iRacing Review 2023: The Ultimate Sim Racing Experience

[@ProSimRacing]

I haven't been on iRacing for over a year. I'll probably try to get back into it so I could do endurance races with you guys again. Great video as always buddy.

[@orionexplorer]

To put it simple I have most of the major racing titles from today and yesterday. In 18 months of indoor karting, I spent over $10,000. That was for practice time, races and full set of safety gear. I figure since November 2009 I have spent about $4,000 to $5,000 on iRacing. That also includes an entire setup of Fantatec racing equipment. No matter what I may try to run I ALWAYS go back to iRacing. It gives me the best sense of racing than any other title, it's just the best.

[@POP7QWIZ]

iRacing has also been doing a better job with audio recently because they've recently updated their in game audio engine.

[@wild_bill25]

This video is very misleading in my humble opinion. Most of the content (series/cars) mentioned in this video cannot be utilized outside of practice and/or leagues unless you have a license that allows it. These advanced licenses are not easy to obtain. It’s also rather expensive.

[@MrBrodyKnob]

Great review. Nice breakdown. Very informative. Thanks!

[@SiCaRiI_DaGgEr]

Very good detailed breakdown. I joined IR'ing when it 1st launched. I enjoyed the updated review!

[@jamesdowling8246]

Would love to see an AMS 2 review after the big update in June.

[@Z0rak555]

It will be the same as it always is after every other ‘big update’ it’s had

[@scottpolston6137]

You know I am going to check that out I have AMS2 and most of the dlc I guess I'll be going for a nurbergring run tonight I know they added some cars

[@jcchaconjr]

My approach to iRacing’s content is simple - with so many series now running multiple cars, do you REALLY need to buy all of them if you have a favorite among them? I mean, if you’re a GT3 Porsche fan, do you see yourself driving the Ferrari? Then why buy it? My other approach is to just buy things in groups to get those discounts… if you are new and just coming up the ranks, it’s good idea to focus on and just get the content (tracks) that you need to fulfill a specific series, and as fun as it sounds to take on multiple series/licenses at a time, it will be easier on your wallet if you take it one at a time.

[@TheSimpit]

For sure, you don't need to buy all the content iRacing has. My advice has always been, find your favorite cars and stick with them and then buy tracks at the beginning of a season. If there is a car that you are interested in, wait until it is on the test server and try it then.

[@jasmijnariel]

You can only try it when you buy it... so yeah... costs a lot

[@IvebenKruzen]

Great job Shaun on providing all the great information on the second best racing game... 😀😇

[@boblatouche2273]

What is number 1

[@boblatouche2273]

@@Fred_08 Where can i find mods?

[@stevegek]

I have a pc with water cooling and RGB. Can run F1 23 on max graphics smoothly. And I STILL like the iRacing looks better. They're not fancy, but at least they're way closer to realism. If I take a screenshot from F1 23 and iRacing into photoshop, it would take me much less time to make the iRacing one look like an actual photo... Anyway, I should start doing iRacing gheh. Thx for the review!

[@X1erra]

Don't worry about whether you're biased or not; this is the best in-depth review of iRacing so far. You've swayed my thoughts about netcode, and you've hit the nail in the head for the cons. For all my complaints about ghost touches, it is very stable. As for the cons, the highly competitive nature and unfriendliness really hits me when I realize that I'm basically doing yet another ranked matchmaking with no choice for unranked races(!), which I feel is a big bummer. Oh. And no, you can't host your own server. Huge L for us tight on cash. Make sure to take notes on what you can't do in iRacing without paying up.

[@TheSimpit]

Couldn't agree more!

[@GiosSimCorner]

There is nothing like getting ready for a race do great in Qualifying then get rear-ended in turn 1 and your race is over.

[@thefourfourfour9512]

sounds like a Formula 4 race

[@bmwM3M5M6]

100% true ! 💯👍🏁

[@E-MicahC2]

nice video

[@scorps0326]

I attempted iracing about 8 months ago. It took a substantial amount of time to download all the content, the UI was confusing as hell, and having to purchase even the most basic cars to get racing was ridiculous in my book. BUT... I enjoy competitive racing. Sim racing needs structure to be competitive fun while "fair". Especially in organised racing. I didn't realise it had a updated UI, livery editor and I guess the barrier to entry keeps out the casual racers to a degree. I'll have to give it another go. Question, if you cancel / hold your membership, can you re-sign up and keep all your content? Or start from scratch again? Solid review.

[@vt6020]

You just need to renew your membership and you should be good to go.

[@scorps0326]

@@vt6020 thanks heaps!

[@heikoscheuermann]

Your questions is already answered, so i'll add this: If you enjoy and want proper competitive racing with a proper rulebook and little carnage then you could/should try one of the simpit leagues. iRacing is good, the league is good and the simpit welcomes drivers at every level. the road-league was even split into PRO and AM to give the slower drivers more or less their own competition and a chance to win something, too. i would say those are makings of competitive and fun racing. If you're up for it, the boys are happy about every single driver that joins the fun.

[@scorps0326]

@@heikoscheuermann appreciate the info!

[@billdaily1502]

The audio in iRacing reminds me of what things would sound like while wearing a helmet...just my take on that.

[@Clearly69]

I want to get back into multiplayer sim racing but cheaters have always turned me off in other sims, especially after winning a race & accusing me of cheating which I know nothing about, (Project Cars) at the time. Lame graphics in iRacing doesn't turn me off as much as cheaters have in other sim's. Would like to join iRacing one day when my sim is complete but don't know if there is cheating or not?

[@seebarry4068]

For me I like playing with others that don’t want chaos and carnage throughout the race.

[@JayZroad]

OMG the money i spent on this game 😂.... ownig almost all content. Still the best experience of any simracing platform

[@waynewatt8483]

i have never seen options to pay monthly or 3 monthly the only option i ever get is 2 years

[@nflisrigged1395]

Yea , I'm back It's got it hooks in me again. The game does look and sound way better! I saw a new dirt track Lincoln I'll definitely be getting that.

[@jassonco]

I might be an OG Gen X'er but, when I hear iRacing being called a "game" I fuckin see RED. I don't spend thousands of dollars on a "game" and all the high end equipment to enjoy it properly (it's still more affordable than a real racecar & I turn wrenches everyday). If I wanted to "game" I'd still be on console. iRacing is a service people. Is it dated AF, hell yes but, it's still king. iRacing's biggest issues are, as always is, content and waiting for content ie "soon" was the saying back when and that leads to it being boring at times but, when I get into my rig, that's my happy place :)

[@VRiRacer216]

😊

[@heikos4264]

There is no King, only your prefered sim that ticks the majority your personal boxes.

[@jassonco]

@@heikos4264 of course there's other racing but, iRacing is the one that rules them all.

[@heikos4264]

@@jassonco iRental being king is neither established fact nor the opinion of the whole sim racing community. I can't find a poll that asked every single simracer on the planet which sim is king or which sim rules them all. I was not asked, my team mates weren't asked, my neighbor wasn't asked, not even my mom was asked to vote. iRental being king is just your personal OPINION, nothing more and nothing less. If you would have written something like 'it is my main sim, so to me personally it is king.' that would have been instantly accepted, zero discussion. But you're acting like it must be king to everyone and to be frankly, that is BS.

[@jassonco]

@@heikos4264 if you don't care for iRacing, fine, that's your prerogative the discussion is IRacing. If you prefer your controller, maybe there's a special place for you on the special bus to the special school, so let's the adults talk honestly about the current topic.

[@javitotito]

Me wanty

[@tonygee3284]

i racing the best

[@scottpolston6137]

This is wild so you gotta pay 14.99 a month and then on top of that you gotta pay at least 11.99 per car Jesus Christ yeah this is messed up I don't care how good it is it's not worth all that man no way no way I'll stick to Forza and assetto

[@jasmijnariel]

Yep, for 15 a month i want to have it all available. Imagine buying a netflix abo and then have to pay 10 more dollar for every vid you watch😂

[@LargeFry1]

iracing is punt-tastic

[@dannybee05]

Lol why is your wheel so high up? It's like forehead level 😂

[@jasmijnariel]

I think he loves midget car racing😏😉

[@lilibordei721]

How can ypu race looking up like that it makes no sense lol

[@jasmijnariel]

I dont pay a ton of money for dull boring graphics. It may be realistic but for that money i can buy all other racing games in existance😂

[@2BachShakur]

I’m sorry but this game just takes the piss. No way it’s worth a recurring subscription. You can get the same (if not better) fidelity and quality out of a plethora of other sims that give you a full package with one payment. People that buy into this are delusional and, unfortunately, getting scammed by a greedy company.

[@Nineteenfivepointfive]

In some things you are straight up lying. I can't take you seriously. It's not even that I hate Iracing. I hate people who are just not telling the truth about a outdated and broken product that is way to over priced.

[@orionexplorer]

As an iRacing member dating back to November 2009 I will say this about it, if it is too pricey for you then don't look there, if the graphics are what you are looking for go somewhere else. If you are looking for a realistic racing sim and accuracy in the track and the cars are important then iRacing is the best. You sound like so many haters that I have heard over the years. The product is NOT broken as you say but may be too intense or realistic in product development for some of the gamers who bash iRacing. I not only own iRacing but also Assetto Corsa, Assetto Corsa Competizione, Project Cars 1 & 2, rFactor 1 & 2, Automobilista 1, Stockcar Extreme, Simbin's GT Racing 1 & 2, GT Legends, and the complete collection of Race07 titles, and last but not least one of the titles that got me into sim racing: Sports Car GT. I forgot I also have the following F1 titles from CodeMaster's: F1 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 & F1 22. So, you can see that I have a VERY large collection of racing titles, but the one I always go to is iRacing. All of those other titles I can pick up and start racing without much practice where iRacing I have to practice each week to get up to speed so I can race what I want.

[@jasmijnariel]

​@@orionexplorerexactly that last point is not possible for most people... being busy, not having tons of money...

[@matthewbeale8570]

Does klauss and the wef own iracing? "you'll own nothing and be happy"... 🤣

[@SiCaRiI_DaGgEr]

Und you vill et ze bugz! 😝