Unquestionably leading the sim racing industry, iRacing is known for its realistic car and course rendering, technical accuracy, and a community of devoted players who support clean racing. It has continuously provided a top-notch racing experience.
World of Outlaws Dirt Racing and a future NASCAR game are only two examples of the many racing games and platforms that iRacing has introduced in recent years. Though it’s a science fiction rallycross game set on a far-off planet, ExoCross is the most surprising addition to their repertoire. On July 23, this avant-garde game will be available on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation 3 through Steam.
German developer Orontes Games, which iRacing purchased in 2021, is working on ExoCross. With improvements from iRacing’s circuit-racing technology combined with Orontes’ unique engine, ExoCross promises to combine the best aspects of both disciplines.
ExoCross uses the same tires and AI programming as their professional-level sim, according to iRacing Executive Vice President Steve Myers. This is an interesting decision since ExoCross’s more akin to vintage arcade racers like Rollcage than any actual motorsport.
ExoCross isn’t like other arcade racers in that it simulates an experience that doesn’t exist yet. This strategy reminds me of Sony’s Wipeout series, which imagined a race in the future. ExoCross is more grounded than Wipeout, with wheeled, all-terrain vehicles driven by fuel-burning V8 engines racing through extraterrestrial environments. Wipeout included anti-gravity racing. In the future depicted in the game’s premise, remote-controlled ATVs are blasting through alien terrain in place of traditional racing.
Though brief, the story is told through Career Mode interstitials that are evocative of the comic book-style graphics from the 1990s game Jet Moto. Veteran gamers may find some nostalgia in these briefs as they set the scene and give context for the cosmic racing experience.
Play mechanics and graphics
The driving mechanics of ExoCross are coming along rather nicely. Despite not being a simulation, the game features realistic characteristics including throttle-induced oversteer on slick surfaces and weight transfer.
It’s these components that make driving enjoyable and simple. Each race is visually and technically captivating due to the solid track design, which includes a variety of surface types and several courses wending through neon-colored interstellar flora. Even on the highest settings, the game works well. The test build on a system with a Ryzen 7 5800X3D CPU and an RTX 3070 GPU maintains strong frame rates at 1440p.
Content and Prospects for the Future
Although ExoCross got off to a good start, its present reach is limited. Like old-school arcade racing, the game has four locations with four to five track layouts each and three cars divided into “Beginner, Advanced, Expert” grades.
Even though this arrangement is endearing, it may be improved. Longevity and depth may be increased by adding features like strategic gaming elements or vehicle upgrades. A distinct strategic dimension might be added, for example, by introducing a mechanism akin to Fast RMX’s color phasing, in which players switch between phases to increase speed or access track segments.
An interesting path to take is of course the expansion of the ExoCross universe. The game’s introductory teaser shows the potential for a rich story, with racers competing for a variety of teams, each with their own personality. This feature might make ExoCross a more interesting story-based racing game, which is similar to Jet Moto.
Future Steps For iRacing
iRacing can dig deeper into the possibilities of racing simulation because ExoCross is a major advancement. iRacing understands the importance of quality, this can be seen in the smoothness of the game and the attention to detail, whether recreating real-world motorsport or creating a completely new racing experience. This creates a strong foundation for future expansion and progress even though the current scope of ExoCross is still limited.
ExoCross’ unique take on the racing genre makes it a possible addition to the iRacing library. Its distinct blend of beautiful track design, futuristic ambiance, and realistic driving mechanics sets it apart from other racing games.
