DIRT 5: Nolan North gives inside line on unique Career Mode

DIRT 5's release is just around the corner and we can't wait to take the game for a spin!

DIRT 5 brings with it a major change in direction when it comes to its single-player modes. The Career mode, for example, will now be narrative-driven with some of the biggest names in video gaming in the leading roles.

Attracting the best of the best

Traditionally, racing games haven't placed a big emphasis on their stories. After all, driving is what we're ultimately playing for.

However, Codemasters have gone all-out with the latest DIRT, hiring the voice talents of Nolan North (Bruno Durand) and Troy Baker (Alex “AJ” Janiček) to portray the two leading NPC's.

We were lucky enough to catch up with North and asked him to describe Durand's personality:

"It's a great character to play, I like that he's an anti-hero. He's abrasive, quiet and not much of a showman, but it turns out he's got a pure heart and he's a hard worker."

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North has an extensive filmography with regards to his voice acting in video games. Racing games aren't something that appear much on that list though, so what attracted North to this role?

"I like characters that are misunderstood in whatever field they're in. The way that Codemasters wanted to do this story is very ad-libbed and off-the-cuff."

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The way in which Codies have gone about this story is very unique. You'll be able to hear reaction from the media to the events on-track via sources such as podcasts.

"Bruno is not a fan of the media, his competitors are always getting praised by them, despite him winning.

Over the course of the game, you get to find out who he really is. You really shouldn't judge a book by its cover."

The AJ/ Durand Dynamic

Baker also features heavily in DIRT 5 and portrays the player's mentor, AJ. We asked North how his and Baker's characters compare and if they have many direct interactions through DIRT 5's story:

"They're both phenomenal at what they do. They're just different personalities."

"I don't know if anti-hero is the right term [to describe Durand]. Durand is someone who just does it, he shies away from the media spotlight... He just wants to win."

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"AJ is the opposite, he's got the traditional million-dollar smile. He's the media darling and he's phenomenal at what he does."

Interestingly, North hasn't described Durand in a negative way during this interview. So, we asked if Durand will be a relatable character and someone that's misunderstood on first impression:

"Durand is an outsider because he chooses to be an outsider. I don't know if "anti-hero" is the right term to describe him. He's the antagonist of the game, but he's not a villain."

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"Some players will be more attracted to AJ and others will be more attracted to Durand."

Release Date

DIRT 5 will be available on PS4, Xbox One and Windows PC Worldwide on 6 November. For those wanting to buy on next-gen, DIRT 5 will be coming to Series X on 10 November and later PS5 on 12 November.

DIRT 5 will also be released on Stadia in 2021.