For the last few months, we have been working hard on the DRIFT21 multiplayer mode, and today we are ready to give you a chance to check the results of our work. Take into account that this is the first version of the multiplayer mode - there may still be some elements to refine. We are still working on improving the multiplayer mode, e.g. we are working on full support for the cars created in the garage or preparing new types of events.
We care about your feedback and impressions. You can share them in the dedicated Steam Forum thread or on our Discord server on the #suggestions and #multiplayer-test-chat channels in the "Multiplayer Test Area". If you run into any problems and errors related to connecting to the game, performance, or gameplay itself, please let us know. We will try to help you and will also take your feedback into account in further development.
How to access the closed_beta branch:
- Right-click on Drift21 in your Steam library and select "Properties".
- Select the "BETAS" tab at the top of the properties window.
- Enter the access code: YUy9pLYrGyDEQFDF, and click the "CHECK CODE" button.
- Select "multiplayer" from the drop-down list.
Below you will find some additional information about the tests.
A few words about the concept of multiplayer mode in DRIFT21
The main goal while working on multiplayer mode was for us to create a place where players will have full control over the session and experience. That's why we decided on a model, in which the practice mode acts as a kind of lobby.
Inside such a session you can, of course, freely move on the map, create tandems, accumulate drifting points, talk. For those who want to "compete" we will soon launch a module called "events". Every player in the session will be able to join the event. For the time of the event, players who are not interested will not see these rivals and vice versa. As for the events themselves - for testing purposes, you will soon have access to the simplest type, a kind of Free For All, in which players with the whole course at their disposal must compete with other players. The winner is the one who scores the most Drift Points within the set time. Of course, expect more event types. We are still working on them :)
Control over the multiplayer session
To better manage your session, in addition to text chat, we have also provided several commands and functions, for example:
- Voting or forcing a map change
- Voting or forcing the removal of a player
- Host permissions transfer
- Displaying and pinning messages
- Resetting the position
- Collision on/off
- Hiding messages from individual/all players
- Display or change session password
Some of the commands are available only to the session host.
What do we want to achieve during these tests?
We are very interested in your opinion so we will accept any feedback :)
- How do you rate the performance of the game in a multiplayer session? Does the game work worse in this mode?
- How do you rate the synchronization in multiplayer sessions? Do you have any problems with lags?
- Is there any functionality that you think is missing in multiplayer mode?
- Is the state of Tandem (appearing in case of parallel drifting cars) clear to you? Maybe you need more visual clues?
What else are we working on?
- We are optimizing the performance of the game in multiplayer mode
- We are improving the spectator mode (due to errors we had to temporarily turn it off)
- We are preparing new types of events
- We are working on full support for the cars created in the garage
- We improve user experience and support for different controllers in a multiplayer session