WRC 9

{{Short description|Official game of the 2020 World Rally Championship}}

{{Infobox video game

| title = WRC 9

| image = WRC 9 cover art.jpg

| caption = Game cover featuring Toyota Yaris WRC

| developer = Kylotonn

| publisher = Nacon

| series = World Rally Championship

| platforms = {{ubl|Microsoft Windows|Nintendo Switch|PlayStation 4|PlayStation 5|Xbox One|Xbox Series X/S}}

| genre = Racing

| modes = Single-player, multiplayer

| director =

| release = Windows, PS4, Xbox One{{vgrelease|WW|3 September 2020}}Xbox Series X/S{{vgrelease|WW|10 November 2020}}PlayStation 5{{vgrelease|NA/AU|12 November 2020|WW|19 November 2020}}Nintendo Switch{{vgrelease|WW|March 11, 2021}}

}}

WRC 9, also known as WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship, is the official racing video game of the 2020 World Rally Championship. The game is developed by French developer Kylotonn and published by Nacon. It is available for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S, released on 3 September 2020, with the Nintendo Switch version released on 11 March 2021.

Development and release

In March 2020, WRC 9 was revealed as the official game of the 2020 FIA World Rally Championship alongside WRC 10.{{cite news|first=Matt|last=Gardner|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattgardner1/2020/03/22/wrc-9-confirmed-for-ps5-and-series-x-wrc-10-and-wrc-11-to-follow/#6ed4a39a1f40|title='WRC 9', Confirmed For PS5 And Series X; 'WRC 10' And 'WRC 11' To Follow|work=Forbes|date=22 March 2020|accessdate=6 May 2020}} It features 14 different locations (reflecting the 2020 season as it was originally intended to be run before the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in many events being rescheduled or cancelled and new rallies added to the calendar),{{cite web|title=WRC 9 Official Car And Stage List|url=https://wrcsetups.com/wrc-9|work=wrcsetups.com}} including all three returning rallies, Safari Rally, Rally New Zealand and Rally Japan, with up to fifty official crews from WRC, WRC-2, WRC-3 and J-WRC available for the player to choose. The game also features fifteen more landmark vehicles from the WRC history.{{cite news|author=Stefan, L.|url=https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2020/03/20/wrc-9-ps5-xbox-series-x-next-gen-release-date-10-11-ps4-switch/|title=WRC 9, WRC 10 and WRC 11 have all been announced, and they're coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X|website=thesixthaxis.com|date=20 March 2020|accessdate=6 May 2020}}{{better source needed|date=November 2020}}

The game was released on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on 3 September 2020 via Epic Games Store, and later on Nintendo Switch, with a further release date on the ninth generation of video game consoles PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S to be announced.{{cite news|url=https://www.wrc.com/en/news/season-2020/esports/wrc-9-video-game-set-for-new-generation-consoles/|title=WRC 9 video game set for new-generation consoles|work=wrc.com|publisher=WRC Promoter GmbH|date=20 March 2020|accessdate=6 May 2020}}

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| MC = PC: 80/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/wrc-9-fia-world-rally-championship/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship for PC Reviews |work=Metacritic |accessdate=12 November 2020}}
PS4: 81/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/wrc-9-fia-world-rally-championship/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |title=WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship for PlayStation 4 Reviews |work=Metacritic |accessdate=12 November 2020}}
XONE: 83/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/wrc-9-fia-world-rally-championship/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one |title=WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship for Xbox One Reviews |work=Metacritic |accessdate=12 November 2020}}
NS: 64/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/wrc-9-fia-world-rally-championship/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |title=WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship for Nintendo Switch Reviews |work=Metacritic |accessdate=15 November 2022}}

| IGN = 7.5/10{{cite web|first=Álex|last=Pareja|title=WRC 9 - Análisis|url=https://es.ign.com/wrc-9-ps4/166734/review/analisis-de-wrc-9-para-ps4-xbox-one-y-pc|work=IGN|language=Spanish|date=7 September 2020|accessdate=12 September 2020}}

| JXV = 16/20{{cite web|first=L'avis|last=de Izokay|url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/test/1279951/wrc-9-la-paisible-ligne-droite-de-kylotonn.htm|title=Test : WRC 9 : La paisible ligne droite de Kylotonn|work=Jeuxvideo.com|language=French|date=31 August 2020|accessdate=12 September 2020}}

| PSQ = {{Rating|8|10}}{{cite web|first=Jacob|last=Hull|url=https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/wrc_9|title=WRC 9 - A Compelling Rally Sim That's Gone from Good to Great|work=Push Square|date=31 August 2020|accessdate=12 September 2020}}

| rev1 = Screen Rant

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|first=Rob|last=Gordon|url=https://screenrant.com/wrc-9-game-review/|title=WRC 9 Review: It's Time To Rally Again|work=Screen Rant|date=30 August 2020|accessdate=12 September 2020}}

}}

Reception for WRC 9 was generally favourable among critics. While troubled by smaller issues, improvements with car handling were noted in many outlets. Among critics, the game was scored at 80% by Push Square. Pixel Bandits rated the title at 4/4, noting the fresh challenge provided to long-time fans of the series.{{cite web|url=https://www.pixelbandits.org/2020/09/review-wrc9-world-rally-championship/|title=Review - WRC9: World Rally Championship - Including Common Sense Parent's Guide|work=Pixel Bandits|date=5 September 2020|accessdate=12 September 2020}}