DiRT 3
From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
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Developers | |
---|---|
Codemasters | |
macOS (OS X) | Feral Interactive |
Publishers | |
Codemasters | |
OS X | Feral Interactive |
Engines | |
EGO 2.0 | |
Release dates | |
Windows | May 24, 2011 |
macOS (OS X) | January 29, 2015 |
Reception | |
Metacritic | 86 |
IGDB | 86 |
Taxonomy | |
Monetization | One-time game purchase |
Modes | Singleplayer, Multiplayer |
Pacing | Real-time |
Controls | Direct control |
Genres | Racing, Simulation |
Vehicles | Automobile, Off-roading |
Art styles | Realistic |
Series | Colin McRae Rally |
⤏ Go to series page | |
Colin McRae Rally | 1998 |
Colin McRae Rally 2.0 | 2000 |
Colin McRae Rally 3 | 2003 |
Colin McRae Rally 04 | 2004 |
Colin McRae Rally 2005 | 2004 |
Colin McRae: DiRT | 2007 |
Colin McRae: DiRT 2 | 2009 |
DiRT 3 | 2011 |
DiRT Showdown | 2012 |
Colin McRae Rally (2014) | 2014 |
DiRT Rally | 2015 |
DiRT 4 | 2017 |
DiRT Rally 2.0 | 2019 |
DIRT 5 | 2020 |
Warnings
- For Games for Windows - LIVE on Windows 8 or later, install the latest Games for Windows - LIVE software.
- The macOS (OS X) version of this game does not work on macOS Catalina (version 10.15) or later due to the removal of support for 32-bit-only apps.
DiRT 3 is a singleplayer and multiplayer racing and simulation game in the Colin McRae Rally series.
Key points
- The game features full keyboard support but an Xbox 360 Controller is recommended.
- Owners of GFWL version on Steam get Complete Edition for free as a separate library entry.
- Benchmark included.
General information
- Steam Community Discussions (Complete Edition)
- Steam Community Discussions
Availability
Source | DRM | Notes | Keys | OS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Retail | SecuROM PA and SecuROM 8 DRM. | |||
Games for Windows Marketplace (unavailable) | [1] | |||
Mac App Store (unavailable) | Complete Edition. Does not support online multiplayer.[2] | |||
Steam (unavailable) | ||||
Steam (unavailable) | Complete Edition |
- All non-Steam Windows versions require Games for Windows - LIVE DRM.[Note 1] SecuROM activation limit unknown. A revoke tool is available.
- Retail product keys activate on Steam.[3]
Essential improvements
Skip intro videos
Replace files[4] |
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Game data
Configuration file(s) location
System | Location |
---|---|
Windows | %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\DiRT3\hardwaresettings\ |
macOS (OS X) | |
Steam Play (Linux) | <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/44320/pfx/[Note 2] |
- Some other non user-specific configuration files are stored with the game data. See the Field of view (FOV) section for more information.
Save game data location
System | Location |
---|---|
Windows | %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\DiRT3\savegame\ |
macOS (OS X) | |
Steam | <Steam-folder>/userdata/<user-id>/321040/ |
Steam Play (Linux) | <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/44320/pfx/[Note 2] |
- Saves are not compatible between the Steam and Games for Windows - LIVE versions.
- Steam saved game data location appears to be a placeholder and remains empty; look for files in the My Games folder
- Replay data is stored in
%PROGRAMDATA%\Codemasters\DiRT3\
(can take few gigabytes).
Save game cloud syncing
System | Native | Notes |
---|---|---|
OneDrive | Requires enabling backup of the Documents folder in OneDrive on all computers. | |
Steam Cloud | Complete Edition only. Approx. 38 MB available. |
Video
Graphics feature | State | WSGF | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Widescreen resolution | |||
Multi-monitor | |||
Ultra-widescreen | |||
4K Ultra HD | |||
Field of view (FOV) | See Field of view (FOV). | ||
Windowed | Toggle with Alt+↵ Enter. Window is fully resizable. | ||
Borderless fullscreen windowed | See the glossary page for potential workarounds. | ||
Anisotropic filtering (AF) | See the glossary page for potential workarounds. | ||
Anti-aliasing (AA) | 2x-8x MSAA, 8x-16x CSAA, and 8x QCSAA. | ||
Vertical sync (Vsync) | |||
60 FPS and 120+ FPS | |||
High dynamic range display (HDR) | See the glossary page for potential alternatives. |
Field of view (FOV)
- The parameters concerning the field of view as well as the point of view of each of the in-game cameras are stored in a binary file named
cameras.xml
. There is one such file for each car in the game. They are located with other car-related data in the subfolders of:<path-to-game>\cars\models
. These files can be batch edited using Dirt3FovChange although DLC cars may prove problematic as their data is reportedly stored in a different location. Conveniently, a backup of the binary files will be made in text format before attempting to modify them. This allows a quick restore of the most recent state. - This method is reliable and stable: modifications can be made on-the-fly, while in a race.
Using Dirt3FovChange |
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Notes
|
Result
Disable and replace post-processing filter
- The game has a controversial post-processing filter which can only be disabled by deleting a file in the game's installation folder. Without the filter, the game looks even less vibrant than it did prior, but as the original filter is disabled, it can now be replaced entirely.
- Copy the following text and paste it into a new file named
Dirt3_HFX.ini
(click "Expand" on the right to show the text):
PreprocessorDefinitions= Techniques=AmbientLight@AmbientLight.fx,DPX@DPX.fx,HDR@FakeHDR.fx,LiftGammaGain@LiftGammaGain.fx,Curves@Curves.fx,Tonemap@Tonemap.fx TechniqueSorting=AmbientLight@AmbientLight.fx,DPX@DPX.fx,HDR@FakeHDR.fx,LiftGammaGain@LiftGammaGain.fx,Curves@Curves.fx,AdaptiveFog@AdaptiveFog.fx,AdaptiveSharpen@AdaptiveSharpen.fx,AdvancedCRT@CRT.fx,After@Splitscreen.fx,ContrastAdaptiveSharpen@CAS.fx,ASCII@ASCII.fx,AspectRatioPS@AspectRatio.fx,Before@Splitscreen.fx,BloomAndLensFlares@Bloom.fx,Border@Border.fx,CA@ChromaticAberration.fx,Cartoon@Cartoon.fx,Chromakey@Chromakey.fx,ChromaticAberration@Prism.fx,CinematicDOF@CinematicDOF.fx,Clarity@Clarity.fx,ColorMatrix@ColorMatrix.fx,Colourfulness@Colourfulness.fx,Daltonize@Daltonize.fx,Deband@Deband.fx,Depth3D@Depth3D.fx,DepthHaze@DepthHaze.fx,DisplayDepth@DisplayDepth.fx,Emphasize@Emphasize.fx,EyeAdaption@EyeAdaption.fx,FilmGrain@FilmGrain.fx,FilmGrain2@FilmGrain2.fx,FilmicAnamorphSharpen@FilmicAnamorphSharpen.fx,FilmicPass@FilmicPass.fx,FXAA@FXAA.fx,GaussianBlur@GaussianBlur.fx,GlitchB@Glitch.fx,GP65CJ042DOF@DOF.fx,HighPassSharp@HighPassSharpen.fx,HQ4X@HQ4X.fx,HSLShift@HSLShift.fx,KNearestNeighbors@Denoise.fx,Layer@Layer.fx,LeiFx_Tech@3DFX.fx,Levels@Levels.fx,LevelsPlus@LevelsPlus.fx,LightDoF_AutoFocus@LightDoF.fx,LightDoF_Far@LightDoF.fx,LightDoF_Near@LightDoF.fx,LumaSharpen@LumaSharpen.fx,LUT@LUT.fx,MagicBloom@MagicBloom.fx,MagicDOF@DOF.fx,MartyMcFlyDOF@DOF.fx,MatsoDOF@DOF.fx,Mode1@FineSharp.fx,Mode2@FineSharp.fx,Mode3@FineSharp.fx,Monochrome@Monochrome.fx,MotionBlur@FakeMotionBlur.fx,MultiLUT@MultiLUT.fx,MXAO@MXAO.fx,Nightvision@NightVision.fx,NonLocalMeans@Denoise.fx,Nostalgia@Nostalgia.fx,PerfectPerspective@PerfectPerspective.fx,PPFXBloom@PPFX_Bloom.fx,PPFX_Godrays@PPFX_Godrays.fx,PPFXSSDO@PPFX_SSDO.fx,ReflectiveBumpmapping@ReflectiveBumpMapping.fx,RingDOF@DOF.fx,SMAA@SMAA.fx,StageDepth@StageDepth.fx,SurfaceBlur@SurfaceBlur.fx,Technicolor@Technicolor.fx,Technicolor2@Technicolor2.fx,TiltShift@TiltShift.fx,Tint@Sepia.fx,Tonemap@Tonemap.fx,UIDetect@UIDetect.fx,UIDetect_After@UIDetect.fx,UIDetect_Before@UIDetect.fx,UIMask_Bottom@UIMask.fx,UIMask_Top@UIMask.fx,Vibrance@Vibrance.fx,Vignette@Vignette.fx [AmbientLight.fx] alAdapt=0.700000 alAdaptBaseBlackLvL=2 alAdaptBaseMult=1.000000 alDebug=0 alDirtInt=1.000000 alDirtOVInt=1.000000 alInt=10.150000 alLensInt=2.000000 alLensThresh=0.500000 alThreshold=15.000000 AL_Adaptation=1 AL_Adaptive=2 AL_Dirt=0 AL_DirtTex=0 AL_Dither=0 AL_Lens=0 AL_Vibrance=1 [Curves.fx] Contrast=0.650000 Formula=4 Mode=0 [DPX.fx] Colorfulness=2.500000 Contrast=0.100000 RGB_C=0.360000,0.360000,0.340000 RGB_Curve=8.000000,8.000000,8.000000 Saturation=3.000000 Strength=0.200000 [FakeHDR.fx] HDRPower=1.300000 radius1=0.793000 radius2=0.870000 [FXAA.fx] EdgeThreshold=0.125000 EdgeThresholdMin=0.000000 Subpix=0.250000 [LiftGammaGain.fx] RGB_Gain=1.000000,1.000000,1.000000 RGB_Gamma=1.300014,1.300014,1.300014 RGB_Lift=1.000000,1.000000,1.000000 [Tonemap.fx] Bleach=0.000000 Defog=0.000000 Exposure=0.404000 FogColor=0.000000,0.000000,1.000000 Gamma=1.000000 Saturation=0.000000
- Go to
<path-to-game>\postprocess
, and renameeffects.xml
toeffects.xml.bak
. This will backup the original post-processing filter while also preventing the game from recognizing it, thus disabling the filter. - Download and run the setup for ReShade
- In the ReShade setup, select
<path-to-game>\dirt3_game.exe
as the target executable, select<path-to-game>\Dirt3_HFX.ini
as the preset, select DirectX 11 for the API, and select the following effects packages:- Standard Effects (should be selected by default)
- SweetFX by CeeJay.dk
- Legacy effects
- Make sure you complete the ReShade installation.
- Rename
<path-to-game>\dxgi.dll
to<path-to-game>\d3d11.dll
. ReShade might not start properly otherwise. - Start the game, press the Home key. You should see the effects have been applied. If you don't, select 'Dirt3_HFX.ini' as the ReShade preset file from the drop-down menu. You can configure the individual filter settings to your personal liking, as well as add more.
- Before and after comparison pictures here: [1]
Input
Keyboard and mouse | State | Notes |
---|---|---|
Remapping | Combined with controller rebinding. | |
Mouse acceleration | ||
Mouse sensitivity | ||
Mouse input in menus | ||
Mouse Y-axis inversion | ||
Controller | ||
Controller support | XInput and DirectInput. | |
Full controller support | False for DirectInput. Buttons have to be rebound in settings and controller can only be used in game, not in menus. | |
Controller remapping | Fully remappable. Combined with keyboard rebinding. | |
Controller sensitivity | ||
Controller Y-axis inversion |
Controller types |
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XInput-compatible controllers | ||
---|---|---|
Xbox button prompts | ||
Impulse Trigger vibration |
DualShock 4 controllers | ||
---|---|---|
DualShock button prompts | ||
Light bar support | ||
Connection modes | unknown |
Generic/other controllers | ||
---|---|---|
Button prompts | ![]() |
Additional information | ||
---|---|---|
Controller hotplugging | ||
Haptic feedback | XInput only. | |
Simultaneous controller+KB/M |
Steam Input | ||
---|---|---|
Steam Input API support | ||
Hook input (legacy mode) | ||
Official controller preset(s) | ||
Steam Controller button prompts | ||
Cursor detection | Mouse cursor is always on the screen. |
Audio
Audio feature | State | Notes |
---|---|---|
Separate volume controls | Speech, Music, Effects and Engine. | |
Surround sound | Support for 5.1 and 7.1.[5] | |
Subtitles | ||
Closed captions | ||
Mute on focus lost | ||
Royalty free audio |
Localizations
Language | UI | Audio | Sub | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
English | ||||
French | ||||
German | ||||
Hungarian | Fan translation, download. | |||
Italian | ||||
Polish | Fan translation, Download. | |||
Russian | Russian retail release only.[6] | |||
Spanish |
Install Rapture3D for 3-dimensional sound (on headphones)
- Unlike Colin McRae: DiRT 2, Rapture3D is not included by default.
Instructions |
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Notes
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Network
- The Games for Windows - LIVE version requires a Microsoft account for online play (optional for offline play).
- The Mac App Store version does not support online multiplayer.[2]
Multiplayer types
Type | Native | Players | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Local play | 2 | Split-screen. | ||
LAN play | 8 | |||
Online play | 8 |
Connection types
Type | Native | Notes |
---|---|---|
Matchmaking | ||
Peer-to-peer | ||
Dedicated | ||
Self-hosting | ||
Direct IP |
VR support
3D modes | Native | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Native 3D | AMD HD3D | ||
Nvidia 3D Vision | |||
vorpX | G3D Officially supported game, see official vorpx game list. |
||
Devices | Native | Notes | |
TrackIR | Supports: Yaw, Pitch, Roll, X, Y, Z. |
Issues fixed
Black/Green screen after selecting QCSAA
- This can happen on post-Kepler GPUs such as GTX 750 Ti, GTX 900, GTX 1000 series and newer due to their lack of support for the anti-aliasing method. The original anti-aliasing this method improves upon, CSAA, is not selectable in-game by such GPUs and as such not covered here.
Force MSAA[7] |
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|
Low game performance
Set QHD or 4K resolution with DSR/VSR enabled[citation needed] |
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VSR is supported if your native resolution is FHD or QHD. Dirt 3 may achieve noticeable FPS boost then. Game is generally not very demanding. |
Game never opens but sits in the process list using cpu on Windows 10/11
This is caused by HDR, turn it off in the display settings or use Alt+Winkey+B.
Using the keybind to turn it back on after starting will severely impact the framerate if using a FSE mode lower than the desktop resolution.
Change difficulty
- After selecting your difficulty upon first creating a new profile, it isn't obvious as to how to adjust the difficulty for all races moving forward.
- Start a single-player race, either in the "DiRT TOUR" career mode or regular single-player.
- Wait for the pre-race menu to appear.
- In the pre-race menu, go to "Difficulty and Assists". Here, you'll be able to adjust the difficulty to your liking. Under the Advanced settings, you'll be able to fine tune difficulty settings, such as driving assists and AI opponent difficulty.
Other information
API
Technical specs | Supported | Notes |
---|---|---|
Direct3D | 9.0c, 11 |
Executable | 32-bit | 64-bit | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Windows | |||
macOS (OS X) | This 32-bit-only macOS game does not work on macOS Catalina (10.15) or later. |
Force DirectX 9
Change line in config file[8] |
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|
Middleware
Middleware | Notes | |
---|---|---|
Audio | OpenAL | Rapture3D can be installed and used optionally. |
Cutscenes | Bink Video | |
Multiplayer | Games for Windows - LIVE, Steamworks |
Disable the narration
Instructions[9] |
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|
- Instant menu transition with no delay.
- You'll be kicked from party automatically each time before online race start.
Use DiRT 3 CE Super Fast Menus Mod |
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System requirements
Windows | ||
---|---|---|
Minimum | Recommended | |
Operating system (OS) | XP, Vista, 7, 8 | |
Processor (CPU) | Intel Pentium D 2.8 GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 2.8 GHz |
Intel Core i7 AMD Phenom II |
System memory (RAM) | 2 GB | 3 GB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) | 15 GB | |
Video card (GPU) | Nvidia GeForce 8000 series ATI Radeon HD 2000 256 MB of VRAM DirectX 9.0c compatible | AMD Radeon HD 6000 series 1 GB of VRAM DirectX 11 compatible |
Sound (audio device) | DirectX compatible |
macOS (OS X) | ||
---|---|---|
Minimum | Recommended | |
Operating system (OS) | 10.9.5 | 10.10.2 |
Processor (CPU) | Intel 2.0 GHz | Intel 2.4 GHz |
System memory (RAM) | 4 GB | 8 GB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) | 14 GB | |
Video card (GPU) | Nvidia GeForce GT 120 ATI Radeon HD 4670 Intel HD Graphics 4000 256 MB of VRAM | Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 AMD Radeon HD 6970 Intel Iris Pro 1 GB of VRAM |
- The game is optimized for AMD/ATI graphics cards.
Notes
- ↑ Games for Windows - LIVE DRM features: SSA activation, supports local profiles.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 File/folder structure within this directory reflects the path(s) listed for Windows and/or Steam game data (use Wine regedit to access Windows registry paths). Games with Steam Cloud support may store data in
~/.steam/steam/userdata/<user-id>/44320/
in addition to or instead of this directory. The app ID (44320) may differ in some cases. Treat backslashes as forward slashes. See the glossary page for details.
References
- ↑ dirt-3 - Games For Windows - last accessed on 2022-11-16
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Released! DiRT™ 3® Complete Edition pulls its best stunt yet. | Feral News
- ↑ DiRT 3 Complete Edition Available Now [Free upgrade for existing DiRT 3 owners] :: DiRT 3 Complete Edition General Discussions - last accessed on 9 June 2023
- ↑ Skip Intro Dirt 3 | SkipGameIntro
- ↑ DiRT3 | Blue Ripple Sound
- ↑ DiRT 3 - Игровой архив - last accessed on 2022-12-27
- ↑ Verified by User:SojerManLan on 2022-01-14
- Tested on a GTX 1060 3GB. After selecting QCSAA, I was greeted with the letterboxed green screen that made playing the game impossible, confirming the issue. After making the change described below, I was able to play again.
- ↑ Verified by User:SojerManLan on 2022-01-21
- ↑ Steam Community :: Guide :: How to disable the unskippable voiceovers - last accessed on 2016-11-05