Dakar Desert Rally v1.4 Adds Extended Map Dakar Rallies, More Wheel Support, Fixes Force Feedback

As recently previewed, Saber Porto have released their Dakar Desert Rally 1.4 patch, fixing a number of issues with steering wheel support, force feedback, AI behavior, handling on Bikes and Quads, and includes the first free DLC release. While I am very happy to see the list of wheels extended in the notes (below), I don’t yet know whether this includes support for different manufacturers (for example a Fanatec pedal set with a Thrustmaster wheel), or whether this only fixes those input devices for users who use on-brand devices only.

The DLC extends the Saudi Arabia map as promised in the pre-release roadmap, adding complete simulation events from Dakar Rally 2020, Dakar Rally 2021, and Dakar Rally 2022. It is free, so grab is on the Steam store. Just how big are the new rallies? Well, the 2020 event is listed as 5110km over 12 stages. I’ve photoshopped together all the stages onto the map below so you can see how far just this one 2020-edition Dakar Rally extends across the map.

Not sure if you want to buy Dakar Desert Rally? Well… I love it (bear in-mind I had no issues with bugs or controllers). You can read my review for more information.

Changelog:

New Content

Saudi Arabia Extended Map DLC simulation events (Dakar Rally 2020, Dakar Rally 2021, Dakar Rally 2022), see the full list of events below.

New Features

Added “Free Custom Play”, also known as “Quickplay” in the Free mode menu
Implemented “Note Passed” message in the HUD for better navigation

General

Improved AI to help bots overtake players and their driving behavior
Improvements with Bike handling to have better counter steering
Improvements with Quad handling for more stability and counter steering
In Pro or Simulation mode, implemented the “Note Passed” message in the HUD
Fix for country flags in profiles

Wheel Support

Thrustmaster T248
Thrustmaster T-GT
Thrustmaster T-GT2
Thrustmaster TMX
Thrustmaster TS-XW
Thrustmaster T80
Thrustmaster T150
Thrustmaster T300
Thrustmaster T300RS
Thrustmaster TX
Thrustmaster F430
Thrustmaster F458
Logitech G27
Logitech G29
Logitech G920
Logitech G923
Fanatec CSL Elite
Fanatec CSL Elite (WRC)
Support for Steering Wheel H-Pattern and Steering Wheel Hand Brakes with supported brands
Force Feedback Support was added to all supported wheels

Multiplayer

Fixed issues with vehicle lights not being on or off
Fixed trying to spectate your team when the car was already destroyed
Fixed that the spectator camera is placed under the textures and doesn’t switch between users after finishing the race
Fixed penalties not being added to clients when far from the host
Fixed vehicle velocity not being updated when the client vehicle is far from the host
Fixed the helicopter behind the client when starting
Fixed when spectator joins race and music was not playing
Fixed “Racing Music Playlist” not starting when a spectator joins a race

Saudi Arabia Extended DLC Stages

DAKAR RALLY 2020

Stage 1 – JEDDAH – AL WAJH
Stage 2 – AL WAJH – NEOM
Stage 3 – NEOM – NEOM
Stage 4 – NEOM – AL-ULA
Stage 5 – AL-ULA – HA’IL
Stage 6 – HA’IL – RIYADH
Stage 7 – RIYADH – WADI AL DAWASIR
Stage 8 – WADI AL DAWASIR – WADI AL DAWASIR
Stage 9 – WADI AL DAWASIR – HARADH
Stage 10 – HARADH – SHUBAYTAH
Stage 11 – SHUBAYTAH – HARADH
Stage 12 – HARADH – QIDDIYA

DAKAR RALLY 2021

Stage 1 – JEDDAH – BISHA
Stage 2 – BISHA – WADI AD-DAWASIR
Stage 3 – WADI AD-DAWASIR – WADI AD-DAWASIR
Stage 4 – WADI AD-DAWASIR – RIYADH
Stage 5 – RIYADH – BURAYDAH
Stage 6 – BURAYDAH – HA’IL
Stage 7 – HA’IL – SAKAKA
Stage 8 – SAKAKA – NEOM
Stage 9 – NEOM – NEOM
Stage 10 – NEOM – AL ULA
Stage 11 – AL ULA – YANBU
Stage 12 – YANBU – JEDDAH

DAKAR RALLY 2022

Stage 1 – HA’IL – HA’IL
Stage 2 – HA’IL – AL ARTAWIYAH
Stage 3 – AL ARTAWIYAH – AL QAISUMAH
Stage 4 – AL QAISUMAH – RIYADH
Stage 5 – RIYADH – RIYADH
Stage 6 – RIYADH – RIYADH
Stage 7 – RIYADH – AL-DAWADIMI
Stage 8 – AL-DAWADIMI – WADI AD-DAWASIR
Stage 9 – WADI AD-DAWASIR – WADI AD-DAWASIR
Stage 10 – WADI AD-DAWASIR – BISHA
Stage 11 – BISHA – BISHA
Stage 12 – BISHA – JEDDAH

Here is the roadmap, detailing what is still to come this year and beyond: