RaceRoom

RaceRoom Racing Experience
DeveloperKW Studios
PublisherRaceRoom Entertainment AG
ProducersJean-François Chardon
Sonat Dennis Öztürk
DesignersKarsten Borchers
Marko Hartikainen
Anthony Monteil
ProgrammersNikita Dyomin
Robert Holm
Viktor Öfjäll
EngineisiMotor 2
PlatformMicrosoft Windows
Release12 February 2013
GenreSim racing
ModesSingle-player, multiplayer

RaceRoom Racing Experience (also referred to simply as RaceRoom) is a freemium sim racing video game developed by KW Studios and published by RaceRoom Entertainment AG in 2013. The game provides a selection of free-to-play race cars and tracks to drive in multiplayer and single player games modes. Sponsored competitions and other free-to-play events allow users to use premium game content at no cost.

Gameplay

RaceRoom offers many different game modes such as Multiplayer Races, Custom Championships, Single Races against AI, Practice, Leaderboard Challenges and Online Competitions. The simulation also includes an online portal that keeps track of player statistics and leaderboard entries that serve as a platform for the players' activities. The game aims to provide an authentic racing experience through detailed car and track models as well as realistic car behaviour and sounds. RaceRoom also supports virtual reality through Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift or Windows Mixed Reality.

The game includes more than 250 fully licensed cars available from 49 manufacturers, spanning from touring cars, sports cars, open-wheel cars, and historic classes. A total of 69 venues, including layouts, are available.

Development

According to CEO Chris Speed, RaceRoom was initially created and maintained by 10 to 11 people. The game licensed Image Space Incorporated's isiMotor 2 game engine, and utilized a new proprietary RendR graphics engine, capable of rendering different times of day, post-processing effects, and support for rain, although RaceRoom does not currently feature rain. The game also features a custom audio engine. The game entered closed beta in late 2012, transitioning to open beta a few months later.

Since its release, RaceRoom has been updated regularly with new features and content and has received significant improvements in all departments. In a March 2016 interview with Inside Sim Racing, producer Jean-François Chardon stated that the original code remaining from the base isiMotor 2 engine in RaceRoom is "less than 20 percent". RaceRoom continues to run on RendR; a move to Unreal Engine 4 was previously planned, with a development image of RaceRoom running the engine teased by Speed in the studio's forums, although this never materialized. The game received a major graphics overhaul on September 2024, featuring improved rendering, performance optimizations, and new features such as dynamic cloud coverage. Physics-based rendering was implemented on June 2025. An updated HUD and user interface were each added in 2026.

Sector3 Studios has previously worked with real racing drivers to gain feedback and fettle the simulation aspects of the game such as vehicle physics and tyre modelling, including Bruno Spengler, Daniel Juncadella, Kelvin van der Linde, and Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky. Telemetry data derived from global partners such as the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, World Touring Car Championship, ADAC GT Masters, and the studio's parent company KW Automotive is also used to further develop the physics model of the cars.

Competitions

The DTM Esports booth at the 2024 Essen Motor Show running RaceRoom.

RaceRoom hosts the official DTM Esports Championship annually, featuring a €75,000 prize pool.

Reception

Eurogamer reviewed RaceRoom in 2014 and called it "the best racing game you've never heard of".

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bartholomew, Mike (23 July 2025). "RaceRoom Makes All Content Free-To-Play Until 18 August". CarThrottle. Retrieved 21 October 2026.
  2. ↑ Partridge, Jon. "Rising from the ashes: RaceRoom Racing Experience". Red Bull. Retrieved 2 June 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ↑ Harrison-Lord, Thomas (5 October 2023). "Rennsport admits to using existing tyre tech, holds 'ambition' for custom physics". Traxion.GG. Retrieved 21 October 2026.
  4. ↑ "RaceRoom Racing Experience – Diego Sartori Q&A #2". VirtualR. Archived from the original on 1 September 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 Harrison-Lord, Thomas (18 June 2025). "This is RaceRoom, like you've never seen it before". Traxion.GG. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
  6. ↑ "Simbin's "God of Thunder" Anthony Monteil!". Track Time Audio. 6 March 2013. Archived from the original on 12 June 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  7. ↑ Robinson, Martin (24 October 2014). "RaceRoom is the best racing game you've never heard of". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  8. ↑ Bigg, Martin (20 November 2012). "RaceRoom Racing Experience launches closed beta". Team VVV. Retrieved 21 October 2026.
  9. ↑ Bigg, Martin (22 January 2013). "RaceRoom Racing Experience open beta starts next week, pricing details announced". Team VVV. Retrieved 21 October 2026.
  10. ↑ Gangi, Darin (23 March 2016). This Week Inside Sim Racing - Sector3 Studios Interview - LIVE !. Inside Sim Racing. Event occurs at 8:10. Retrieved 2 June 2016 – via YouTube.
  11. ↑ Speed, Chris (15 March 2016). ""In response to the so called 'leak'......."". Sector3 Studios Forum. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  12. ↑ Jeffrey, Paul (18 February 2017). "RaceRoom to go Unreal 4 in Future". RaceDepartment. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  13. ↑ "Raceroom's graphics have been updated and DTM cars have been rolled out". Gamereactor. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
  14. ↑ Harrison-Lord, Thomas (29 July 2026). "RaceRoom redesigns its HUD, expands multiplayer grids". Traxion.GG. Retrieved 21 October 2026.
  15. ↑ McGregor, Ross (16 October 2026). "All you need to know about RaceRoom's 'biggest update ever'". Traxion.GG. Retrieved 21 October 2026.
  16. ↑ RaceRoom (9 October 2015), DTM Experience 2015 | Physics Dev Stream with Bruno Spengler, retrieved 2 June 2016
  17. ↑ RaceRoom (14 October 2015), DTM 2015 Physics Dev Stream with Daniel Juncadella, retrieved 2 June 2016
  18. ↑ RaceRoom (23 August 2015), Physics Test Race with Kelvin van der Linde, retrieved 2 June 2016
  19. ↑ RaceRoom (6 November 2015). RaceRoom | Audi Sport TT Cup - Physics Development with Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky. Retrieved 29 September 2025 – via YouTube.
  20. ↑ "RACEROOM RACING EXPERIENCE | KW Automotive Blog". blog-int.kwautomotive.net. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  21. ↑ Plümer, Jonas (1 December 2023). "DTM eSports Championship 2024 startet mit VIP-Rennen - DTM". Speedweek (in German). Retrieved 20 October 2026.
  22. ↑ Harrison-Lord, Thomas (1 May 2026). "DTM's Esports competition returns for 2026 with public ranked splits and €75k prize pool". Traxion.GG. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
  23. ↑ Robinson, Martin (24 October 2014). "RaceRoom is the best racing game you've never heard of". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 30 May 2016.