DiRT 4 More DiRT 4 Previews Break Cover

Paul Jeffrey · Jan 26, 2017

With today marking the announcement by Codemasters of DiRT 4, yet more preview images from the new game have surfaced on the internet showing off the impressive visuals of a title that has aroused more than a little conversation amongst our sim racing community.

DiRT 4 has been pitched to the gaming public as a cross between the hugely successful simulation focussed DiRT Rally and more arcade orientated DiRT 3 release, with several forms of offroad racing due to be represented in the new game. Judging from the comments over on our announcement article, it appears the traditional rally portion of the game is attracting the most interest from RD readers, and luckily that is the area of the game the newly released images seem to mostly cover.

Across these five new screenshots we can see the new for DiRT 4 Kartcross machine in action on one of the Rallycross circuits in game, a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6, a Ford Fiesta Rallycross vehicle in unlicensed fictional liveries and probably of most interest a Subaru Impreza R4 from 2016 - a new addition to the DiRT franchise. Also expected to be making an appearance in the game will be the Peugeot 208 R5. Other cars, locations and formats of racing are yet to be revealed outside of the traditional rally mode, Rallycross, Kartcross, Trucks and Buggy disciplines.

Other confirmed goodies due to be added to the upcoming title include cross-platform multiplayer by default, with both Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC joining together on the game leadboards for the very first time, coupled with a new PvP multiplayer rally feature that allows groups of up to eight players starting on stage at the same time, effectively allowing you to run a "live" rally and revolutionising the way multiplayer works within the new release.

Something that was missing from DiRT Rally and left the game all the worse for it is now due to make an appearance in DiRT 4 - in offline mode you will see broken down cars by the side of the road, with your crew giving you an audio warning before you encounter the obstruction on stage. This is only a relatively minor addition to the title, but something that makes a welcome addition and adds to the immersion of competing in a full blown rally event.

Also confirmed to be making a change in the new title will be the removal of the "instant-finish" way stages end in the current release. Now when you cross the line, you retain control the car until the Time Control area. This will require the player to not simply accelerate across the line but to moderate your speed in anticipation of stopping the car in the correct area at stage end, somewhat similar to RBR.

DiRT 4 will be available for Windows PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 June 2017.

Check out our DiRT 4 sub forum here at RaceDepartment for all the latest news and discussions regarding the latest edition to the DiRT Rally franchise of games. Get yourself over to the new sub forum today and join in the discussion!

Looking forward to DiRT 4? Do you think the game will be closer in feeling to the previous DiRT Rally release or closer to the more quick fire fun oriented DiRT 2 and 3 games? Let us know in the comments section below!

TzZyO · Jan 27, 2017

Why don't we stop perpetuating the idea that DiRT Rally was "simulation focused"? D3 was extremely arcade, while DR was nearly tolerable. Codemasters are promising a significant reworking of the DR physics, so I hope this time around it will be something I'd actually use. If D4 won't reach even DR's level, there's simply nothing to talk about.

Peter Kerényi · Jan 27, 2017

TzZyO said:
Why don't we stop perpetuating the idea that DiRT Rally was "simulation focused"? D3 was extremely arcade, while DR was nearly tolerable. Codemasters are promising a significant reworking of the DR physics, so I hope this time around it will be something I'd actually use. If D4 won't reach even DR's level, there's simply nothing to talk about.

I think most of these discussions can be avoided if people realized there are different points of view and not everybody thinks like they do. From my point of view e.g. Crash Team Racing or Mario Kart are "extremely arcade", so the spectrum of simulation in my perception is much wider than taking D3 as "extremely arcade", so DR is simulation focused. Maybe the author of this thread views racing games like that as well.

Alex72 · Jan 27, 2017

TzZyO said:
Why don't we stop perpetuating the idea that DiRT Rally was "simulation focused"? D3 was extremely arcade, while DR was nearly tolerable. Codemasters are promising a significant reworking of the DR physics, so I hope this time around it will be something I'd actually use. If D4 won't reach even DR's level, there's simply nothing to talk about.

Im in the same boat as you. Saw this was pasted in the other preview thread. I cut it down a bit. Looks good though:

"We built DiRT 4 on the simulation that started with DiRT Rally. We've improved the simulation (Aero, Chassis, Tyres and much more) Basically all the stuff that you have been asking for. ‬

‪We've not dumbed anything down, we've just given players more ways to learn and get comfortable with rally so that the people who love the sport but can't handle the sim have a great game that they can play. Those that live for the simulation get an improved experience. I know it's hard to believe but we have managed to achieve both."

If gravel is as it was and even improved (ie even closer to real life driving) then its gonna be a smash hit. Again though tarmac has to be dealt with. Cars feel waaaaay to light and you can control them like RC cars in Dirt Rally. But still, even though i dont like tarmac in DR i still have had a lot of fun on gravel.

Jebus · Jan 27, 2017

Very interested of the gravel side of the game. But Codies have a lot to do to improve their crappy tarmac physics they have in Dirt Rally.

theravenousbeast · Jan 27, 2017

TzZyO said:
Why don't we stop perpetuating the idea that DiRT Rally was "simulation focused"? D3 was extremely arcade, while DR was nearly tolerable. Codemasters are promising a significant reworking of the DR physics, so I hope this time around it will be something I'd actually use. If D4 won't reach even DR's level, there's simply nothing to talk about.

Because most people that drove DiRT Rally were never fast enough to start noticing the nuances and exploits in the physics engine is my guess. Plus, a lot of the newer generation of simracers didn't have a comparison point for it unlike the many road racing sims.

shimon.ifraimov · Jan 27, 2017

Ernie · Jan 27, 2017

Alex72 said:
If gravel is as it was and even improved (ie even closer to real life driving) then its gonna be a smash hit. Again though tarmac has to be dealt with. Cars feel waaaaay to light and you can control them like RC cars in Dirt Rally. But still, even though i dont like tarmac in DR i still have had a lot of fun on gravel.

Agree with that. For me the driving on tarmac in DR feels so weird, that i always get a little angry about it. I would love to have Automobilista physics on the tarmac stages in DR. Reiza physics are so intuitive to drive.

Tr3voRR · Jan 27, 2017

shimon.ifraimov said:

YES YES YESSSSSSSS finally full steering lock animation. Gone the 90° lock.I really hope the next Forza does it as well, same for PCars 2 (for people who use controllers, I believe if you're on a steering wheel you do have full lock animation (in Pcars1)).

João Tuning · Jan 27, 2017

I hope they keep Dirt Rally updated and with some new cars and tracks..........

mantasisg · Jan 27, 2017

I think CM updates their titles by releasing a new one.... I hoped for a bit more DR updates too.

pieter colignon · Jan 27, 2017

gameplay of DIRT ' (offscreen tho)

Lynx2000 · Jan 27, 2017

Has any of you noticed in the video that there is a location named mystery?

Rodent · Jan 27, 2017

Alright, that actually doesn't look too bad and the presentation seems more Dirt Rally and less Dirt 3 so I'm going to dial down my negativity. But unless summer is really boring I still see it as a title to grab during a sale.

bogani · Jan 27, 2017

ernietheracefan said:
How about the Group B rallycross cars..?

There is a RX group B class! Confirmed by one in the community that went there late last year

howitzer155mm · Jan 27, 2017

Codemaster's road physics leave a lot to be desired, possibly even in their F1 franchise (Though I have not tried 2016 yet) At the very least, the tarmac physics in DiRT Rally feel very cheap. In Hillclimb anyway, the vehicle feels as if it's in a rut, the car is constantly breaking traction but at the same time it seems far too stable.

TzZyO · Jan 27, 2017

Alex72 said:
Im in the same boat as you. Saw this was pasted in the other preview thread. I cut it down a bit. Looks good though:

"We built DiRT 4 on the simulation that started with DiRT Rally. We've improved the simulation (Aero, Chassis, Tyres and much more) Basically all the stuff that you have been asking for. ‬

‪We've not dumbed anything down, we've just given players more ways to learn and get comfortable with rally so that the people who love the sport but can't handle the sim have a great game that they can play. Those that live for the simulation get an improved experience. I know it's hard to believe but we have managed to achieve both."

If gravel is as it was and even improved (ie even closer to real life driving) then its gonna be a smash hit. Again though tarmac has to be dealt with. Cars feel waaaaay to light and you can control them like RC cars in Dirt Rally. But still, even though i dont like tarmac in DR i still have had a lot of fun on gravel.

I wish I could say the same about DR's gravel physics, but for me it still is not there. What Codemasters said about the improvements sounds reassuring. I really hope they are serious this time. Watching the video above makes me doubt whether there really is that much change as they claim there is. And what's with the testers not being able to drive at all during almost every rally game's early footage? If they are trying to show that the game is difficult to drive like that, I'm not convinced. And these people are probably even paid for that kind of "testing".

thewarmer · Jan 27, 2017

Ok I see they have taken some idea's on board like the Flying finish is no longer a cut screen you now have to stop at the marshal's point after stage end.

Damage still looks like its has no real affect on the cars performance , their were a few big impacts there that would have resulted in busted radiators & some suspension damage in real life.

I noticed that you now come along broken down cars on the stages that is nice touch.
Hard to tell how it drives from the Videos its look like a pad was been used for most of the Rally car stuff the way the wheel way flapping about.

More important for me is the so call hardcore mode.

Here Codies need to raise there game , I would like to a more in depth set up screen more setting with real world ranges.
Also real failures ie loosing boost , or engine management issue's , those and the many other things that can fail has the do in real life.

Another big one Tire selection very much needed Slicks , Snow , Ice , inters & full wets & their compounds.
I understand its means modeling four types of tires & all the animation that is required but really it is already in their F1 games, and has been standard in every other sim for decades

You really should have the narrow studded ice tire for Sweden what we have had to the date is Codies cutting corners on that side of things.
Still that said we have not seen that part of the game yet & now they have some current WRC drivers helping I really hope they address those issue's if they really want to make a full fleshed out hardcore or sim mode they have to add such items.

I would guess that it will ship with basic car classes and the tasty items like Group B & some of the current WRC cars will be the standard paid for DLC content .

That is how they have ship every version of Dirt since day one standard content plus DLC. do not see them changeling that sale system.

-Alf- · Jan 27, 2017

thewarmer said:
More important for me is the so call hardcore mode.

Here Codies need to raise there game , I would like to a more in depth set up screen more setting with real world ranges.
Also real failures ie loosing boost , or engine management issue's , those and the many other things that can fail has the do in real life.

Another big one Tire selection very much needed Slicks , Snow , Ice , inters & full wets & their compounds.
I understand its means modeling four types of tires & all the animation that is required but really it is already in their F1 games, and has been standard in every other sim for decades

I couldn't agree more.
All i care is the Sim mode and Rally part of the game ( i was hoping for a DiRT Rally 2 ), and i hope for the people who will choose to play "the Sim way", game will offer a Hardcore experience. Ingame Telemetry, tyre choices, g-meter, pedals, Wheel rotation, on screen, "hardcore" damage model, etc. More features Sim focused than what DR has/had, not just an improved physics model.
If Codies really can please both worlds, Arcade and Sim Racers, having 2 handling models/physics, in the same game, and get this right, Codies will hit the Jackpot.