DriveClub Recomp allows you to run the PS4 game natively on PC with Vulkan and resolution up to 8K

drivecluboriginally released for PlayStation 4 in 2014 by Evolution Studios, can now run natively on Windows computers. So simple and complex at the same time. This has been possible thanks to DriveClub Recompan open source project published by developer OverkillLabs3 that also completely dispenses with emulation.

The basis of the project takes advantage of the fact that the PlayStation 4 shares the architecture x86-64 present in most current computers. Instead of interpreting console instructions through an intermediate layer, the game code runs directly on the computer’s CPU.

To make it work on Windows, the development team has reimplemented the Sony operating system libraries and translated all graphical calls to the interface Vulkanfollowing a philosophy similar to that used by tools like Wine.

From 30 FPS to resolutions up to 8K

The original game hit the market limited to 1080p resolution and 30 frames per second. With this adaptation, the title adds support for resolutions ranging from 720p to 8Kas well as native support for ultra-wide screens. As if that were not enough, the launcher includes an option to unlock the frame rate per second without accelerating the speed of the physics engine or altering the pace of the races.

Another interesting point has to do with the original antialiasing. This has been replaced by two modern alternatives that operate at native resolution, namely NVIDIA DLAA on GeForce RTX graphics cards and AMD FSR 3.1 for any Vulkan compatible GPU.

According to the developer’s data, the game maintains an average close to 60 FPS at 4K resolution on routes with high graphic load under a computer equipped with an RTX 5070 Ti graphics card and an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D processor.

Requirements and limitations of this port

No complex installer is required to launch the tool. However, it is essential that the user provide their own legitimate dumps of the game in version 1.28. Specifically, the launcher requests the paths of the base folder that contains the file game000.dat and the update that includes the executable eboot.bin. In any case, you have all the instructions in their original repository.

On the other hand, the application allows you to play full races, access photo mode, save games and unlock original downloadable content, such as additional vehicles and tracks. Regarding controllers, it recognizes Xbox, PlayStation or Nintendo Switch keyboards and controllers, in addition to including a specific folder to load file modifications.

Despite the technical ambition, the project has some limitations. For example, it lacks online features, causes small pauses during the first few minutes while shaders compile in the background, and has certain reflections brighter than expected. In parallel, another independent project called DCport works on a similar approach also based on Vulkan.