What is iRacing? Why is it so Popular?

[@efthimiossakarellos7150]

Iracing doesn't have the best graphics, or perfect simulation, or a perfect safety rating system, or the most up to date cars, or the best user experience, and is by far and away the most expensive racing "game" on the market. That being said, no other game can provide the quality of racing that iracing provides every single hour of every day. That alone justifies the price.

[@JohnnyEMatos]

don't be afraid to unquote the word game. All of the sims are just games

[@LowBlow]

Lmao. This logic is completely borked. Why would I want to race a sub-par outdated sim in what little time I have to jump behind the wheel. Let me rattle off a few things about why iRacing is a poor excuse for a driving sim: shoddy tyre models, trash sound, focus on iRating internet points, badly outdated graphics, no rain, no ability to change brake bias, the list goes on. So where are all subscription fees going? Reiza is putting them to shame on the game development front.

[@efthimiossakarellos7150]

@@LowBlow all your points are true, and I agree with you (except brake bias, you definitely can change brake bias in game). I still think iracing offers the best racing experience.

[@edmundojosezuazuachapa1612]

Both asetto corsa’s better. People confuse hard with realistic, cars in iracing don’t even drift. Which is a real life thing

[@SwigerQ86]

@@LowBlow nothing you said even makes sense. lol. All tyre models are different in real life, drivers adapt,. get better speakers, irating pairs you with drivers of the same skill, get a better pc. ,,, and they have break bias lmao.

[@tonesnaps]

this was a great video. thank you for sharing this. I was one of the guy that put it off because of the subscription model. was just gifted a year sub and am so mad that all the money i spent on ACC, RF2, Raceroom, and AMS2 I could've been here the past 3 years. I love iracing.

[@CraigHlavka]

Same.

[@CraigHlavka]

The rating system can be frustrating, but I think at the end of the day it has a way of making you humble, demands clean battles to finish races. Teaches you to admit defeat when necessary and win when you deserve it.

[@landiahillfarm6590]

As a retired simracer/league admin, you gave a great assessment of what iRacing is and does.

[@jassonco]

A service for adults....mostly. I'v tried the other's but, iRacing is the one to rule them all.

[@marvinater7]

Great video. Best thing iracing has going for it the irating system, race any time, and a skill ceiling that almost has no bounds. Irating systems means even if you get into a race with strong drivers you are not punished for doing poorly and rewarded for punching above your skill level With that system, you can also race at anytime of the day and expect to judged on that system, which means you are always competing. Even if your low ir and high sof there is something to gain, or if you are high ir and low sof you still have to compete. and last part the skill ceiling, the math is simple the more time you put in the more success you will have, with almost no limit to that equation. The feeling of always a tenth to gain is very strong and rewarding

[@SwigerQ86]

I got into iracing a couple years ago. it blows everything else out of the water in my opinion, nothing even comes close to the racing experience, track realism, track count, car choice. Its amazing.

[@wild_lee_coyote]

iRacing also has a very active and competitive “starter car” series. This are slower cars like the Mazda Miata MX5 where you can learn race a car. Some sims through you right into the deep end with GT3 cars or F1 cars. iRacing let’s you cut your teeth on cars that force you to refine your line and breaking points without having to worry about aero or complex setups. Some even stay in those cars and race exclusively in them, meaning the competition is always there no mater what your skill level is. One last point I wanted to make is iRacing has a very large international community. Meaning if it is 4 am and you have an itch for some open wheel racing, you can jump on and find a race. Most other games rely on local servers and if it’s at odd hours you may be racing AI. This is great if you work the night shift or live in remote countries where finding racers can be more difficult. It can also help those introverts that just want to race and not try and find a community they are comfortable with.

[@dannyleeracing]

A starter car? This car is a finisher car! A transporter of gods! kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2e1oZyQn5KkeZY

[@Sethsimracing]

That potato meme really got me! 😂 As an avid iRacer, I definitely agree with this take. Also, maybe you should do an updated version of this video since we have fully dynamic weather, 3d curbs, and improved graphics! Just a suggestion.

[@doug_vickers]

Good video Danny. Explains things well indeed. I've been on the service just over 2 years but I don't feel like I have spent that much money really.

[@dannyleeracing]

A tenner here and there definitely pales in comparison to council tax...

[@treygates4636]

As someone who stopped playing iRacing for several years then picked it up again, its worth it. I had originally stopped playing when I realized I really only drove GT cars, which I could get much cheaper with more content by playing ACC. What really drove me back to iRacing was the WTCR and Brazilian stock cars, they are just so much gun to drive.

[@stalksey]

Nice vid! Ahhh I keep getting tempted by iracing. I play everything else, mainly ACC with LFM. This game is calling to me, I may sign up with 40% off and give it 3 months...!

[@keeef23]

You won’t be disappointed. Very different to acc but now iracing is the only game I can enjoy

[@davidius74]

I have only ever been involved in iRacing and only joined June of 2022 after watching for a few months some online friends driving it. I have seen other simulators and while not state of the art in terms of graphics or amount of cars and tracks as some others, it does provide the best racing from what I have seen by watching races of the other sims. Sure there is some morons driving around and don't care about hitting you and causing a loss of safety rating but no matter what game you play online whether it be a driving sim or COD or anything else, there will always be idiots and morons. It is a simple fact that once you go online there is always someone who will be an idiot but iRacing's pricing model helps to keep that out and only serious people (or even casual people wanting some fun without worrying about others ruining their experience) are the ones that will be willing to pay for it and try to race cleanly but still push for as good as they can.

[@RichAbe23]

3:51 comedy gold.

[@creekboi7]

I agree with your review, and it is immersive. Except when theres a poor connection car and they start disappearing and reappearing 10 ft in the sky, bouncing down right in front of you. Daytona 24hr was a great experience.

[@dannyleeracing]

iRacing laggers bounce around, ACC laggers ascend into the air like a plane

[@creekboi7]

@@dannyleeracing both instances make me nervous, but both are the best sims in my opinion though.

[@chiefurxskates]

I really appreciate this breakdown! I’ve been on AC & ACC steady placing top 3 in most races, this is the next step up I was definitely looking for! seasoned drivers, intentional track etiquette, scalability, fairness & ranking with real life opportunities! Thanks again dude! Subbed!

[@Mrfotography]

I have tried almost all the others but iracing is by far the best all rounder. If you want clean, fun online racing in a mixture of cars at any hour of the day. This is it.

[@jimmymiddleton1307]

I mean, there's a reason you see so many real world professionals in there... Max Verstappen, Scott McLaughlin etc... they don't care about the graphics, it's about the realism. Plain and simple. Overall, iRacing is the best of the lot. Maybe not graphically, but in pretty much EVERY other metric, it shows the rest a clean set of heels.

[@jesseolsen6456]

Maybe I missed it, but you missed a big point, you can earn iRacing credits by participating in official series. It's not going to pay for the entire subscription but it is a nice feature.

[@dannyleeracing]

Good point - it's not much, but it's honest work

[@GUN69_]

fair points and I think good review of what iRacing is. In the sim racing world we like to be able to replicate real world. I think something which iRacing does (sadly) very well is replicating the exclusivity of motorsport where often only the richest or the ones with biggest sponsors can survive. Sim racing is an expensive hobby and iRacing certainly bumps the costs even higher. Divisive topic where I think there is no good or bad answer. iRacing wouldn't be there where they are without the subscription model and i think until we - the sim racers - have a choice between sims and the pricing models, then it is good. I would never like to end up in the situation where every sim is subscription based

[@dannyleeracing]

You can race with a very basic wheel, it just means you might be a little bit off your optimum, but you'll usually be placed amongst others who are of the same ability regardless of their equipment/setup

[@ShadowRacing]

While there are other Racing Simulation Games that are perhaps better in terms of the Physics, or Graphics, or something else, I think nothing beats it Online Wise. I've of course never played it, but as someone who races on XBox, it's like a dream to have a lobby without a stupid Rammer.

[@dannyleeracing]

Ram-free living, that's the dream

[@ItsDyss]

Very informative! thank you for this! saw iracing on twitch for the first time yesterday

[@dannyleeracing]

Cheers, could be the start of something special for you!

[@jtburn7862]

I have been on Iracing for over 12 years. The cost for tracks/cars early on is high as you build your content library. As you progress this diminishes drastically to only the occasional new releases. I currently only run one series, so at most 1-2 tracks per year. The subscription's I tend to buy when they offer special deal and purchase 1 or 2 years subscription. I accumulate iracing credits every season that go towards the subscription. I also request iracing gift cards for birthday/Christmas so that helps also. My son is also on the service now and has become faster than me!! I have also made friends online over the years and am currently in a team. When I think of the countless hours of fun/entertainment over the years, especially with my son in recent times it can not be beaten for value. The cost per hour must be very small and getting smaller!! The only add on to this is the equipment and this is a rabbit hole. I have spent a bit as things break etc. I also upgrade equipment. I can only say I do not regret a single purchase as they have added to the immersion and my driving. I can honestly say I would not change a thing and am so glad I joined back in 2010 when Iracing was in its early days and you would be lucky to have a few hundred people online.

[@fervunk1143]

No other game has ever given me the thrill of a good race in iRacing

[@shawndixon4536]

I had a free 3 month subscription to iRacing, and I admit it was fun. But, in 3 months, I only.put in about 12 hours total, if I was lucky. Even now, with 100 games install, around 40+ of those racing/sim racing, I barely get 5 hours a month in. To me, the price to time apent ratio is what is stopping me from renewing. Although, don't get me wrong, at the time I was using my 8 year old again gaming laptop, and I now have a triple monitor and VR setup, with shifter and handbrake. Maybe when I eventually upgrade my Thrustmaster ecosystem I will have the time to invest in it.

[@thefourfourfour9512]

Tbf if you compare the price to an hour or so at the brothel or a few nights out clubbing per yr.... , drinking, uber, food etc.. It's fairly priced and cheap

[@damienfiche2592]

😂

[@LaurenceDusoswa]

Great video Danny! Nice one

[@dannyleeracing]

One of KZbin's choice of 3 quick-response comment buttons said 'Legend!' - who you been paying at YT for that?

[@gmoneyracing]

Great video and spot on…

[@grandadssimracing]

Great video, iracing rocks! Nuf said

[@nicholasr.652]

Hola thanks for the video may check out iracing

[@antoshechka]

Netcode is questionable. When you "hit" a car but on Replay we didn't even touch.

[@dannyleeracing]

No netcode can ever be perfect, but compared to ACC and GT7 it's as precise as can be

[@brettgrieves]

Ive been with iracing 2 years and spent exactly $919 since August 2021. Honestly I dont mind the price. They need to pay for their servers and staff. You cant run a game for free, its not possible. I race formula cars. Ive tried GT its ok, but Im an F1 fan this fits with me.. I cant get away with ACC there are too many glitches with FFB and control bindings. iracing just works and its rock solid. I race in VR on my Varjo and I love it. I just wish I was as fast as the guys who are top of my split. I have not idea where they get their laptimes. Im still between 0.5 and 1 second off their times.

[@dannyleeracing]

Chances are you're 0.5 to 1 second clear of everyone below your split - there's always, ALWAYS someone faster that's for sure

[@RRT_NightShifter1]

Hey Danny I'm looking at moving to PC. I see lots of rigs set up with triple screens. Would I need triple screens as a starter in iRacing?

[@dannyleeracing]

You don't need triple screens, but it does make it slightly easier to see when cars are alongside you. Luckily there's an awesome program called Crew Chief which can help you out massively to know when there's someone beside you - I myself am using a 34" ultrawide monitor that you can see in the background of my live shots, but you can quite happily get going on iRacing with any normal monitor, then build yourself up if/when you get into it

[@RRT_NightShifter1]

@@dannyleeracing thanks for replying. Appreciate the info Danny

[@dannyleeracing]

@@RRT_NightShifter1 Deffo don't worry too much about having loads of kit - throw yourself in and sample it, most people started out that way and you usually have a good feeling or not whether it's your cup of tea. If in doubt, if you happen to live by a sim racing centre (Race Anywhere, Century Sim etc) then that's a cheap way to test out a full-bore setup!

[@rogerviana780]

Ótimo Vídeo!

[@raf444]

I love iRacing, but I havent played it in a loong time, it's just way too unaccessible, I'm ok with a subscription model, I'm ok with a buy your cars and tracks model (like DCS world?) But I'm not ok with both at the same time, it should be one or the other, you either pay a subscription to have access to all the content, or you but the content and can access it any time

[@ewenblack4174]

Got iracing two years ago and haven’t touched anything else since 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@asherwiggin6456]

I'd like to play Iracing but I cannot stand subscription models, add in additional purchases and I'm toast

[@slaphead90]

It's not the subscription that's the problem, nor is buying the content the problem. The problem is having to do both. As I've said before, imagine subscribing to Netflix, but you have to additionally purchase the content you want to watch. iRacing is an ageing sim with an out of date pricing model. I did actually buy a 2 year sub back in August when it was 75% off for new members, but after realising I actually had to buy content after paying for the sub I noped the hell out of there and never installed it - they can keep the 50 bucks or so I paid.

[@KerbYourEnthusiasm]

That’ll show ‘em 🙄

[@dannyleeracing]

If they increased the monthly base subscription to $18 or something, but all cars/tracks were available, would that make a difference? Because it'd probably work out to around the same overall. At this late stage, I only find myself making a car/track purchase every 3 months as I've already got pretty much everything I need, I only buy extra cars/tracks out of curiosity/interest now

[@slaphead90]

@@KerbYourEnthusiasm Damned right it will

[@hippyjason]

​@@slaphead90 Also, you're not factoring in that iRacing gives up to $40 worth of credits per year to pick out the content you want for free. All you have to do is _complete_ 8 out of 12 races in a series (your finishing position doesn't matter). I've been on iRacing 7 years. I'll bet fully half of the iRacing content I own was earned for free just through this participation credit system, and I own 95% of the tracks, and 40% of the cars. Also, if you buy 6 pieces of content at once, you get 20% off. (which is a common beginning of season tactic for most folks.) I've spent maybe $200 a year (which includes the subscription) on iRacing, which is _nothing_ when you realize your computer rig was $1500-2500, and your wheel and pedals are $349, at least. And for that $200, I was pretty much able to race everything I wanted to race after the 3 or 4 season.

[@layingblacklines]

> iRacing is an ageing sim with an out of date pricing model They are starting to update it now I hear. I'm a 10 year member but I unsubbed a few months back. Might give it another go when they start to improve it. For a long time it was the only thing I'd play. I think you sort of get sucked into that mentality because of the cost of it. Like it's either all sims, or iRacing. So since stopping iRacing I've been playing all sims instead. Rediscovered rF2 thanks to LFM and forgot how good sims can actually feel. I think in the past couple years no other game has developed as quickly as rF2. Got a great future. Though so too does iRacing now. Hiring Terrence Groening and a few s397 staff will make a huge difference I think. THey'd become complacent before and were just cashing our cheques without thinking about reinvesting. So it's a good sign they're starting to move.

[@michaelbull2939]

In other words if you have loads of money join in the racing well when people aren't crashing and screaming at you and a lot of cars and tracks can cost 20 quid each so come on all look for yourself

[@dannyleeracing]

It's definitely rough in rookies, that's for sure. Get past the Rookie stage and it's all sunshine!

[@hippyjason]

You can get out of rookies in 6 to 8 races if you keep it on the track, even if you finish last. 10-12 races if you're a bit unlucky, and/or do a lot of lawn mowing/wall testing. Most rookie races are 15 ish minutes long, a few are 25 ish minutes. You can get it done in 2 or 3 evenings worth of racing, easy. Also, tracks are either $14.95/£11 each, or $11.95/£9, and cars are $11.95/£9, not 20 quid as you claim.

[@RogueBeatsARG]

IRacing is a online racing videogame you need to pay monthly and for dlc to enjoy fully

[@dannyleeracing]

And don't forget the most precious and valuable thing of all - TIME

[@RogueBeatsARG]

@@dannyleeracing well the only things that cost you time are the ones that you dont enjoy, i mean going in a vacation doesnt cost you time, but working does

[@Ash_CVR_50]

Having only being sim racing for 3 months, the subscription was one of the cons against Iracing that led me towards AC/ACC. I just don't understand the subscription service and then buying the cars on top. Surely if your subscribing to the game make all the cars included while ever your paying. I keep toying with the Idea of giving it a go, but the GT3 cars/tracks are expensive from when I priced it up. I'll probably give it a go when the subscription drops as it does a certain times of the year and see how the engine holds up to the others I've tried, AM2-ACC-RF2. All of which are rastly different in certain areas. Nice honest review though of points that generally are reflected by most people I've spoken to.

[@dannyleeracing]

If you haven't tried it, your best bet is to do a 1-month sub and just check out what's available for free. Then you haven't thrown money down the drain if you don't like it. You can filter by 'included with membership' here: www.iracing.com/cars/ and here: www.iracing.com/tracks/

[@CaptainDomestic]

As a dad with a job, I have time for exactly one race per night. None of the ACC leagues I found had races at 9:45 New York time. Each series is doing the same track for a full week, so you have time to learn and then feel you have gotten your money out of it. I find it hard enough to learn one car since they feel different, so I don't feel any need to buy a ton of cars. This is a racing game, not a collecting game like Forza Horizon or Gran Tourismo.

[@Ash_CVR_50]

@Ben Martin totally get where you coming from. Similar position for myself. Luckily I run my own ACC team with a server so it's not too bad on the racing front. What I was getting at is AC for instance if I'm feeling a 98 style brittish touring car race I can just hop into it. However iracing wants nearly 8-10 GBP for a car. This puts people off trying new things and thus series in the long run.

[@rkwjunior2298]

Back in the old days you earned new cars and levels etc etc. Now you have to pay? Someone is sitting back getting rich and laughing at you all. Joke. You keep paying they keep charging.

[@jonjacob1962]

So. You're looking at what...? 5 to 10 GRAND for a decent computer/monitor/steering wheel/pedal setup. Then another few grand over the course of your racing career for cars and tracks. Plus, there is a membership fee just to race the stock tracks and cars. And this is supposed to be the affordable option? Like I get that compared to the real thing, yes, this is FAR more affordable. But this is FAR FROM being something your average Joe can really get into... I'd MUCH rather spend 500 bucks on a PS5 and 70 to 80 on the newest Nascar or whatever other racing game and have FAR better graphics and a LOT fewer middle aged Ken's crying about someone not letting them pass... But it's cool... I guess...

[@youngyingyang]

Buy AMS2 instead, better graphics, FFB. tyre model, tons of cars and tracks to choose from.... and MUCH cheaper. It might not be perfect on all front yes, but it's slowly but surely getting there...

[@mika-racing]

iracing is all about the online competition. Great graphics and a cheap price is nice, but when you look for competitive racing and a good matchmaking system, there’s just no better place to be.

[@jonhartley7238]

WSS on AC/ACC works pretty nicely