News DiRT Rally 2.0’s co-driver calls recorded 3 times for maximum authenticity

DiRT Rally‘s co-driver calls are genre leading thanks to Codemasters’ method of recording the co-driver under physical stress to mimic the real-world forces felt when seated in a rally car. It proved so successful in fact, that Codemasters are using the technique once again for DiRT Rally 2.0.

The physical stress is provided by a d-box motion system which translates any motion and vibration to the user greatly enhancing the experience and immersion.

However, to capture the gamut of stress in the co-driver calls, Codemasters record their co-driver calls three times: firstly under no stress, secondly with medium stress (the most common heard in-game), and thirdly with the d-box turned up to its maximum.

Phil Mills (who won the 2003 WRC championship as Petter Solberg’s co-driver) had the arduous task (along with others) of calling out the stages while at the mercy of the d-box. You can get an idea of the level of vibration provided by a d-box in the clip below featuring Mills.

To make the experience as authentic as possible, co-drivers wear their helmets and the recording is taken from the co-driver’s mic (this is also true of the World RX spotter found within DiRT Rally 2.0).

Codemasters is also looking to further improve the co-driver experience by getting their co-drivers to introduce the first couple of corners before the off, something which Phil Mills used to do for real with Petter Solberg. Eagle-eyed viewers may have also noticed that DiRT Rally 2.0 will borrow DiRT 4’s “stop by the marshall” at the end of the stage further immersing you in the world of rally.

Needless to say, we’re excited for DiRT Rally 2.0 after awarding DiRT Rally the winner of “Best Game” in our Racing Game of the Year Awards 2017. Codemasters’ upcoming rally racer will slide onto the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on February 26, 2019.