DIRT 5

DIRT 5 is a PC arcade off-road racing game from Codemasters, published by Codemasters and Electronic Arts. The current Steam listing still uses the name DIRT 5; there is no verified storefront rebrand replacing it. Its focus is fast, accessible racing across gravel, ice, snow, sand, and mixed-surface circuits rather than strict rally simulation.

The game is built for players who want immediate handling, dramatic weather, varied vehicles, and a strong local multiplayer option. It sits closer to a polished arcade racer than DiRT Rally 2.0, with forgiving slides, broad tracks, and short events that make it easy to pick up with a controller.

Arcade off-road racing with a flexible career

The main single-player structure is a branching Career mode presented as a globe-spanning off-road festival. Events are connected through a route map, allowing players to choose between different race types while working through a sequence of championships, sponsors, rewards, and rival encounters.

Races cover several distinct disciplines, including circuit events, point-to-point sprints, rough-terrain Path Finder courses, Gymkhana arenas, ice racing, rallycross-style competition, and high-speed Stampede events. The variety keeps the career moving, although the driving model remains consistent: maintain momentum, control the slide, use the terrain, and recover quickly from contact.

Vehicle handling is designed around accessible drifting rather than detailed rally-stage management. Different classes still have recognizable personalities, from agile buggies and rally cars to heavy trucks, muscle cars, GT machines, and powerful sprint cars. The game rewards aggressive lines and clean corner exits, but it does not demand the same pace-note discipline or mechanical preservation as a dedicated rally simulator.

Playgrounds, Gymkhana, and event variety

One of DIRT 5's clearest differentiators is Playgrounds, a creation mode where players assemble custom arenas using ramps, gates, barriers, platforms, and other track elements. Creations can support checkpoint racing, time trials, trick-focused challenges, and obstacle-course layouts, giving the game a user-generated layer beyond its curated career events.

Gymkhana events shift the emphasis from traditional racing to drift chains, jumps, spins, and stunt scoring. Other objective-based modes such as Vampire, King, and Transporter add party-game rules to the driving model. These modes are most effective when players want short competitive sessions instead of a long championship campaign.

The global locations are also part of the appeal. DIRT 5 moves between environments inspired by places such as New York, Brazil, Norway, Italy, Morocco, China, Greece, and Arizona. Weather and time-of-day changes alter the visual character of events and can make the same broad style of racing feel substantially different.

Cars, customization, and progression

The garage covers multiple off-road categories, including rally icons, rallycross cars, buggies, trophy trucks, muscle cars, GT vehicles, classic machines, and sprint cars. The selection is intentionally eclectic. DIRT 5 is less concerned with reproducing one motorsport discipline than with putting very different vehicles into visually distinctive off-road environments.

Progression combines event results with sponsorship rewards, vehicle unlocks, driver customization, and liveries. The livery editor lets players alter the appearance of cars, while the photo mode supports screenshots after large jumps, close finishes, and weather-heavy races.

Players looking for older Codemasters off-road design can compare its broader event variety with classic simcade rally racing such as Colin McRae: DiRT, although DIRT 5 is more streamlined and more openly arcade-focused.

Base game, editions, and paid content

On Steam, DIRT 5 is sold as a premium game with a separate Year One Edition and multiple optional content packs. The storefront lists eight related add-ons, including the Year 1 Upgrade, Gameplay Booster Pack, Porsche Macan T1 Rally Raid, Ford F-150 Raptor PreRunner by Deberti Design, Energy Content Pack, Uproar Content Pack, Super Size Content Pack, and Wild Spirits Pack.

The additional content expands the campaign with new vehicles, events, sponsors, liveries, and customization items. Some packs are included with the Amplified or Year One editions, while others can be purchased separately. The important distinction is that the base game already contains the central Career, Arcade, Playgrounds, local multiplayer, and online race structure.

There is no verified free-to-play transition or replacement edition on the current Steam listing. Players comparing versions should therefore check whether a listing includes the Year One content rather than assuming that every DIRT 5 purchase contains the same extras.

Who should play DIRT 5?

DIRT 5 suits players who prefer fast arcade handling, short events, spectacular environments, and a forgiving approach to off-road driving. It is particularly strong as a shared-screen racing game because the career and many offline events support up to four local players.

It is less suitable for players seeking authentic rally stages, co-driver pace notes, detailed vehicle setup, or a simulation-first damage model. The game also does not offer an open-world map to freely explore between events. Its structure is closer to a curated festival campaign with standalone races, creative arenas, and competitive playlists.

For a different kind of dirt racing, off-road multiplayer with motocross bikes, quads, and split-screen play provides a useful comparison, but DIRT 5 remains the better fit for players who want four-wheeled arcade racing.

PC features, controls, and online play

The PC version supports keyboard and controller input, with full controller support listed on Steam. Wheel support was added through a later game update, with supported devices from Logitech, Thrustmaster, and selected Fanatec hardware. A controller remains the most straightforward choice because the handling model is tuned for quick steering corrections and controlled slides.

Steam features include Remote Play Together, Steam Cloud, achievements, Family Sharing, shared-screen multiplayer, online player-versus-player events, and shared-screen co-op or competitive play. Offline split-screen supports up to four players, including selected Career and Arcade activities, while online playlists support larger races and party events.

The Steam edition uses Denuvo Anti-tamper and requires acceptance of a third-party EULA. It supports English, French, Italian, German, Spanish from Spain, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Japanese across interface, audio, and subtitles. The store also identifies Electronic Arts alongside Codemasters as publisher, but the storefront title remains unchanged.

Similar PC racing games

DIRT 5 is a good match for players who want accessible off-road racing with local multiplayer and a strong arcade identity. Its closest alternatives depend on which part of the game matters most.

• Colin McRae: DiRT offers a broader simcade structure with rally, rallycross, hill-climb, truck, buggy, and desert events.
• Gravel is another arcade-oriented off-road racer built around varied locations, accessible handling, and mixed-surface competition.
• MX vs ATV Legends shifts the focus toward bikes, quads, open off-road spaces, and split-screen competition.

Choose DIRT 5 when you want quick races, colorful environments, creative Playgrounds content, and couch multiplayer. Choose a rally simulation when precision, pace notes, and stage consistency matter more than spectacle.

DIRT 5 FAQ

Has DIRT 5 been renamed on PC?

No verified rebrand replaces DIRT 5 on the current Steam storefront. The standard listing remains DIRT 5, alongside a separate Year One Edition and optional content packs.

Is DIRT 5 an arcade racer or a rally simulator?

It is primarily an arcade off-road racer. The game includes rally-inspired cars and environments, but its handling, event length, and forgiving recovery options are designed for accessibility rather than strict simulation.

Does DIRT 5 support four-player split-screen on PC?

Yes. Local split-screen supports up to four players in offline modes, including selected Career and Arcade events. Steam also lists shared-screen competitive play, shared-screen co-op, and Remote Play Together.

What is Playgrounds in DIRT 5?

Playgrounds is a custom arena creator. Players place gates, ramps, barriers, platforms, and obstacles to build racing, time-trial, checkpoint, and stunt-focused challenges that can be shared with other players.

Does DIRT 5 support steering wheels?

Yes. Wheel support was added in an update, with official support covering selected Logitech, Thrustmaster, and Fanatec devices. A controller is still the simplest input option for the game's arcade handling.

What does the DIRT 5 Year One Edition include?

The Year One Edition bundles the base game with additional content associated with the Year 1 Upgrade and several content packs. Because the Steam catalog also lists individual add-ons, players should check the included entitlements before choosing between the standard and expanded editions.