The much-vaunted cooperative mode for Le Mans Ultimate will launch next week – and on the surface, it sounds like a feature unparalleled in PC sim racing.
It will arrive alongside further 2024 liveries, VR tweaks and a second DLC pack.
Le Mans Ultimate Co-op mode explained
- Team up with friends, up to three drivers per squad
- Enter limited-time event scenarios
- Earn points by racing against the AI, with scores taking into account AI strength, position, overtakes and clean conduct
- Swap drivers mid-race, team-mate can pick up at a later date
- Once the event has ended for everyone, scores are placed on an online leaderboard
When co-op arrives (in beta) for Le Mans Ultimate, you can create a team and join up with friends. You can then enter a race from a roster of scheduled events.
Each drive can then take turns to race against AI-powered opponents, completing minimum stint lengths. In the pits, competitors can then select to switch drivers. Upon doing so, the next driver in their team can carry on the event when the time suits (but before the event ends).
There is set to be a native invite system for friends and an area where a summary of your stint can be shared.
Points are awarded based on AI difficulty level, position, overtakes and clean conduct – with results shared to an online leaderboard.
Mid-race saves
Following on from the co-op mode’s mid-race driver swaps will be the ability to save your progress from the pitlane.
More than just that, however, the sim will bring up the main pit menu once you come to a stop in your box. Tyres, fuel load, aero settings and repairs can be tweaked alongside the save option.
The title should also auto-save your progress, should a manual save not be selected – up to three on a rolling basis.
User interface changes
Much like Assetto Corsa Competizione, you can now select a FIA WEC season – 2023 and 2024 for now. This will lump together all of that season’s cars and liveries for your opponents.
When selecting a car, further detail will be provided as to which season, or event, each design relates to.
Further liveries
The 2024 Hypercar category will become ‘complete’ in terms of paint schemes, with the LMP2 category receiving the current season’s designs in this update.
Saved seating positions and force feedback tweaks
Once again, the difference in force feedback strength between cars has been tweaked alongside the AI performance when it comes to fuel management.
Should you alter the driving position, this is now saved per car – which is a relief.
VR Tweaks
“Wait, but Le Mans Ultimate doesn’t support VR,” we hear you say.
True, but you can force it to run with a headset. It’s minus a proper HUD and far from final.
In acknowledgement of this, there are said to be some changes to how this unfinished version of VR works in the next update.
“For those of you who actively use the hidden [VR] option, we have included a number of improvements for you to try,” said Motorsport Games CEO Stephen Hood.
DLC Pack 2
As previously announced, the second premium downloadable content pack will be available at the same time as the next game update.
It will include:
- Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 LMH-C
- Alpine A424
- Circuit of the Americas
Priced at $12.99 / €11.99 / £9.99, it’s also part of the 2024 season pass. The third DLC pack, expected before the end of the year, will introduce the first GT3 cars to the platform.
Le Mans Ultimate September Update and DLC Pack 2 release date
The quality-of-life changes and new game modes arrive on the same day as the latest DLC for Le Mans Ultimate – 24th September 2024.
Looking ahead to later updates, the development team has also touched upon hosting private servers and supporting community racing leagues. A subscription-only service for online championships has also been mooted.
There will be a bump in base price too, by 15 per cent to $37.99 / €34.99 / £29.99 on the 30th.