rFactor 2 , the popular sim racing game, is in its 10th birthday since its launch in 2013. While there have been bumps in the road, the question remains – is rFactor 2 still worth the attention of sim racing fans in 2023? Let’s dive into the good, the bad, and whether rFactor 2 is still a top contender in the genre.
Back in 2013, rFactor 2 was a revelation, offering dynamic gameplay with real road and weather. While the game had a pretty horrific UI and required a beefy PC to run, the experience was incredible for those who stuck with it. The problem was not everyone was interested in spending hours tweaking and tuning things to get it working just right on their system. Despite this, rFactor 2 rFactor 2 changed hands multiple times, but it still remains a popular game in the sim racing community.
Now, in 2023, is rFactor 2 worth it? Absolutely. Recently, I’ve been enjoying the variation in Sims that I play, but there’s just something immediately visceral and natural about how rFactor 2 feels. Any Porsche in rFactor 2 is the finest sim car in any sim, and any fan of any sim needs to experience them.
In terms of pricing, rFactor 2 is reasonably priced at $28.99 when not on sale on Steam. Additional cars and circuits are around $4.40 and $8, respectively, which is pretty reasonable for the level of quality being received. Additionally, Studio 397 recently had an update that allowed users to own one car in a multi-car field, which is a huge and very important step going forward as it means racing online becomes a lot easier.
Multiplayer in rFactor 2 is also similar to iRacing, with scheduled races and a license and rating system. The best part? It’s absolutely free, making it a great option for those looking for regular races.
While rFactor 2 still has some hiccups, largely due to existing historic public perception, rFactor 2 in 2023 is completely different from the rFactor 2 of 2013. While some may argue that too much damage has already been done, for me, rFactor 2 is still a top contender in the sim racing genre. If you get it set up, you’re in for pretty much the best sim experience available.
In conclusion, rFactor 2 still deserves attention from sim racing fans in 2023. With its dynamic gameplay, reasonable pricing, and free multiplayer option, it’s definitely worth checking out. While it may not be perfect, it’s a top contender for those looking for a challenging and immersive sim racing experience.
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Multiplayer is a nightmare !!! Crashes and bugs of all kinds are the masters, especially in endurance races. Not even those who develop it know how to handle it. They don’t deserve the community money, might as well stay on iRacing
Totally agree! The sim feels great, but the online experience needs to improve a lot 🙁
I think the damage is already done, they have had multiple chances at showing that they are capable of competing as a serious online multiplayer eSports Simulation, and continue to fail miserably – anyone who follows sim racing will know about the recent LeMans event that was blasted VERY publicly by no other than Max Verstappen.
A week or two later, iRacing hosted the 24H Daytona (GT and LMDh prototypes) with “16,651 declared drivers and 4,191 teams……across four time slots and 85 splits, turning 2.25 million laps and running nearly 8.6 million miles” without a single problem.
rF2 could barely manage a few splits with less than 180 total drivers, blaming the problems on DDOS etc. Even if it was DDOS, that’s something they should have anticipated, just as I’m sure iRacing HAS to account for given just how large these events are, and often with a lot of real life money on the line in many series. It’s just another sad excuse for rF2/MotorSports Games.
iRacing took the higher ground, not even mentioning this huge success in reference to rF2’s disaster (after disaster).
Motorsports Games will eventually destroy rF2 like they tend to do with titles they buy for a quick cash grab – just research their history, it’s quite clear the kind of people they are. Sadly rF2/Studio 397 likely needed the money to keep going, but it will likely be the reason for their demise.
But yeah, if you can be bothered to spend time with a janky UI and put up with all the weird quirks and technical problems that continue to plague the title, it does have some fine sim driving experiences, but don’t take it seriously as an online multiplayer option compared to something like iRacing, unless you like being disappointed.