April 26, 2024
The Version 1.8.0 update to EA SPORTS™ WRC introduces VR Beta on PC, here is what you need to know.
Experience a new way to play EA SPORTS™ WRC with the addition of VR Beta to PC, coming soon in the Version 1.8.0 Update.
Check out the details below for further information on what you can expect to see when the update releases.
The VR Beta for EA SPORTS™ WRC will release as part of the Version 1.8.0 Update.
At the time of writing, the release date of v1.8.0 is expected to be on April 30. Keep an eye on our social media for the latest news.
No, it is directly integrated into the main game as an additional boot mode, and released as a free update.
Our implementation of VR into EA SPORTS™ WRC is referred to as VR Beta as it is a new project for our development team.
Previous VR implementations (like those seen in DiRT Rally and DiRT Rally 2.0) were built with the help of external partners, whereas for EA SPORTS™ WRC, Codemasters have been developing VR in-house for the first time.
Due to the wide range of VR headsets available in the market, on top of the wide range of PC hardware specs in general, we currently cannot test for all possible scenarios and configurations.
VR Beta is integrated into the main EA SPORTS™ WRC game on PC, you will not need to join a separate beta branch on Steam for example.
There is no time limit or restriction on when VR Beta is available, any PC player with compatible hardware can launch EA SPORTS™ WRC in VR, and VR will not be removed from the game going forward.
When we are confident enough to say that VR is in a fully completed state, we will no longer refer to it as VR Beta.
EA SPORTS™ WRC VR Beta is available on PC (Steam, Epic, EA App), through compatible headsets.
If you have a compatible VR headset connected, you will be asked whether you want to play in VR or non-VR mode when you boot up the game.
There are currently no plans to add VR to EA SPORTS™ WRC on console in any capacity, Beta or otherwise.
Using OpenXR technology via Unreal Engine, a wide range of headsets should be compatible with EA SPORTS™ WRC.
Additionally, we have tested and can confirm the following headsets are supported:
The following are considered “partially supported” at this time:
OpenXR based Headsets not listed above (and not on the “not supported list” below) may work, but we cannot guarantee full functionality at this time.
The following headsets are not supported:
3D tracked controllers are not officially supported, we recommend people drive with the same peripherals they would use in non-VR (steering wheel, controller, keyboard etc.).
The “minimum specs” for playing in VR are equivalent to the “recommended specs” for non-VR. You can find those here but for clarity:
Additionally, below are some configurations we have tested and confirmed to achieve optimal performance during gameplay.
Configuration 1: 90+ fps achieved
Configuration 2: 90+ fps achieved
Configuration 3: 80+ fps achieved
Any higher spec hardware than this will result in a more performant experience, and give greater freedom to use more demanding graphics settings.
We recommend using a USB 3.0 cable in order to experience better performance. Please note that we currently do not support Air Link.
We also recommend you set your refresh rate to 90hz within the Oculus App, this can be done via Devices > Advanced > Graphics Settings.
We recommend adjusting the Frame Rate and Display Resolution to the best quality available.
To change these settings, go to Expand > See More > Settings > Mixed Reality > Headset Display.
We recommend disabling automatic resolution scaling and setting headset Resolution Per Eye manually.
This can be done by setting Render Resolution to Custom and then adjusting the slider beneath.
Ideally, Resolution Per Eye should be set to match the values your headset provides, though you can increase it beyond that until you see performance issues, in order to experience super-sampled anti-aliasing.
To improve performance you can try lowering the Resolution Per Eye setting until you achieve a frame rate you are happy with.
If you are experiencing inconsistent frame rates, you may want to try enabling Motion Smoothing via the SteamVR settings.
To learn more about Motion Smoothing in Steam VR, please see this article on the Steam website.
Motion Smoothing is a feature that attempts to insert frames if EA SPORTS™ WRC drops a frame.
This causes an impact to overall FPS however it ensures a smoother, more consistent experience, albeit at a lower framerate. Additionally, this may cause some visual effects or assets to take on a corrupted appearance.
If you are experiencing inconsistent frame rates, you may want to try enabling Asynchronous Spacewarp via the Oculus Debug Tool.
To do this, head to C:\Program Files\Oculus\Support\oculus-diagnostics, open OculusDebugTool and look for (PC) Asynchronous Spacewarp.
Asynchronous Spacewarp is a feature that attempts to insert frames if EA SPORTS™ WRC drops a frame.
This causes an impact to overall FPS however it ensures a smoother, more consistent experience, albeit at a lower framerate. Additionally, this may cause some visual effects or assets to take on a corrupted appearance.
VR players will have access to a number of settings to help further optimise their playing experience.
Below are some settings we recommend players start with as a baseline, and then adjust to match the capabilities of their specific headset and PC hardware.
If framerates and performance are good on your system, try setting some of these higher for a more detailed visual experience.
Depending on your hardware, some Basic Graphics settings may not be adjustable when playing the game in VR.
Motion Blur setting is also mirrored in the Accessibility menu, the setting applied in either location affects both.
Basic Graphics:
Advanced Graphics:
A smooth and consistent framerate will be the most comfortable and enjoyable when you play.
As a baseline, try to aim for a consistent 90hz, and change graphics settings if this cannot be achieved with the default configuration.
Headset resolution is not set in-game, you will need to make adjustments via your specific headset’s settings to find a good balance between visual fidelity and performance.
Resolution settings in-game affect the 2D display on your PC monitor. Reducing the 2D monitor’s resolution via in-game settings may result in slightly improved headset performance.
A number of VR settings are available to help players find a comfortable balance and reduce the potential for motion sickness.
Settings that are known to have the most significant impact on comfort also display a warning message within the menu.
On/Off Settings:
Slider Settings:
Yes. The functionality varies depending on the headset used, but there is an option to Reset VR View to the default position.
This can also be mappable via the Input Bindings menu, the default keyboard key is F9.
Additionally, as mentioned above, there are also settings to automatically recentre view on boot, and at the start of every stage.
A “take a break” reminder message is displayed in a number of non-driving areas of the game after 60 minutes of continued VR play.
This can be dismissed each time, or alternatively dismissed for the rest of your play session.
Additionally, as mentioned in the settings section above, there are a number of settings that can help improve comfort levels, the most notable being Fixed Horizon and Crash Vignette.
Yes, players will be able to view the location reveal scene of each rally stage in a full 3D view.
This provides a fully immersive experience similar to standing by the road on a real stage.
It can also be disabled in the Options & Settings menu for those who wish to proceed to the Service Area more quickly.
All other non-driving scenes and menus are rendered in 2D via a Virtual Monitor and viewable from within the headset.
Yes, when playing in VR the PC monitor will display a representative 2D version, including menus.
This is useful for menu navigation without needing to wear the headset, and also for players who wish to record or broadcast their game on Twitch or YouTube.
Please note that the displayed resolution of the 2D render on the PC monitor may differ from the 3D view rendered within the headset.
In all 2D scenes, the Virtual Monitor from within the headset is replicated on the PC monitor.
For 3D scenes (ie: when driving and during stage reveal if enabled), the view from only one eye is displayed on the PC monitor.
Yes.
Due to technical limitations, Photo Mode is not available at launch when the game is booted up in VR mode.
We are currently investigating ways to implement Photo Mode into VR, and if we find a solution will enable Photo Mode in VR via a future update.
As of v1.8.0’s release (and at the time of this FAQ’s publication), these are the issues we have been investigating and will aim to resolve as soon as possible:
For a more up-do-date list of known issues as we progress through VR Beta, please visit the WRC Technical Issues forum on EA Answers HQ.
You can report bugs and technical issues on EA Answers HQ.
If you would like to chat with other VR players and share experiences or settings, join our Discord server and visit the #wrc_vr channel.