Editor’s Note: This article was written before the patch was applied and before it was found out that the AMD fixes were actually more broken than before. The updates have since been reverted back to the previous settings, pre-patch. I’ve logged the timeline below.
It has not been easy for some of us in this first week of 2022 iRacing Season 3. For me in particular, being an iRacer and also an AMD GPU user has been somewhat of a hell. This is going to sound more like a blog entry at first, but it is relevant to today’s first released patch of the new build.
When I first downloaded the new build, iRacing didn’t even work on my system. That led to complete program wipes, re-installations, graphical driver updates, and most importantly, getting my settings back to where I could take good pictures again. I’m not sure I’m even fully back to all of that yet, but thankfully, today’s patch (16th June 2022) continues to add fixes for AMD graphics card users.
11:00 AM EDT Edit: Post-patch, apparently it may have made some things worse:
12:00 PM EDT Edit: Alex Gustafson posted the following on the iRacing forums regarding the AMD ongoing issues: “We are currently investigating an ongoing issue for all PC users with 500-series AMD graphics cards. This issue appears to scramble, hide, or alter the artwork for cars and the environment in the Simulator and paint shop.”
12:23 PM EDT Edit: Per the forums, the 2022 Season 3 Patch 1 Hotfix 1 will release at 3:00 p.m. EDT / 8:00 p.m. BST later today. That should hopefully fix these issues.
4:25 PM EDT Edit: Welp, it’s back to square one. The AMD-specific updates have all been rolled back and it looks just as it did before today’s patch. Hopefully the next patch they can implement those fixes in a better manner.
Some AI bugs that cropped up in the build have been squashed, specifically with GT3 cars at the new Fuji International Speedway. Some of the vehicles in the sim received in-sim setup updates, including the 1987 NASCAR vehicles, a trio of TCRs, some Porsche GT3s and the Mercedes-AMG W12 E Performance. There were also some tracks like Fuji, Port Royal and Sandown that received some love in the patch.
Also, the NASCAR NEXT Gen cars, which received the New Damage Model update, have surprisingly been a treat to run, in my experience. They updated the Superspeedway package a slight amount, which I learned all about its nuances in Monday Night Racing earlier in the week.
Anyway, the NDM seems to be working fine, despite some much easier instances of meatball flags and eight minute required repairs. The update today only lists some graphical updates, including an issue specific to Nashville Superspeedway.
Check out the rest of the patch notes below, including some notes for the first iRacing mobile app update. The patch is scheduled to be applied on Thursday morning around 8:00 a.m. EDT / 1:00 p.m. BST. Now if we could only get some rain patched in…
SIMULATION:
AI Racing
- Fixed a crashing issue that could occur when using an AI Opponent Roster of GT3 class cars at Fuji International Speedway while using a rolling start.
- AI Drivers have improved this racing skills with the following vehicles:
- – – BMW M4 GT3
- – – Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020
- – – Porsche 911 R GT3
- – – [Legacy] Ferrari 488 GT3
Graphics
- The number of possible dynamic and fixed cubemap updates has been reduced.
- Fixed some issues with SMP and Res Scaling AMD FSR not playing nice together.
- Fixed an issue for VR-users with AMD FSR enabled.
- Fixed an issue with the virtual mirror for users with AMD FSR enabled and MVP enabled.
- Fixed an issue with some windshield rendering while using SSAO.
- The compute shaders functionality is now disabled when iRacing detects certain AMD graphics cards in use.
HOTFIX 1 ADDITION: Rendering
- Removed a previous change that disabled the compute shaders functionality when iRacing detected certain AMD graphics cards to be in use.
- – – This fix was causing severe graphical errors for PC users with AMD 500-Series graphics cards.
- – – This fix was originally for our MacBook Pro users using Bootcamp. Unfortunately, this roll-back means the original bug will affect them once again. A long-term fix is in the works.
iRacing Interface
- Fixed an issue where the virtual mirror could not be repositioned by clicking on the mirror itself.
Replays
- The Track Rules tab will no longer be open by default when opening a Replay.
CARS:
<Car Class> NASCAR Classic 1987 Cars
- iRacing setups have been updated.
<Car Class> NASCAR Next Gen Cars
- Fixed an issue where soft shadows were not reacting properly while the New Damage Model was in use.
- Fixed a graphics issue where these cars appeared to be using the low-downforce package at Nashville Superspeedway, when in fact they were not.
Dallara P217
- Fixed an issue where the windshield wiper was missing a texture in the interface model.
Dirt Late Model
- (Super) – iRacing setups have been updated.
Formula Renault 3.5
- iRacing setups have been updated.
Honda Civic Type R
- Launch RPM has been increased, and clutch torque has been lowered for better standing starts.
- iRacing setups have been updated.
Hyundai Elantra N TC
- Launch RPM has been increased, and clutch torque has been lowered for better standing starts.
- iRacing setups have been updated.
Hyundai Veloster N TC
- Launch RPM has been increased, and clutch torque has been lowered for better standing starts
- iRacing setups have been updated.
Mercedes-AMG F1 W12 E Performance
- iRacing setups have been updated.
Mercedes-AMG GT3 2020
- Fixed an issue with the endurance lighting after taking damage.
- Fixed an issue with the display of the lumirank panel, based on the series.
- Fixed an issue where paint patterns 26 and 27 were not working correctly.
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992)
- iRacing setups have been updated.
Porsche 911 R GT3
- iRacing setups have been updated.
TRACKS:
Atlanta Motor Speedway
- (Oval) – Fixed an issue where the in-Sim track map had gone missing after the 2022 Season 3 update.
Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55
- Fixed an issue where this track was listed as being in both Missouri and Illinois at the same time.
Fuji International Speedway
- The track rules tab has been updated for Turn 6.
- (Grand Prix) – Slow-down checkpoints for the chicane area, cutting and going wide, have been updated and the time-gain penalties have been made more severe.
- A slowdown checkpoint has been added on the last corner to prevent running wide during Qualifying.
- Pit Camera 2 is now correctly a static camera.
Port Royal Speedway
- Fixed an issue where skid colors were not matching the dirt correctly.
- Collision parameters have been added to some jersey barriers and poles.
- Patched some terrain seams.
Sandown International Motor Raceway
- Fixed an issue with a delay when starting from the pits.
- Fixed an issue where the dynamic track data was not being handled correctly.
- – – Track dynamics should now be more realistic over time.
Snetterton Circuit
- (200 and 300) – The number of pit stalls has been reduced.
iRACING COMPANION APP (1.0.7)
News
- Added a margin to bottom of the News screen to make it easier to read the final part of the news.
My Content
- Fixed alphabetical sorting for this screen.
Series
- Fixed an issue with the display of car names for multi-class events.
Results
- Fixed a crash issue when attempting to access certain event results.
Compare Drivers
- Fixed the appearance of members’ avatars for this screen.
Leagues
- Fixed an issue where League members were seeing the “Not Member” badge incorrectly.
- Fixed the background color for this screen when “dark theme” is selected.
- Added missing spaces in the header title.
iOS Version
- Fixed an issue with the arrow to the right of the Series Details icon on the Upcoming Races screen.
- Fixed an issue with the arrow to the right when selecting a driver on the Series Standings screen.