rFactor2 Guides

Here you will find various instructions for installing and handling rFactor2.

A) Install rFactor2

1. Open Steam and head to the shop page

2. Enter “rfactor2” in the search box of the shop page and click on “rFactor 2”

3. Then scroll down a little on the rFactor 2 shop page until you see the green button “Into the shopping cart” and click on it.

4. Via the shopping cart you can then complete your order either with the Steam Credit or with another common payment method with a click on “Buy for myself”.

5. Pay and install

Now follow the SteamShop’s instructions to complete your purchase. The simulation is then installed on its own and is located in your library. From there you can start it at any time.

B) install rFactor 2 additional content/ DLCs

Additional content or so-called DLC’s are additional content published by the manufacturer for the already purchased software. We could also talk about enlargements. In our case, we limit ourselves to the GT3 pack and GT3 Challengers pack with various BoP optimized vehicles.

1. Open Steam and go to the rFactor 2 store page

2. Scroll down until the item “Items available in the shop” appears and click on it

3. In the next view you select the item “All” to get an ordered view of all articles

4. Click through the page selection up to the two GT3 packs

5. Click on the “GT3-Pack” and it opens the following page. Click there on “Into the shopping cart”

6. A pop-up window opens in which you click on “Continue shopping”

7. Now repeat the 4+5 process for the GT3 Challengers Pack

Now finish your purchase by following the on-screen instructions. The purchased items will be downloaded and installed on their own after payment. You can see the progress of the installation/download by clicking on “Downloads” in the middle of the lower window.

D) rFactor 2 Cloud setting in Steam

Steam has a data backup feature via the Steam Cloud Synchronization. The Steam cloud synchronizes various game files between the local installation and the content backed up in the cloud.

This usually works quite well, but is a hindrance if you make various settings in the settings files or if you want to restore a settings file from an older backup you created yourself.

In the past, there were sometimes problems with online races. We recommend switching off the function and creating a manual backup from time to time.

1. Right-click on “rFactor2” in the Steam library and then on Settings

2. Select the “Updates” tab in the settings menu

Now you can deactivate the SteamCloud by unchecking the item “Activate Steam Cloud Synchronization for rFactor 2”.

D) Fix rFactor 2 startup problems with Steam

There are two settings in Steam that you should know. Due to your own online connection and other interference, files downloaded from Steam can be installed corrupted on your system. Then the simulation no longer starts. You can read here how to repair files with a Steam tool.

1. Open your Steam library and right click on “rFactor2”

In the opened menu you select the item “Properties”. A new window is opening up.

2. In the tab “Local files” you can now select the item “Check files for errors …”

E) rFactor 2 settings files

Some specific settings can only be made with rFactor 2 using 3 configuration files. You can find out where you can find these files and what their names are here.

Please note that these settings can only be made when rFactor 2 has been completely started at least once and you have been on a route.

1. Open your steam library and right click on “rFactor 2”

2. Select the “Local Files” tab and then “Browse Local Files”

Then a Windows Explorer window opens in which the installation folder of rFactor 2 is already open.

3. Now change to the “UserData / player” directory in the installation folder

In this folder you will find the 3 settings files of rFactor2.

Controller.JSON = Settings file for controller settings / steering wheel settings

Multiplayer.JSON = Settings for multiplayer online races (should be kept without changes if possible)

player.JSON = Settings for single player mode and general settings of rFactor 2

Don’t worry! About 99% of all settings can be reached and easily changed via the simulation software interface. There are 2-3 settings that every driver should still know. These are described in the next points.

F) rFactor 2 * .JSON file settings

Since the options in the settings files can be changed to 90% inGame and the enormous range of settings would go beyond the scope here, we explain the recommended setting as an example.

Make a backup copy of the “unchanged” * .JSON files before you make any settings. As can be seen in the pictures, this can be done by simply copying and pasting in the “player directory”.

Important! The file that contains the desired settings and should be active must be called like the original files “Controller.JSON”, “Multiplayer.JSON” and “player.JSON”!

1. Open the installation folder as described under F) and navigate to the directory “UserData \ player”

2. Now open the Controller.JSON file with a double click.

In the Windows window that opens, select “Select a program from a list of installed programs” and confirm the selection by clicking “OK”

3. In the next window, select “Editor” as the program for opening the * .JSON files

Again, you confirm the selection with “OK”.

4. Find the item “Alternate Neutral Activation” of the Controller.JSON

We recommend using the word “false” (without “”) instead of the word “true“. This setting prohibits the simulation from selecting the neutral gear while pressing the “upshift” and “downshift” buttons / padels.

Experience has shown that this setting is recommended for all steering wheels where it is possible to press both padels at the same time.

Now save the file with the shortcut “Ctrl + S” and close the editor.

5. Open the Multiplayer.JSON file with a double click

Find the line “Allow Chat in Car“. “True” is entered here by default. This means that you can call and use the chat / quickchat with the “T” key with standard key assignment. However, all other messages generated by the simulation are also shown here. This includes, for example, joining or leaving drivers. There are drivers who distract these messages.

If you don’t want to see the chat in the vehicle and use instead of “true” – “false” here. This attitude is a matter of taste.

In general, all settings of Multiplayer.JSON in the first section “Multiplayer General Settings” can be used by the driver. We do not recommend making any further settings here.

Save the Multiplayer.JSON with the shortcut “Ctrl + S” and close the editor.

6. Open the player.JSON file with a double click

Find the item “Repeat Shifts“. A “0” is entered here by default. This means that the simulation also allows multiple switching operations in close succession at any time.

We recommend a setting between 1 and 4 to prevent downshifting too early by “bouncing the switch” on the steering wheel pad.

Now save the player.JSON with the shortcut “Ctrl + S” and close the editor.