, then running it and passign the baton, either. Different skill levels are a factor with different drivers, after all.
"To get the savegame system for co-op to work with everybody playing at a different difficulty level, saving in a different state with the cars in different positions - this is not a 'resume from replay' type of thing. We had to build all of this technology to support it. I do not think it is going to be perfect on day one, but it is a whole new suite of systems, features, functionalities and tech that will enable us to do cool things around endurance racing in the future. And that endurance racing element is key."
Keeping this in mind, Studio 397 and Motorsport Games wanted to make the mode as approachable as possible for anyone, hence the ability to compete with individual difficulty settings. With various skill levels out there, "you will finde people who say 'I am a sim racer', and they might have all the gear, but they are not the fastest in the world - like me", Hood explained. "But I still want to participate. I can still be consistent, I want to be a part of this."
This way, despite possibly big differences in pace, drivers can still feel like they contribute, Hood stated, and not feel like they might ruin a race in which a faster teammate has gotten their car into a promising position. "Trying to find that strategy and not just driving outright fast for qualifying makes for its own character and flavor. Co-op will help elevate that and maybe get a few more people into it without them feeling that they have to be the fastest in the world", said Hood. "And if you are the fastest, you don't have to feel like you have to dial things down and make yourself slow."
While Hood did not name other elements and functions of co-op in LMU, he did state that running the mode will accumulate scores, and those may be used for "other things in the future", possibly for Le Mans Virtual - but not only that, although Hood did not go into more detail.
The singleplayer experience should improve as a result, as you will not have to run your endurance races in one sitting. Simply save the game and return later for another stint or two - running a full 24 Hours of Le Mans or even WEC season over the span of months are a possibility once the update lands.
Are you looking forward to the co-op mode in Le Mans Ultimate? Let us know in the comments below and join the discussion in our Le Mans Ultimate forum!
Le Mans Ultimate has steadily been worked on since its Early Access launch in February 2024. Bug fixes, new content and quality of life adjustments have all found their way into the sim, but the small offering of game modes has not seen any additions - but this is about to change with the incoming LMU update set to release on September 24.
In addition to new content in the shape of the Alpine A424 and Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 hypercars and COTA as a new venue, the long-awaited Co-op mode will be added. It will not be a classic multiplayer mode, however, instead taking an asynchronous approach, letting players complete their stints in their own time before "handing over" to their teammates.
Those who want to do an endurance race together but cannot align their schedulese to do it in one sitting will have an alternative with this mode. And it is not just simply pre-determining all of a race's settings, then running it and passign the baton, either. Different skill levels are a factor with different drivers, after all.
Individual Difficulty Settings
As a result, Le Mans Ultimate's co-op mode allows each player to adjust their difficulty settings individually, with teams of up to three drivers in total possible. Realizing this was not without its own challenges, though, as Motorsport Games CEO Stephen Hood told OverTake:"To get the savegame system for co-op to work with everybody playing at a different difficulty level, saving in a different state with the cars in different positions - this is not a 'resume from replay' type of thing. We had to build all of this technology to support it. I do not think it is going to be perfect on day one, but it is a whole new suite of systems, features, functionalities and tech that will enable us to do cool things around endurance racing in the future. And that endurance racing element is key."
Keeping this in mind, Studio 397 and Motorsport Games wanted to make the mode as approachable as possible for anyone, hence the ability to compete with individual difficulty settings. With various skill levels out there, "you will finde people who say 'I am a sim racer', and they might have all the gear, but they are not the fastest in the world - like me", Hood explained. "But I still want to participate. I can still be consistent, I want to be a part of this."
This way, despite possibly big differences in pace, drivers can still feel like they contribute, Hood stated, and not feel like they might ruin a race in which a faster teammate has gotten their car into a promising position. "Trying to find that strategy and not just driving outright fast for qualifying makes for its own character and flavor. Co-op will help elevate that and maybe get a few more people into it without them feeling that they have to be the fastest in the world", said Hood. "And if you are the fastest, you don't have to feel like you have to dial things down and make yourself slow."
While Hood did not name other elements and functions of co-op in LMU, he did state that running the mode will accumulate scores, and those may be used for "other things in the future", possibly for Le Mans Virtual - but not only that, although Hood did not go into more detail.
Mid-race Saves For Singleplayer Races
Proper driver swaps may not be on the horizon yet, but the Co-op mode makes it possible to have team events agains the AI at least. Those who want to tackle endurance races true to their duration in WEC alone, however, are can also look forward to the incoming update, as it introduces mid-race saves.The singleplayer experience should improve as a result, as you will not have to run your endurance races in one sitting. Simply save the game and return later for another stint or two - running a full 24 Hours of Le Mans or even WEC season over the span of months are a possibility once the update lands.
Are you looking forward to the co-op mode in Le Mans Ultimate? Let us know in the comments below and join the discussion in our Le Mans Ultimate forum!
![Luca [OT]](https://overtake-data.community.forum/avatars/s/3235/3235113.jpg?1697196734){kind=avatar}
