KartRider: Drift Closed Beta 3 Q&A

Wompala

Hello there, Racers!

At the beginning of November, we asked our community to send us their questions about KartRider: Drift and our upcoming third Closed Beta, and our community response was amazing. We received so many awesome questions and today we are happy to share this Q&A video where Community Manager Wompala and Production Coordinator Spiderbox will answer your questions with information provided from the KartRider: Drift development team.



And for your convenience, these questions and answers have been transcribed below as well.

Q: Will there be maps unique to this game instead of updated from previous KartRider games?

A: Yes, there will be 17 new tracks available for Closed Beta 3.

Q: KartRider has an extensive history of tracks and characters. How many tracks and characters from the original game are headed to KartRider: Drift?

A: The benefit of a long history is that we know what worked well and what didn’t. We’re planning to bring lots of player favorite tracks and characters reinterpreted with their original souls intact. As an example, during this Closed Beta, you will see similar tracks reimagined in different themes.

Q: How many total tracks, characters, karts and customization options will be available in Closed Beta 3?

A: There will be a total of 33 tracks, 7 characters, 22 karts, and 55 kart customization options available for Closed Beta 3.

Q: How are we getting new karts? Are we going to have a shop like back in the old days or a Gachapon system?

A: Players will be able to earn karts by participating in in-game events, clearing missions in License Mode and completing Racing Pass challenges for rewards.

Q: Will this game have a friend system and what will it be like? Can we invite friends into a group to join matches?

A: Yes, there will be a friend system and you will be able to add friends from all platforms once your account is linked. This will allow players to create parties with friends, and match with and against each other. In addition, once a party is created, players can communicate through voice chat.

Q: Will matchmaking be based on skill level?

A: The Matchmaking system in KartRider: Drift is based on skill level and regional latency. This system will use data that checks the Racer's skills such as play record, winning average, and their License Mode mission rating for Racers to compete with others appropriate to their skill level. Issues due to latency will be minimized by checking the distance between players' servers, to ensure Racers are able to show off their skills on the track!

Q: What are the focus areas of this Closed Beta, and why isn't it just an open beta?

A: Closed Beta 3 will focus on testing the technical aspects of KartRider: Drift, which will require a limited number of maximum concurrent players to secure a stable testing environment. We also need dedicated testers to collect meaningful feedback for the changes we have made since Closed Beta 2.

Q: Will all karts be customizable in Closed Beta 3?

A: Yes, players will be able to customize karts with accessories and they can create custom designs to place on their karts through the Livery system.

Q: Will there be more variety of items in Item Mode races, either universally or kart-specific?

A: No, items are the same but controls for some of the items have been changed. When using attack items such as launchers and magnets, you will need to press once to lock on to the target, and then press again to use the item.

Q: Since KartRider: Drift will be on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC, will the controls be optimized to mouse/keyboard or only to Xbox/PlayStation gamepads?

A: KartRider: Drift is optimized to all PC, Xbox and PlayStation controls.

Q: Will there be a racing pass in Closed Beta 3? If so, will it unlock at a faster rate? Or will how it appears be the finalized version for when the game launches?

A: KartRider: Drift's Racing Pass will be available in Closed Beta 3. This Racing Pass will have a series of Normal and Premium Challenge missions that can be completed to lock in game items during Closed Beta 3. It has been set up to be completed in about 2 days during the Closed Beta. We hope you get to experience the various items in KartRider: Drift through the Racing Pass.

Q: For Closed Beta 3 will there be any promotional/permanently missable items that I have to worry about, even cosmetic items and icons?

A: For in-game rewards available during the Closed Beta, please keep an eye on the KartRider: Drift website for more info coming soon. While all data will be wiped when Closed Beta 3 ends, everyone who participates in this Closed Beta will receive the 'Pit Chief Brodi' character skin when the game officially launches!

Q: Has the game had additional optimization since Closed Beta 2 to adjust for the possibility of slow loading times for some players?

A: Preparations have been made for KartRider: Drift since the last Closed Beta to create an optimized environment for racing. Optimization has been done in various areas to prevent inconvenience in diverse racing environments. We will continue making adjustments and optimizations up until KartRider: Drift's official release.

Q: What are the biggest changes for you compared to the previous Closed Beta tests?

A: The platform options for KartRider: Drift have expanded in Closed Beta 3 from PC and Xbox One to now include PlayStation 4 as well. A lot of work went into making sure players would be able to enjoy equal racing on various platforms by minimizing differences in the experience on each platform.

We invested time into various aspects of the game, including optimization of the physics engine, to provide a stable racing environment for our Racers and provide a better service.

Q: Were there any development challenges that led to a longer development cycle?

A: The most difficult and time-consuming piece of this development cycle was preparing KartRider: Drift for various levels of Racers. There are those players who experienced the original KartRider as well as those experiencing it for the first time, and we want to ensure that everyone will be able to enjoy the fast-paced fun of racing that KartRider: Drift is pursuing.

After Closed Beta 1 and 2 ended, we felt it was necessary to focus on making it so that anyone can easily race and play, rather than expanding various content.

To help with that, we developed new systems such as the Driving Assistance System to help Racers who are having difficulty to easily adapt. And this new system will be available for the first time in Closed Beta 3.

Q: What’s the team’s guiding principle on KartRider: Drift? What do you hope players appreciate most?

A: In Closed Beta 3, we are going to review the various environments and verify that beginners can easily jump in and start racing. We’re also going to check the optimized physics engine for displaying collisions between karts and the surrounding environmental objects, as well as the sensation of driving and driving skills. We are also planning to check the technical stability for crossplay between PC and consoles. We hope Racers discuss these new systems and share feedback as you race together.

Q: What lessons did you learn on the original PC game that you are applying to KartRider: Drift?

A: For those familiar with the original KartRider PC game, you will see that the basic skill sets are the same in KartRider: Drift: Start Boost, Drift, Instant Boost and Item use.

Q: KartRider: Drift has very cute character designs and adorable tracks. What inspires the art and world design of the game?

A: KartRider is an online casual racing game that has been in service for 17 years in the Asian market. Entertainment and playability has been verified by players during those 17 years and it has been loved until now. Our goal is for KartRider: Drift to inherit the entertainment and playability of the original KartRider for players around the world. The cute characters and tracks of the original KartRider will be reborn to match the preference of our global Racers. Preparations are being made to make the fun of racing and the lore of the KartRider IP be widely known.

Q: After I have signed up for Closed Beta 3, when will I be emailed the instructions on how to play the third closed beta?

A: When KartRider: Drift is available for pre-download starting December 6th, you will receive an email with a beta key for each platform you selected when you signed up. More information about how to redeem your key will be available on the official website at that time.

Q: How is this game different from KartRider: Rush+, which shares the same IP?

A: KartRider Rush+ is a mobile game developed following the latest trends, enabling players to enjoy the original game in the palm of their hands. KartRider: Drift is a global multi-platform project that supports cross-play on various devices beyond the PC. Both seek to advance the gameplay of the original game in different ways.

Q: Will KartRider: Drift on PC take advantage of ray tracing technology?

A: We don’t support RTS at the moment, but our internal R&D is in progress so that we can support it in the future.

Q: Will KartRider: Drift be available to play on Linux?

A: KartRider: Drift is currently available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nexon Launcher and Steam. No plans for Linux but we are open to hearing what the community has to say.

Q: How is this game different from Mario Kart, or other kart racers for that matter?

A: Truly, it’s an honor to even be compared to Mario Kart as we’re really big fans of the franchise, however we’re not looking to compete with Nintendo.

Instead, we’re expanding the kart racing genre further with KartRider: Drift by catering to new players interested in new styles of play, like our Speed Mode, deep kart plus character customization, while also expanding our franchise to an entirely new market beyond Asia without any console barriers or pay walls.

Q: KartRider is a prominent Eastern IP. How does Nexon plan to find success in the West with KartRider Rush+ and KartRider: Drift?

A: The KartRider franchise has a storied history that spans over 17 years spanning 300 million players worldwide and the longest running eSports league to date in Korea. It’s a series that has developed greatly within that time with a plethora of tracks and characters, some of which we’re utilizing for KartRider: Drift next to our brand new content.

We’ll also expand KartRider: Drift over the years to come with updates via our live game support, which will see the inclusion of new karts, tracks, characters, and a whole lot more. So, whether for the hardcore or casual race fans, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in KartRider: Drift.

Q: Why did Nexon decide to bring KartRider to consoles?

A: We’re expanding the franchise to all-new demographics while also finding new ways for our core fans to experience KartRider, which is what we’re doing with KartRider: Drift.

The original game is known, primarily, as a PC game in our Asian countries, so by bringing the franchise to Xbox One and PlayStation 4, we’re expanding our audience and catering to Western players who enjoy the simplicity of the console experience.

Q: Are there other game modes in planning or already implemented in addition to the known Speed and Item Modes?

A: During Closed Beta 3, there are two new modes! In Time Attack, you can try to beat your own time on each track. And you can experience a variety of mini-games through License Mode missions.

Q: Will there be Timed Attack leaderboards for each track?

A: Yes, players will be able to race against themselves or others on all tracks in Time Attack Mode.

Q: What adjustments have been made to make it easier for new players to get into this game?

A: In our third Closed Beta test, you will see that we have implemented a tutorial to help explain the basics of KartRider: Drift, as well as a Driving Assistance feature that helps new Racers learn to understand the tracks, master kart controls, and help with driving directions. This feature also has a display and correction feature that you can turn on and off to help learn drifting mechanics. In addition to these features, the License Mode missions have a variety of mini-games that help a new player practice navigating other aspects of KartRider: Drift gameplay.