If it’s winter where you are, you might wonder why anyone would want to simulate the weather outside – but that’s what many game developers are trying to do.
In their mission to make more realistic and immersive experiences, more studios are making wet, wild and stormy conditions a part of the experience.
And rumours about a potential “dynamic weather system” in Grand Theft Auto 6 have got gamers talking about the possibilities.
Evaporation rates and high pressure zones might not sound like a recipe for a good time, but the makers of one popular racing game would probably disagree.
Flagship Xbox exclusive Forza Motorsport made a big deal of advertising its complex weather systems when it launched its latest instalment earlier this year.
Players can race in conditions including sun, thick fog and heavy rain, which all affect things like visibility and how their car controls.
The Forza series aims to realistically simulate real-world driving, and creative director Chris Esaki tells BBC Newsbeat advances in mimicking weather have helped.
“If you’ve ever driven a car you know things are just different when it rains,” he says.
“So for us weather is such a critical part of how we build deep simulation and a rewarding set of things to master”.
Chris says accurate simulation also boosts immersion.
“There’s this storytelling that happens with lighting and weather,” he says.
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