# Game Plugins

Some games require a plugin or mod to be installed in order to send telemetry data to DR Sim Manager. These plugins are small files that enable the game to output motion data over a network connection (typically UDP).

***

## Which Games Need Plugins?

Most games that use shared memory or built-in telemetry output (like iRacing, Assetto Corsa, or games using the Codemasters UDP protocol) work out of the box — no plugin needed.

Games that require a custom plugin include titles where telemetry must be extracted via a script, hook, or mod. When a game requires a plugin, its source page in DR Sim Manager will show an **Install Plugin** or **Auto Install Plugin** button in the game's settings panel.

Common games that require plugins include:

* **DCS World** — A Lua hook and module that extracts flight data.
* **rFactor 2** — A telemetry plugin installed to the game's plugin directory.
* **Le Mans Ultimate** — A telemetry plugin similar to rFactor 2.
* **Farming Simulator 2025** — A mod that exports vehicle telemetry.
* **Dirt Rally 2.0** — A custom configuration for the game's telemetry output.
* **EA SPORTS WRC / WRC Generations** — A custom telemetry configuration.

{% hint style="info" %}
The list of games requiring plugins may grow as new titles are added. Check the game's individual source page in the documentation for specific setup instructions.
{% endhint %}

***

## Auto-Install

For games that require plugins, DR Sim Manager provides an **automatic installer** that handles everything for you:

1. Select the game in the **Sources** tab.
2. Click the **gear icon** (⚙) on the game banner, or open the game's settings panel.
3. Click **Install Plugin** or **Auto Install Plugin**.
4. The installer will:
   * Locate the game's installation directory automatically.
   * Copy the required plugin files to the correct location.
   * Verify the installation was successful.
5. A confirmation message will appear showing the result.

Some games (like DCS World) may have multiple installation locations (e.g., stable and open beta). The installer will detect all available installations and install the plugin to each one.

***

## Check Installation

For games that support it, a **Check Installation** button is available alongside the install button. This verifies that:

* The plugin files exist in the expected location.
* The installed files match the latest version bundled with DR Sim Manager.

If the check finds outdated or missing files, you can re-run the installer to update them.

***

## Manual Installation

If the auto-installer cannot find your game (e.g., non-standard install location), you can install plugins manually:

1. Open DR Sim Manager's plugin files folder:
   * Right-click inside DR Sim Manager and select **Browse Plugins**, or
   * Navigate to `%localappdata%\DRSimManager\Plugins\`.
2. Locate the subfolder for your game (e.g., `DCSWorld`, `rFactor2`).
3. Follow the game-specific setup guide (click **Open Setup Guide** in the game's settings panel) for instructions on where to copy the files.

### Setup Guides

Each game that requires manual setup has an **Open Setup Guide** button in its settings panel. This opens the official documentation page for that game with step-by-step instructions for manual plugin installation and telemetry configuration.

***

## Plugin Version Checking

Plugins are automatically updated when DR Sim Manager detects a version change. During the update process:

1. The application compares its bundled plugin files with the ones installed in the Plugins folder.
2. If the application version has changed, new plugin files are copied to the Plugins folder.
3. You should then re-run the auto-installer (or manually copy the updated files) to update the plugin in the game's directory.

{% hint style="info" %}
After updating DR Sim Manager to a new version, re-run the auto-installer for any games that use plugins to ensure you have the latest version installed in the game directory.
{% endhint %}

***

## Plugin File Location

Plugin source files bundled with DR Sim Manager are stored in:

```
%localappdata%\DRSimManager\Plugins\
```

This folder is organized by game, with each subfolder containing the files needed for that game's plugin.

***

## Troubleshooting

### Plugin Won't Install

* **Game not found:** The auto-installer searches common installation paths. If your game is installed in a non-standard location, use manual installation instead.
* **Permission denied:** Some game directories require administrator privileges to write to. Try running DR Sim Manager as administrator, or use manual installation.
* **Antivirus blocking:** Some antivirus software may flag plugin files being written to game directories. Add an exception for the game's plugin directory if this occurs.

### Game Not Receiving Telemetry After Plugin Install

* Verify the plugin is installed in the correct directory using the **Check Installation** button.
* Restart the game after installing the plugin — most games only load plugins at startup.
* Check the game's settings to ensure telemetry output is enabled (some games have an in-game setting that must also be turned on).
* Check the DR Sim Manager log for connection-related messages.

### Outdated Plugin

If you're experiencing issues after a DR Sim Manager update:

1. Open the game's settings panel in DR Sim Manager.
2. Click **Install Plugin** to re-install the latest version.
3. Restart the game.


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