“A major step forward”. "Our Biggest Update". It is in these terms that the development team of BeamNG.drive qualifies the last update of the game, the 0.27. “Our team worked hard for more than two years with the aim of offering this revolutionary experience”. 2 years of work, supported by experts in off-road riding. The result: a new map, 5 new vehicles, and ultra-realistic physics of the shock absorbers that equip them.
Johnson Valley: dunes, sand, for a unique off-road experience
The new map is called Johnson Valley. It is inspired by real decorations of Southern California and nearby Kelso Dunes. This flamboyant landscape measures 10 km² and features an abundance of obstacles: rocky paths, winding dirt tracks, dunes, and, for drag racing enthusiasts, the most long straight asphalt road available in the game.
Several points of interest can be found on the map, an almost city-sized RV lot, a ranch, a garage, and a Tyrannos gas station. Created from scratch by the developers, they have been up to interview locals and other lost visitors for inspiration. The main relief was generated using specific terrain generation and erosion tools. Then the paths were carved manually, meter by meter. This was followed by a huge optimization work, since the map had a density of details 16 times greater than the “Italy” environment (which is already the richest in the game). Johnson Valley finished, it's time to go explore it with the 5 new vehicles.
SP Dunkicker
The SP Dunekicker is based on authentic racing trucks, whether for its wheelbase, track width, engine power, suspension or weight distribution. Several Baja rally experts and enthusiasts were involved in the development.
SP Rock Basher
Undoubtedly the craziest vehicle of this update 0.27, inspired rock bouncers, the Rock Basher is available in two different designs: A solid axle version and another with independent suspension. This vehicle is perfect for in-depth exploration of the rocky areas of Johnson Valley.
Autobello Autobuggy
This small compact buggy has a chassis using the new BeamNG.drive suspensions. Its ground clearance will allow you, as with the Rock Basher, to cover all corners of Johnson Valley.
Autobello Stambecco
A rugged utility offered with a 4x4 or 6x6 drivetrain, comes with a choice of turbocharged petrol or diesel engines… and a number of different body styles, like fire engine gear. Its high ground clearance is made possible by its portal hubs. It is ideal for crossing operations.
And the icing on the cake? The Stambecco is THE first vehicle to offer dynamic tire pressure control that can be controlled directly in the cockpit. Enough to go from the road to the rocks without asking questions.
FPU Wydra
“This all-terrain vehicle looks more like a kayak disguised as a car” prefer to laugh at the developers. This is the first vehicle from BeamNG.drive to use a centrifugal automatic clutch, and to be amphibious. It's no powerhouse with an 3cc 800-cylinder turbo powering all 3 wheels (also available as a 8x4). Its high center of gravity gives it a totally crazy ride, but really fun.
New gas shock absorbers
BeamNG.drive has always been characterized by an extreme physics simulation for a video game. And the developers always go further. This time, gas shock absorbers have evolved.
“Simulating the bypass dampers is an important step towards achieving our goal of providing the most authentic driving experience possible” justify the developers.
To meet the progressive damping characteristics (fast, medium, and slow compression) needed for off-road racing applications, real-world shocks are both position and velocity sensitive. The developers therefore switched from a shock absorption system based on the damping rate to a system based on the speed of the shock.
This method simulates the fluid bypassing the damper piston and changes the speed of the damping curve. This is important because bypass shocks are very soft over small bumps, allowing the suspension to flex and adapt to the terrain. When the vehicle hits a big bump, the bypass damper kicks in and keeps the suspension from bottoming out while lifting the chassis in preparation for the next one. That's why desert vehicles can float over massive whoops and holes, like in this video where Ken Block goes over 180 km/h on rutted terrain:
And what else in this update 0.27 of BeamNG.drive?
Long story short, the developers have overhauled braking energy recovery on EVs and added 31 missions across 5 maps, including two new mission types (a Collect mode, and an Evade Mission mode where you'll have to escape the police).
In terms of graphics, the Bloom effect has been redesigned "to produce a more authentic and visually appealing effect". Finally, it is now possible to refuel at service stations. This feature is currently experimental.