Le Mans Ultimate December Update: Interlagos, Hosted Servers & 4 LMGT3 Cars Are Coming


The December update for Le Mans Ultimate is waiting for the green flag: On December 10, the new version will feature new content, hosted servers, and online championships.

Images: Studio 397

December 10 is shaping up to be a big day for updates to sim racing titles: iRacing's 2025 Season 1 is expected then, RaceRoom will deploy its Super Tourers, and finally, Le Mans Ultimate looks to add another track and the first batch of LMGT3 cars in order to continue its quest to complete the 2024 WEC grid.

It is not just content in the update, however: Hosted sessions will be possible, and online championships arrive as part of online subscriptions that have been announced previously. Here's everything you can expect in LMU's December update.

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Le Mans Ultimate LMGT3 Cars: Four New Sets Of Wheels​

As GTE has been phased out in favor of GT3 machinery at the start of the 2024 WEC season, sim racers had to make do with the full 2024 Hypercar grid racing the 2023 GTEs so far. The four new cars will change that a bit - but only three will be paid DLC, as the McLaren 720S GT3 Evo has been announced as free DLC for all players already.

The other cars that hit LMU on December 10 are the Ferrari 296 GT3, the Corvette Z06 GT3.R, and the BMW M4 GT3. By process of elimination, this leaves the Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo, the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2, the Ford Mustang GT3, the Lexus RC F GT3 and the Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) for the final GT3 DLC cars of the 2024 season, which are expected to join the grid in early 2025.

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LMU Goes To Brazil​

The same now goes for the Losail International Circuit, which hosted the 2024 season opener, as Interlagos is confirmed to be the next track to join the Le Mans Ultimate calendar. A favorite of many, and not just Formula One fans, the iconic Brazilian circuit was the site of round 5 of the 2024 season, and it saw the #8 Toyota team around Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa take the overall victory while the #92 Manthey PureRxcing squad around Klaus Bachler, Alex Malkhyn and Joel Sturm won the LMGT3 class.

The Autódromo José Carlos Pace, named after the Brazilian 1970s F1 and sportscar racer, is plenty popular in sim racing, so most LMU players will most likely not be too upset about having to wait for Losail in favor of the Sao Paulo-based circuit.

The three LMGT3 cars and Interlagos will be available for £13.99 / €16.99 / $17.99.

Hosted Servers​

Content aside, the online portion of Le Mans Ultimate will look different once the December 10 update is deployed. Thus far, racing with your friends was not possible unless you happened to be in the same split for an online event, and hosting leagues was not an option at all. The arrival of hosted servers will change this, although their implementation might not be the what many sim racers might have hoped for.

For one, they will be quite accessible according to the announcement. Hosted Servers will be run via LMU's RaceControl platform, and they can be set up and controlled via the racecontrol.gg website. That should mean no dedicated server tool for players to install, and hopefully a rather easy and straight-forward way to set things up.

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On the flip side, the hosted servers will be a paid service. Depending on a server's size, they start at €0.38 per hour (potential local taxes excluded). The obvious comparison would be iRacing, which makes hosted servers available for roughly €0.48 (converted from the $0.50 price listed by iRacing) per hour, although a bulk purchase discount for these sessions is also available.

Hosted servers can be made available publicly or run as private sessions, which can be found via a five-digit code.

Spectator Mode & WEC Overlay​

Furthermore, the addition of a spectator mode coupled with WEC-style overlays means that sessions can be broadcast once the update is deployed. Streaming league races with commentary is supposed to be made easy with this.

However, even POV streams could benefit from the overlays, which are set to look like the graphics and animations used in the broadcasts of real WEC races. According to the update announcement, "the broadcast overlay outputs to HTML outside of the game and can be used as a transparent layer in most streaming tools". A guide on how to use them properly is set to follow.

Optional Online Subscriptions​

Finally, LMU's December update will also introduce online championships that will be part of a subscription model, which is set to feature two tiers. The rest of Le Mans Ultimate's online modes are not affected by this.

The lower tier is called RaceControl Pro and allows users to take part in the aforementioned online championships. Players commit to a car for the entire season to compete in, and the races will take part on set days "with a limited number of attempts per week depending upon the difficulty of the championship", according to the official announcement. RaceControl Pro is set to cost €3.50 per month if players opt for an annual subscription.

Above this sits RaceControl Pro+ at €6.50 per month on an annual subscription. This higher tier lets players unlock all Studio 397 content in both LMU and rFactor 2 in addition to what the lower-tier RaceControl Pro gets them.

More benefits are also planned to come.

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"The optional RaceControl Pro subscription includes a unique Online Championship mode that ramps up the importance and excitement of races powered by skill-based matchmaking and will in future host the the future qualifying for our important Le Mans Virtual esports series", states Motorsport Games CEO Stephen Hood. "The premium Pro+ tier of RaceControl is a landmark moment in our ambition to integrate games, features and content within a seamless platform for the benefit of our players."

Hood continues: "We sincerely hope players enjoy this update as the passionate Studio 397 team continue to pour their hard work into making this FIA WEC experience the best it can be, with many more exciting updates planned for 2025."

Other Improvements​

Meanwhile, VR will be much more accessible than before. LMU can be fired up without adding a launch option line in Steam, the UI can be customized, and VR-related keybindings will be added as well. For VR enthusiasts, this should be great news as the mode has worked so far, but not in a very streamlined way - but Studio 397 has more in mind for VR as well down the line.

Smaller tweaks concern the physics with a slight increase of grip at the limit, the implementation of ABS for the LMGT3 cars, and smaller performance improvements, particularly at the start of a race when all cars are crowded together in what is usually one of the more performance-heavy parts of any track with the main grandstands and pit building being present.

What do you make of the incoming Le Mans Ultimate update for December 10? Let us know in the comments and join the discussion in our LMU forum!
About author
Yannik Haustein
Lifelong motorsport enthusiast and sim racing aficionado, walking racing history encyclopedia.

Sim racing editor, streamer and one half of the SimRacing Buddies podcast (warning, German!).

Heel & Toe Gang 4 life :D

Comments

Premium
How to improve the support of three monitors? It works absolutely without problems. I use 3x 32" 1440 monitors to my complete satisfaction.
And the support of the tracker nowadays? I have been using it since 2008. But after switching to 3x32" monitors, the transmitter cannot be placed functionally on the monitor. Too high.

okay
 
This game feels half finished constanly. still badly optimised in the latest updates... a constant work in progress when you can get VRC and RSS better handling versions of Lemans cars in AC at way better frame rates with better graphics and arguably better physics.
Look, I don't want to sound arrogant, but for you to say that HC no assetto corsa is better, it's because you like the game that your PC can run, and not whether it's good or bad, I think you haven't played it long enough, you don't understand how car in LU works and takes out its frustration on the SIM, this happens a lot in AMS2, as I saw it happen several times in AC itself, look what AC has become, regardless of whether the game is good or not, I see that even with all the problems that this company passed and is still passing, is delivering a very reasonable product, if you don't have the patience to wait for development, if you can't make constructive criticisms, put your Sim on and play your favorite SIM until you buy a better PC or the game reaches another, better stage of development, look at AMS2, so criticized and had a great evolution, from time to time, Iracing was launched in 2008, it was very different from what it is today, be patient...
 
Well if they want all the cars to drive the same then just buy AC and the mods that are made with absolutely no data. Although you will still get people claiming these mods have "better physics" than LMU.
Yeah that's the case with any of these jack of all trade sims... Doesn't matter if it's developer content or mod made content...

I'd actually argue that the modders put more time and effort in considering how much downforce the other hypercars have on the market...
 
$65 per year ( 2 seasons ) but that has gone up slightly ;)

Of course you avoided the elephant in the room.
What studio gave you a championship in 10 months of EA ? :whistling:
Answer no one because it's simply unreasonable considering it needed to be done from scratch.

Whether rF2 and LMU can make headway in 2025 ? ....... of course I care ! lol

No studio has given us a working game like LMU in this time frame...

Other games still need game changing updates 5 years later...
 
You, the buyer, are purchasing a WEC endurance racing sim. Soooooo....that means you get WEC endurance cars and tracks. If you, the buyer, were expecting a veritable sandbox of cars and tracks, one would think you, the buyer, would purchase something OTHER than a sim based on WEC endurance racing.
I don't think you have understood the point I am making at all. I like the game, it's very good less some rough edges, and I'm perfectly happy with the content I have received for the money which I paid.

However, I have also purchased

ACC and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience
AMS1 and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience
AMS2 and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience
rF2 and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience
AC and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience
rfactor and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience
Raceroom and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience
Dirt Rally and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience
Project Cars and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience

... and the list goes on and on and on.

Now some may think this is a great idea. Others might consider it a rather insidious introduction into a boxed retail game, (let alone one with somewhat thin gruel for it's base content), and a disconcerting addition to this hobby.

I believe they call it whaling, a whale referring to a distinct group of players who stand apart for their spending/paying habits, often contributing a substantial portion of a game’s revenue.

That's what loyalty to this company has earnt people, a move that will cut the player base in half leading those that remain to a place where they'll need your $48+++ more and more and more.

Poor day for simracing. Period.
 
I was expecting more GT3s to be on offer tbh.


Full '23 - '24 Le Mans - WEC, less the Nascar, can't ask for more :)

I get what you meant ;)

Though pretty common knowledge drops would be 4 and 5 car DLC's 3+free and 4+free
Article does not mention one of the missing 5 is free.
Not too bad you buy Le Mans 2023 and get free 2024 cars.

I will have no problem paying for 2025 pack that has one car ( Aston Martin Valkyrie ) , teams and track skins. If studio gets support we should have that ready for Lemans '25 :coffee:


Should have added different cars and tracks to AMS2 imho.
Instead announcing a full blown IMSA Sim to be launched at a later date.
The series you could punch into that ! DLC $$$ :x3:
 
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I have bought already the lifetime online access for rF2 multiplayer back in the ISI days....can I convert it for LMU?
You purchased lifetime online access for rF2 from ISI. ISI is no longer in the rF2 business. You STILL have unlimited online access to rF2 via the good graces of S397. They were under no obligation to continue that policy.
You did NOT purchase any sort of online access for LMU when you sent your $$ to ISI back in the day.
ISI has no business interest in either S397 or MSG, ISI is independently pursuing other products that have no interaction with rF2 nor LMU.
Therefore: Your agreement with ISI for lifetime internet access no longer carries any force, but it does still exist as long as S397 funds servers. For that matter, due to rF2's ability to host private servers, your lifetime online access will continue long after S397 officially closes the rF2 garages.
 
I have to wait till 6pm in Australia for download, I'm devastated :rolleyes: lol

P.S. doh not out for another week facepalm :p
 
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DOH, now you mention it, I did read that on the discord ages ago. Sorry, complete brain fade.. OLD and memory not standing up to the rigors of daily browsing :)
Join the Club. There are folks , I won't mention name, who often catch me posting on old threads and sometimes even arguing against my previous positions.
 
I don't think you have understood the point I am making at all. I like the game, it's very good less some rough edges, and I'm perfectly happy with the content I have received for the money which I paid.

However, I have also purchased

ACC and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience
AMS1 and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience
AMS2 and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience
rF2 and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience
AC and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience
rfactor and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience
Raceroom and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience
Dirt Rally and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience
Project Cars and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience

... and the list goes on and on and on.

Now some may think this is a great idea. Others might consider it a rather insidious introduction into a boxed retail game, (let alone one with somewhat thin gruel for it's base content), and a disconcerting addition to this hobby.

I believe they call it whaling, a whale referring to a distinct group of players who stand apart for their spending/paying habits, often contributing a substantial portion of a game’s revenue.

That's what loyalty to this company has earnt people, a move that will cut the player base in half leading those that remain to a place where they'll need your $48+++ more and more and more.

Poor day for simracing. Period.
well, they could have just gone with the full price, and that indeed would have kept you from paying for additional content. Remember, LMU was going to be released, if they could have completed it on time, with just the 2023 cars & tracks and that would have been all you got until further DLC content was available. When something is released EA, it is assumed there will be further development. Heck even the base price has risen due to the extra content.
How much do the Codemaster F1 users pay year to year? Fifa Soccer? Madden football? With the exception of AMS2, most of those titles listed are getting close to a decade or more in age. How much more does a movie ticket cost now than 10 years ago? Until we all get Presidents like Argentina's, we will have to expect costs associated with just about every bit of entertainment.(don't ask Durge how much more he pays in Ozland)
 
DOH, now you mention it, I did read that on the discord ages ago. Sorry, complete brain fade.. OLD and memory not standing up to the rigors of daily browsing :)

Yeah but they did not know which cars were what, we still don't know next free car do we ?

Looking forward to last ones, Ford and Lexus especially.
 
Looking forward to GT3 as well as the new braking logic for all cars with less likely lockups - I always felt LMU is a bit too sensitive from that perspective. I hope they will work on the AI a little bit, they are a bit too contact prone.

I focus on offline as I can't commit to no long sessions with no interruptions, so not the target audience for the subscription.
 
Well there goes my install lol.. I only got it because an offline series/championship mode is on the table (I'm not dreaming this up and did actually read it right).

What a shame

Yes, I pretty sure it was mentioned in a early interview way before race control was even mentioned.

Problem when revenue does not meet expectation new features are the first to take a hit.
 
How to improve the support of three monitors? It works absolutely without problems. I use 3x 32" 1440 monitors to my complete satisfaction.
And the support of the tracker nowadays? I have been using it since 2008. But after switching to 3x32" monitors, the transmitter cannot be placed functionally on the monitor. Too high.
With a almost surround view, you don't need it anymore. I had one for my single monitor back in the days.
Worked fine, but as soon as i went triple screen and could turn my head in to the apex that jerky thing went in a box.
 
Yes, I pretty sure it was mentioned in a early interview way before race control was even mentioned.

Problem when revenue does not meet expectation new features are the first to take a hit.
I think we need a petition (or at least a survey) for an offline championship mode on LMU. Admins, what do you think?
 
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I don't think you have understood the point I am making at all. I like the game, it's very good less some rough edges, and I'm perfectly happy with the content I have received for the money which I paid.

However, I have also purchased

ACC and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience
AMS1 and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience
AMS2 and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience
rF2 and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience
AC and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience
rfactor and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience
Raceroom and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience
Dirt Rally and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience
Project Cars and have not been required so spend an additions $48 a year for a fully fleshed out online experience

... and the list goes on and on and on.

Now some may think this is a great idea. Others might consider it a rather insidious introduction into a boxed retail game, (let alone one with somewhat thin gruel for it's base content), and a disconcerting addition to this hobby.

I believe they call it whaling, a whale referring to a distinct group of players who stand apart for their spending/paying habits, often contributing a substantial portion of a game’s revenue.

That's what loyalty to this company has earnt people, a move that will cut the player base in half leading those that remain to a place where they'll need your $48+++ more and more and more.

Poor day for simracing. Period.
I think it's a bit wierd to just look at the MP part and compare that to those other titles. Some of them don't even have an online system as sophisticated as Racecontrol - I would even go as far as saying none of them, some of them don't have the underlying tech in the sim in terms of netcode etc. to dare to ask for that price and some grab their money from somewhere else - like certain products that take micro transactions for stuff like skins. Ofcourse there are studios like Kunos who can set price points reasonably low but looking at the game packages and what you get with all of them it kind of evens out mostly. At the end you don't have that many options (actually none besides LMU) to drive all WEC cars or all WEC tracks in a competetive environment, where content is up to that quality and detail level, well balanced and easy to get going. Also going forward you have the option to pay a monthly sub to get temporal access to the full online service including all content in LMU and rF2 wich is a quite interesting concept for people who don't like to pay for the season pass or the DLCs. We have many many options in how we can use LMU/rF2 and none of it requires you to spend any money besides having the base game.
 
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