Back in 2022, iRacing published their first venture outside of their core sim racing service, with the first licensed dirt racing title developed by Monster Games. As a more accessible option utilising some of the shared assets and technology of iRacing, it must have done fairly well as a sequel was released in 2024, including a PC version. But why isn’t World of Outlaws: Dirt Racing on Game Pass? Or PlayStation Plus?
There were two logical reasons for iRacing to acquire Monster Games and have them develop licensed titles for console releases. The first is that The World of Outlaws, NASCAR and other official series have a core player base on Xbox and PlayStation that would buy them. And the second is that by introducing iRacing as a publisher, and sharing cars, tracks and other assets, it could help attract people across to PC sim racing and the core iRacing sim itself.
At this point, anyone who would have been keen to pick up World of Outlaws Dirt Racing 24 as a fan of the real championships is likely to have already done it. So at this point, it makes more sense to use it as an entry point for casual PC racing game and console fans to start considering iRacing itself.
And Xbox/PC Game Pass seems like a very natural fit. There’s a working relationship with Microsoft and iRacing partnering on AI projects, and a lack of decent racing games available right now.
PlayStation Plus currently includes Assetto Corsa Competizione and MotoGP 25, along with the older FIA European Truck Racing and WRC Generations, for those who want more of a motorsport experience rather than arcade racing.
By contrast, Game Pass has Forza Motorsport (which is on life support now), F1 24 and EA Sports WRC. Along with a lot of older EA games (Dirt 5, F1 23, GRID Legends and lots of Need for Speed titles). But frustratingly as a PC gamer, achievements aren’t available for any EA Play titles. And once you’re done with Forza Motorsport, that leaves an older F1 game, or the final GRID title from 2022.
And the pricing also stops people from taking a chance on World of Outlaws. The second Dirt Racing 24 is currently discounted to £22.95 digitally for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S or £49.99 for the Gold Edition, £20.10 for the only PC version (the Gold Edition), or a bonkers £47.65 on Amazon.
It’s designed for racing with a controller, features 51 tracks and all the classes from Micro Sprints to Big Block Modifieds, and is either impossible to find in a physical edition outside the U.S or still priced fairly high digitally. Put it on Game Pass with working achievements across console and PC, and there’s a good chance plenty of people who have never even heard of World of Outlaws will give it a try. Especially with more of a focus on single player than iRacing.
I’d certainly be tempted to try it out, especially for those times I want a quick virtual racing fix without jumping into the sim rig or the pressure of maintaining my iRating when I’m not familiar with dirt racing. And ironically, when I first tried iRacing with a controller, dirt ovals provided me with some of my first podiums and wins because it was more accessible than road racing. And it could fill that role better than Forza Motorsport did.
World of Outlaws: Dirt Racing 24 Gold Edition is available for the PC via Steam. The Standard and Gold Editions are also available for the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S via the Microsoft Store, and the PS4 and PS5 via the PlayStation Store. On the Switch, you’ll have to stick to the previous World of Outlaws ’23 Edition via the Nintendo eShop.
And you can keep up with all the latest World of Outlaws: Dirt Racing 24 news, updates and more, here.
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