WATCH: RaceRoom Graphic Update Comparison Old vs. New

Article Discussion

With a big graphics overhaul being part of RaceRoom's September 2024 update, we dive into a comparison of old versus new. The visual difference is staggering in some cases.

A long-requested update is finally materializing for RaceRoom fans: The graphics of the sim are receiving quite a lot of polish, bringing RR closer to a 2024 level when it comes to visual standards. The list of changes is quite extensive and contains elements like an auto-exposure feature, improved lighting and reflections, a color system upgrade an much more - check out the full list in our article on the update's announcement.

The new visuals are an big step forward without question, but in some scenarios, they are better than in others. Join @Michel Wolk for a more in-depth look and how the new visuals stack up agains the old version in the video embedded at the top of this article!

RaceRoom Graphics Update In VR​

Trying the RaceRoom graphics update in VR was generally decent, although performance was not the greatest. From what I could tell, this is rooted in RR running on DirectX 9, which also results in OpenComposite not working properly on my end. Supposedly, there is a so-called branch of the original OpenComposite .dll file initially created for rFactor 2, but it is sadly not available where the creator originally uploaded it to.

Still, with some settings fiddling, it should be possible to get decent performance out of RaceRoom in VR, even with the new graphics update - on higher-end GPUs, that is. And if you managed to get OpenComposite and OpenXR Toolkit running within RaceRoom, be sure to let the OverTake community know in the comments!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1830621956162351528

In general, the image did have good clarity, which is especially important when looking into the distance. Things like sponsor boards, signs and brake markers were readable at a decent distance. Inside the cockpit, things look very nice when using the "high" setting for textures, making for a generally immersive experience.

VR was also very helpful in the tight hairpin found at the AVUS, as you tend to not know where exactly you are when running a monitor - unless it is a 32:9 ultrawide. Being able to simply look at the apex helps with positioning the car in turns like this immensely.

I will be sure to keep trying to get RaceRoom to run nicely in VR - once I do, I will share my findings, of course. Maybe it will work more smoothly in the release version, as I tried it in a preview build of the new update.

What do you make of the new RaceRoom graphics? Let us know in the comments below or join the discussion in our forums!
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: Captain Beardface, Vintagedriver01, GMILTON and 6 others
About author
Yannik Haustein
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

More in RaceRoom

Comments

paromon
For the sake of the new update, I ordered a new CAMMUS C5 steering wheel without pedals + old PXN pedals on magnetic sensors
PS: PXN does not support RaceRoom
 
K
Premium
Storm Rider said:
These graphics "improvements" are just gimmicks. There's only so much more that can be done if they don't want to invest any $ to update their graphics engine unfortunately.

I'm still going to buy this DTM95 DLC anyways, regardless of graphics.

It's just silly that they rather invest on overtake marketing, trying too hard to make people believe that there are any graphics improvements there.
Click to expand...
Look, the graphics update is just that, it looks better.
 
Large Style
My biggest concerns for this title are actually track accuracy and AI...

When F1 was racing at Zandvoort recently I had a go on that track in RR and that track layout was shall we say more interpretive than actual. I know the model was based on 2019 design (somehow) but I was just driving around wondering why I was racing in a sim in 2024 on a track that wasn't 100% accurate (and probably nearer 80% at best). Respectfully, that level of jank is something I wouldn't be surprised to see in an AC mod, but not in a paid-for professionally made piece of content.

Yesterday I tried racing Porsche Cup around Zolder and I had to restart the race around 20 times as the AI was constantly crashing at either turn 1 or going wide (off track) into turn 3. Once I eventually experienced a clean lap 1 the experience was decent, but by that point I was too frustrated to truly enjoy myself. I've had this in the past at Watkins Glen where the AI took far too much kerb in turn 1 on lap 1 causing chaos every time with many cars spinning out and crashing into each other. Again, this amount of jank in a fundamental element of a racing title just shouldn't be happening nowadays.

So TLDR: I look forward to the graphical updates very much but if the above isn't fixed at some point then RR will remain as a title I'll turn to just once in a while.

It's sad as RR was my go-to sim for many years but the devs have spent too much time releasing new cars time after time, with the odd track here and there, and aside from a major FFB rework a few years back nothing else has changed and the title just still feels like a product from 10 years ago (which is obviously what it fundamentally is). If they polished up track accuracy and retrained the AI then RR would be a true contender for the simracing community, so I hope that happens before everyone forgets about the sim (again).
 
Last edited:
M
Large Style said:
My biggest concerns for this title are actually track accuracy and AI...

When F1 was racing at Zandvoort recently I had a go on that track in RR and that track layout was shall we say more interpretive than actual. I know the model was based on 2019 design (somehow) but I was just driving around wondering why I was racing in a sim in 2024 on a track that wasn't 100% accurate (and probably nearer 80% at best). Respectfully, that level of jank is something I wouldn't be surprised to see in an AC mod, but not in a paid-for professionally made piece of content.
Click to expand...
Sounds just like ACC where all tracks including Zandvoort have never been updated since they were added. Apart from Zandvoort and Spa, the tracks in RaceRoom are up-to-date.

Storm Rider said:
I'm not sure you understood. This game still uses DX9, initially relased in 2002.

If they were any serious about a "graphics update", they should had updated it to DX12 or Vulkan, minimum DX11.
Click to expand...
Fun fact: Switching to DX12 wouldn't make the game look different at all in the first place.
 
paromon
On my new PC also DX9. AC, RR
The main problem for me is the smoothing (jaggies) in RR
 
Last edited:
TheRealCeeBee
Storm Rider said:
I'm not sure you understood. This game still uses DX9, initially relased in 2002.

If they were any serious about a "graphics update", they should had updated it to DX12 or Vulkan, minimum DX11.
Click to expand...
kinda sorta has vulkan by dxvk already.. kinda sorta though... vulkan can only emulate/passthrough existing things, not add new ones that didnt exist in 20 year old dx9.

I wonder what happened to the engine the KartKraft devs were bought for (and then scuttled).. the abysmal nascar 21 was a complete tub of hot burning pustulent smegma.. it was a start though.. I reckon MSG with all its money woes might be keen to flog that start of marrying UE to ISI to someone.. or was that already the birth of Rennsport?
 
jgf
Well, the graphics improvements between one picture and the other are obvious.

What is not obvious is the system requirements between one picture and the other.
 
I
M-Bimmer said:
Where is unreal engine which was promised 5-6 years ago?
Click to expand...
I don't think it was "promised" but even if it was, luckily it's buried alive because this engine is GARBAGE

gamma123152 said:
In the video I see that the dashboard HUD's are still way to low resoluion.
Click to expand...
HUDs wasn't touched, they need to replace whole technology behind it - that's why all the HUDs are basically copy-paste from the few templates they have and not accurate to the actual cars because that technology they used for HUDs isn't even supported anymore since long time - probably one of the next things on the list to do, right next to dark UI + matchmaking and few other things like swaps etc

we probably can expect new content every quarter and other significant improvements every like 6 months or so

wolftree said:
No, but it would make it easier to hire devs to remove the biggest problem of the old graphics engine: the limitation to a single light source.
Click to expand...
they actually looking for the guy who will move it to newer dx, there is job offer on their site so apply if u can, lmao

jgf said:
What is not obvious is the system requirements between one picture and the other.
Click to expand...
new graphics are even less demanding since they optimized a lot of stuff
 
Last edited:
I
Large Style said:
I know the model was based on 2019 design (somehow) but I was just driving around wondering why I was racing in a sim in 2024 on a track that wasn't 100% accurate (and probably nearer 80% at best).
Click to expand...
maybe because it's old version of the track? lmao
at this point it's basically historic content since Zandvoort changed a lot so it's not about updating some curbs which btw they do very often compared to many other developers (look at Red Bull Ring for example which was updated few times already and will be again in next update where they added the new gravel traps on last sector) but about rebuilding whole track

that's like u would say that the historic Hockenheim they release rn isn't accurate to it's current state so it's garbage content, lmao

never heard bigger nonsense
 
Last edited:
Storm Rider
Majuh said:
Sounds just like ACC where all tracks including Zandvoort have never been updated since they were added. Apart from Zandvoort and Spa, the tracks in RaceRoom are up-to-date.


Fun fact: Switching to DX12 wouldn't make the game look different at all in the first place.
Click to expand...
Oh, it definitely would. There are many improvements like real time ray tracing that are not available on any DX9 library at least not until Remix is officially available.
 
C
Laughable update, still stuck on the old DX platform, colors actually look LESS natural and everything looks like it has the Resident Evil 5 green/yellow filter on it. What an amazing update!
 
Andi Goodwin
Curratum said:
Laughable update, still stuck on the old DX platform, colors actually look LESS natural and everything looks like it has the Resident Evil 5 green/yellow filter on it. What an amazing update!
Click to expand...
seem to be a lot of anal gas escaping ; how about you try it before having such a drastic opinion ; that is if you even have it installed

Andi
 

Guides

Latest News

Article information

Author
Yannik Haustein
Article read time
2 min read
Views
6,294
Comments
73
Last update
Join the discussion

Share this article

Back
Top