"WRC 8" has been approved by Sean Johnston and Alex Kihurani

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Press release:
Lesquin, May 15 – Bigben and the development studio Kylotonn invited leading e-Sports player and talented young US rally driver Sean Johnston and his co-driver Alex Kihurani to try “WRC 8” to hear their professional opinion on the most ambitious rally simulation to date.

The WRC series is back for an eighth edition and it’s the officially licensed video game of the 2019 FIA World Rally Championship! With completely redesigned gameplay and a greater focus on simulation, WRC 8 puts you in the heart of the competition.

To reproduce the feeling of driving as realistically as possible, Bigben and Kylotonn invited the talented young US driver Sean Johnston, who competes in the Junior WRC category, and his co-driver Alex Kihurani to try out WRC 8.

Sean is not only a confirmed driver but also a top-level e-Sports player running for GT Academy. As an expert in auto simulation games he is particularly qualified to speak on a license like WRC.

Their feedback confirmed that the realism achieved by the physics in the different categories was excellent. They also singled out the accuracy of the co-driver’s pacenotes, which are crucial in rally events to help the driver navigate the challenges of the special stage roads.

Asphalt, gravel and even ice: the ultra-realistic physics rendering of WRC 8 really demonstrates the diverse ways in which vehicles behave on different terrain. To be the quickest and emerge victorious, every turn in the road must be expertly negotiated.

That’s why pacenotes are essential for anticipating the various hazards and finding the optimum path. Impressed by the consistency between the pacenotes and sensations felt while competing, Sean Johnston and Alex Kihurani highlighted the realism and fun it added.

Their comments, combined with the feedback already collected from the best WRC eSports players, helped to refine the WRC 8 gameplay and create an unrivalled gaming experience.

With its dynamic weather system and ultra-realistic physics, you will need accuracy, anticipation and quick reactions to make it through the 102 stages of WRC 8.

“I was impressed with the pacenotes system, especially with how well it matched up with the bends, which I’ve never seen before in a simulation!” explained Sean Johnston.

Asphalt, gravel, ice and snow: play as the Championship’s best drivers in extreme conditions and experience the competition from the driver’s seat!

WRC 8 will release in September 2019 on PlayStation®4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch™ and PC.

About Bigben
Bigben is a major video game publisher, designer and distributor of mobile phone and gaming accessories as well as audio products. The group, recognised for its innovation and creativity, aspires to become a European leader in each of the sectors it is active in. www.bigben.fr

About Kylotonn
Created in 2006, Kylotonn is one the most important French video game development studios, also known under KT Racing label. Specialized in motorsports and official developer of the WRC FIA World Rally Championship series and Isle of Man Tourist Trophy, the company is internationally recognized for its know-how and for the passion of its teams.

With more than 100 employees as of today in Paris and Lyon, Kylotonn has developed more than 25 titles distributed by major publishers. Kylotonn has forged itself a strong technological expertise thanks to the real-time 3D engine KT Engine that the company owns.

At the forefront of the video game industry, this technology is also used within R&D partnerships on autonomous vehicle projects in the automotive industry. Since 2018, Bigben Interactive, one of Europe’s leading video game publishers, holds a 100% stake in the company.

Kylotonn is member of the French National Developers Federation (Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo) and Capital Games. The company is supported by BPI, IFCIC and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation.

For more information, visit Kylotonn’s website: www.kylotonn.com and follow the news on social networks Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter and Youtube.

About WRC Promoter GmbH
WRC Promoter GmbH is responsible for all commercial aspects of the FIA World Rally Championship, including TV production and the marketing of global media and sponsorship rights. The Promoter also has responsibility to increase the field of participants and to propose the venues that form the FIA WRC calendar.

The World Rally Championship is the FIA’s premium rally series. WRC showcases authentic motorsport, high performance cars and the world’s best drivers competing in dramatic surroundings ranging from the ice and snow of Scandinavia to the blistering heat of Mexico. Established in its current format in 1973, WRC participants battle for the drivers’ and manufacturers’ world titles at 14 rallies spanning 16 countries and five continents. Additional championship information can be found at www.wrc.com and www.wrcplus.com