Wednesday, June 03, 2020
Everything we know so far about Codemasters' next off-road racer.
Codemasters DiRT franchise is much loved across the globe and the latest incarnation, DiRT 5, was revealed to the world at Microsoft's first Xbox Series X showcase on May 7.
It marks a return to the more casual side of the DiRT franchise from the more focused DiRT Rally series, and it's going to be hotly anticipated by fans ahead of its release later in 2020. Here's everything we know so far.
Sideways fun
DiRT 5
The wild world of DiRT gets bigger than ever
DiRT 5 takes a much different approach to the super-serious DiRT Rally franchise and this one will be the biggest yet, with bonus Xbox Series X support to boot.
DiRT 5 release date
The first question anyone wants an answer to: When can I get it? Fortunately, there is at least some idea right out of the gate on that front. Currently, DiRT 5 is expected to launch in October 2020 on the current generation consoles.
Pre-orders have begun in some territories such as the UK through third-party retailers such as Amazon.
DiRT 5 is a cross-generation release
DiRT 5 was revealed during the Xbox Series X showcase but it is not exclusive to the next-gen consoles. Indeed, the title will launch first on Xbox One, PS4 and PC. The Xbox Series X version has been confirmed alongside a launch on PS5 and in early 2021, all will be joined by a release on Google Stadia.
Details of any PS5 enhancements are as yet unknown, but we do know a little about what to expect from DiRT 5 on the Xbox Series X. For starters, it will support Smart Delivery, so you can buy a copy on launch for the Xbox One, enjoy it until you get a Series X, then download the enhanced copy on the new console for no additional cost.
We also know that DiRT 5 will benefit from the added power of the Xbox Series X in a couple of ways. For one, it will run at 4K resolution at 60 FPS. It will also have an option to run on the new console at a whopping 120 FPS, though details on what resolution that is at remain unclear, likewise any graphical sacrifices that have to be made.
Hit play to hear more about DiRT 5 from the Xbox Series X showcase.
DiRT 5 career mode
The career mode should be a highlight of DiRT 5, and not just because it's promising some stellar voice acting from the likes of Nolan North and Troy Baker.
The career mode is set to be a non-linear affair with "decision-based changes and a proper narrative" that should make each players run through a little different to someone else's.
We're set to learn more about the career mode in June.
DiRT 5 Multiplayer
DiRT 5 will, of course, have an online multiplayer mode and it will support up to 12 players at a time and "objective-based modes". But there's also a nifty split-screen offline multiplayer mode that allows you to play again up to three other people from the comfort of the same room.
Codemasters is set to talk more about the multiplayer aspect of DiRT 5 in September.
DiRT 5 pre-launch roadmap
If you're eager for more information, and frankly, who could blame you, Codemasters has already outlined its roadmap to launch. The "DiRT 5 Tour Path" is the pre-launch roadmap leading right up to October when we'll be able to get our hot little hands on the game.
Every month a new aspect of the game will become the focus, with June directing to the career mode, with features following along in July. August is currently a big unknown, and it coincides with the time that the gaming world would usually descend upon Gamescom, so we're certainly excited to see what the question mark turns into.
After that we'll hear about multiplayer in September, then onto the launch hype in October.
Dishing the Dirt
While we wait, the DiRT team has shot a series of short videos breaking down some of the different approaches taken by Codemasters' two completely separate teams working on the DiRT franchise. These bitesize chunks offer an interesting backstory to the DiRT development process.
Podcast by Donut Media
Inside DiRT 5 it looks like there's going to be an official podcast by the Donut Media team. A recent Facebook post from Codemasters gives us a hint at how this feature will be integrated.
"Welcome to the 𝗗𝗜𝗥𝗧 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝘂𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 – the in-game audio show from DIRT 5's Career mode, hosted by James Pumphrey and Nolan Sykes!
In Career mode, this podcast drives DIRT 5's star-studded story forward, with breaking news, big interviews and some major pot-stirring. We'll be dropping many more podcast clips onto this page in the coming weeks"
The first episode, albeit only just over a minute long, is now posted to not only Facebook but the DiRT 5 YouTube channel and a playlist on SoundCloud so it looks like we could get more snippets on the road to launch.
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