lthough the Colin McRae Rally titles saw some success in the current-gen, Codemasters is overhauling the series for the next generation. Completely rebranding the title as DIRT: Colin McRae Off-Road, the game is being developed by a combination of the Colin and TOCA Race Driver teams. Anyone who has played Colin titles before knows how hardcore the rally series is. However, much of the success has been seen in Europe, and with DIRT, Codemasters hopes to appeal to both the hardcore Colin fans and make it more accessible to the masses, as well.

The Colin McRae Rally titles have focused on point-to-point rally racing. DIRT however will change up the formula to feature multiple disciplines including different facets of all-terrain racing. The point-to-point races will still be featured, but new events will be added such as Rally Cross, Rally Raid, Hill Climb, Pikes Peak, and the CORR Desert series. 

Hill Climb

With all of these new events, that means Codemasters will need to add quite a bit of different vehicle types to the mix. DIRT: Colin McRae Off-Road will feature over 50 licensed cars. From Pick-Up trucks, big rigs, and rally cross, to Baja Buggies, Lancers, and Audi TTs, DIRT should feature the widest variety of vehicles to grace the series.

DIRT includes a brand new pyramid career structure where as you race and win money, you’ll be able to purchase new cars. The Championship mode will return and will only feature Rally events. Online multiplayer will include races with multiple cars, and Codemasters plans to support up to 100 online racers in a lobby for point-to-point races.

Need particles?

Visually, from what we’ve seen so far, DIRT is looking phenomenal. As cars in the current-gen took damage, DIRT will be taking the concept even further. Cars will crumple and be able to wrap around objects, so going off the road and into a tree will severely debilitate your ride. Scraping up against a canyon wall will scratch your vehicle’s body down to the metal or carbon fiber. All of the environmental track elements, from the potholes, manholes, and bumps are all physics based.  Even the trees will be modeled down to their leaves, with soft shadows and specular shading. If everything comes together as promised, DIRT could be the most beautiful rally title ever created.