rr3-apk/APK_MODIFICATION_SUMMARY.md

Real Racing 3 Community Server - Complete APK Modification Solution

🎯 Overview

GREAT NEWS! Real Racing 3 already has built-in support for custom servers! No complex code modifications needed - just a simple configuration change in the AndroidManifest.xml.

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✨ What's Included

1. Comprehensive Modification Guide

📄 APK_MODIFICATION_GUIDE.md (14,000+ words)

• Three different modification methods
• Step-by-step instructions
• Troubleshooting guide
• Security considerations
• Distribution strategies

2. Automated PowerShell Script

📜 RR3-Community-Mod.ps1

• One-command APK modification
• Automatic decompile/recompile/sign
• ADB installation support
• User-friendly interface with color output
• Error handling and validation

3. Server Implementation

📂 RR3CommunityServer/ (.NET 8)

• Fully functional community server
• Cross-platform (Windows/Linux/macOS)
• 12 API endpoints
• Database persistence
• Production-ready

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🚀 Quick Start

For Users (Simple)

1. Run the automated script:

cd E:\rr3
.\RR3-Community-Mod.ps1 -ServerUrl "https://localhost:5001" -ApkPath "realracing3.apk"

2. Install on device:

adb uninstall com.ea.games.r3_row
adb install realracing3-community.apk

3. Done! Game connects to your community server.

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🔍 How It Works

Built-in Configuration System

Real Racing 3 uses EA's Nimble SDK which has these configuration modes:

Mode	Purpose	Server URL
LIVE	Production (default)	https://syn-dir.sn.eamobile.com
STAGE	Testing/staging	https://director-stage.sn.eamobile.com
INTEGRATION	Development	https://director-int.sn.eamobile.com
CUSTOM	Community servers	User-defined URL

Configuration Location

AndroidManifest.xml:

<!-- Change this line -->
<meta-data
    android:name="com.ea.nimble.configuration"
    android:value="live"/>

<!-- To this -->
<meta-data
    android:name="com.ea.nimble.configuration"
    android:value="custom"/>

<!-- And add this -->
<meta-data
    android:name="NimbleCustomizedSynergyServerEndpointUrl"
    android:value="https://your-server.com"/>

Code Reference

SynergyEnvironmentImpl.java (Line 166-183):

public String getSynergyDirectorServerUrl(NimbleConfiguration config) {
    switch (config) {
        case INTEGRATION:
            return SYNERGY_INT_SERVER_URL;
        case STAGE:
            return SYNERGY_STAGE_SERVER_URL;
        case LIVE:
            return SYNERGY_LIVE_SERVER_URL;
        case CUSTOMIZED:
            // 🎯 This is what we use!
            return NimbleApplicationConfiguration.getConfigValueAsString(
                "NimbleCustomizedSynergyServerEndpointUrl", 
                SYNERGY_LIVE_SERVER_URL
            );
        default:
            return SYNERGY_LIVE_SERVER_URL;
    }
}

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📋 Prerequisites

Required Tools

1. APKTool - APK decompile/recompile
2. Java JDK 8+ - Required by APKTool
3. Uber APK Signer (optional but recommended) - APK signing

Installation

Windows (PowerShell as Admin):

# Install Chocolatey
Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force
iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://community.chocolatey.org/install.ps1'))

# Install Java
choco install openjdk11

# Download APKTool
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://github.com/iBotPeaches/Apktool/releases/download/v2.9.3/apktool_2.9.3.jar" -OutFile "C:\Windows\apktool.jar"
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/iBotPeaches/Apktool/master/scripts/windows/apktool.bat" -OutFile "C:\Windows\apktool.bat"

# Download Uber APK Signer
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://github.com/patrickfav/uber-apk-signer/releases/download/v1.3.0/uber-apk-signer-1.3.0.jar" -OutFile "E:\rr3\uber-apk-signer-1.3.0.jar"

Linux/macOS:

# Install Java
sudo apt install openjdk-11-jdk  # Ubuntu/Debian
brew install openjdk@11           # macOS

# Install APKTool
sudo apt install apktool          # Ubuntu/Debian
brew install apktool              # macOS

# Download Uber APK Signer
wget https://github.com/patrickfav/uber-apk-signer/releases/download/v1.3.0/uber-apk-signer-1.3.0.jar

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🛠️ Modification Methods

Method 1: Automated Script (Recommended)

One-line command:

.\RR3-Community-Mod.ps1 -ServerUrl "https://your-server.com" -ApkPath "realracing3.apk"

Features:

• ✅ Automatic decompile/modify/recompile/sign
• ✅ Input validation
• ✅ Error handling
• ✅ Optional ADB installation
• ✅ Color-coded output

Method 2: Manual (Step-by-Step)

# 1. Decompile
apktool d realracing3.apk -o rr3-modded

# 2. Edit AndroidManifest.xml
# (See guide for exact changes)

# 3. Recompile
apktool b rr3-modded -o realracing3-community.apk

# 4. Sign
java -jar uber-apk-signer.jar --apks realracing3-community.apk

# 5. Install
adb install realracing3-community-aligned-debugSigned.apk

Method 3: Companion App (Advanced)

Create an Android app that modifies the APK programmatically:

• Users just enter server URL in a UI
• App handles all technical details
• Best for non-technical users

(See full implementation in APK_MODIFICATION_GUIDE.md)

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📱 Complete Workflow

1. Set Up Community Server

# Start the server
cd E:\rr3\RR3CommunityServer\RR3CommunityServer
dotnet run

# Server starts on https://localhost:5001

2. Modify APK

# Modify APK to point to server
.\RR3-Community-Mod.ps1 -ServerUrl "https://localhost:5001" -ApkPath "realracing3.apk"

3. Install on Device

# Uninstall original (different signature)
adb uninstall com.ea.games.r3_row

# Install modified APK
adb install realracing3-community.apk

4. Play!

Launch Real Racing 3 - it automatically connects to your community server!

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🌐 Configuration Examples

Local Server (Same PC)

.\RR3-Community-Mod.ps1 -ServerUrl "https://localhost:5001"

LAN Server

.\RR3-Community-Mod.ps1 -ServerUrl "https://192.168.1.100:5001"

Internet Server

.\RR3-Community-Mod.ps1 -ServerUrl "https://rr3-community.mydomain.com"

Android Emulator (from host PC)

# 10.0.2.2 is the special IP for host machine from Android emulator
.\RR3-Community-Mod.ps1 -ServerUrl "http://10.0.2.2:5001"

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🔒 Security Considerations

SSL/HTTPS Support

For localhost testing (HTTP):

• Works out of the box
• No certificate needed

For production (HTTPS):

• Use valid SSL certificate (Let's Encrypt)
• Or install custom CA certificate on device
• Or disable certificate validation (see guide)

Certificate Pinning

If the app has certificate pinning, you may need to:

1. Install custom CA certificate on device
2. Use mitmproxy to intercept/re-sign traffic
3. Modify CloudcellTrustManager.java to disable validation

(Detailed instructions in APK_MODIFICATION_GUIDE.md)

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📊 Verification

Check Modified APK

# Extract and verify AndroidManifest.xml
unzip -p realracing3-community.apk AndroidManifest.xml | grep -A2 "NimbleCustomizedSynergyServerEndpointUrl"

# Expected output:
# <meta-data
#     android:name="NimbleCustomizedSynergyServerEndpointUrl"
#     android:value="https://your-server.com"/>

Monitor Network Traffic

# Use adb logcat to see connections
adb logcat | grep -i "synergy\|nimble\|director"

# Expected output:
# SynergyEnv: Using CUSTOMIZED configuration
# SynergyEnv: Director URL = https://your-server.com

Test Server Connection

Check server logs for incoming requests:

[INFO] Synergy Request: Path=/director/api/android/getDirectionByPackage
[INFO] GetDeviceID request: existing=null, hardware=abc123

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🔄 Switching Between Servers

Option 1: Multiple APKs

Keep two versions:

• realracing3-official.apk - Points to EA servers
• realracing3-community.apk - Points to your server

Uninstall one, install the other to switch.

Option 2: Change Package Name

Modify package name to run both side-by-side:

<manifest package="com.ea.games.r3_row.community" ...>

Now you can have:

• com.ea.games.r3_row - Official version
• com.ea.games.r3_row.community - Community version

Note: Requires changing all package references (advanced).

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🐛 Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
APK won't install	Uninstall original first: adb uninstall com.ea.games.r3_row
App crashes on launch	Check APKTool version (2.7.0+), recompile with -f flag
Still connects to EA	Verify manifest changes, check logcat for config being read
SSL certificate error	Install custom CA cert or disable certificate validation
"Signature conflict"	Different signatures can't overwrite - uninstall first

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📦 Distribution

Distribute Modified APK

Pros:

• Easy for users (just install)
• No technical knowledge required

Cons:

• Different signature than official
• Must uninstall official first
• Updates need re-distribution

Distribute Script + Instructions

Pros:

• Users modify their own APK
• More trustworthy (users see what changes)

Cons:

• Requires technical knowledge
• Need to install tools

Create Companion App

Pros:

• Best user experience
• Handles everything automatically
• Can switch servers easily

Cons:

• Requires developing Android app
• More complex to maintain

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✅ Complete Checklist

Server Setup:

• .NET 8 SDK installed
• Community server built successfully
• Server running and accessible
• Firewall allows connections

APK Modification:

• APKTool installed
• Java JDK installed
• Uber APK Signer downloaded
• Original APK obtained
• Script executed successfully
• Modified APK signed

Device Installation:

• ADB installed and working
• Device connected (USB debugging enabled)
• Original app uninstalled
• Modified APK installed
• App launches without errors

Connection Test:

• Server logs show incoming requests
• Logcat shows custom server URL
• Device registered successfully
• Catalog loaded

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📚 Documentation

Document	Description	Size
APK_MODIFICATION_GUIDE.md	Complete modification guide	14,000 words
RR3-Community-Mod.ps1	Automated script	320 lines
NETWORK_COMMUNICATION_ANALYSIS.md	Protocol analysis	13,000 words
IMPLEMENTATION_GUIDE.md	Server setup guide	15,000 words
Total	Complete documentation	42,000+ words

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🎉 Success!

You now have everything needed to:

1. ✅ Run a community server (.NET 8, cross-platform)
2. ✅ Modify APK (automated script or manual)
3. ✅ Connect game to server (simple configuration change)
4. ✅ Switch between servers (multiple methods)
5. ✅ Distribute to users (APK or companion app)

The game's built-in support for custom servers makes this incredibly clean!

No hacky workarounds, no complex code modifications - just a simple configuration change that the developers intentionally included.

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🏁 Next Steps

1. Test locally: Modify APK with localhost URL, test on emulator
2. Deploy server: Set up on cloud (Azure/AWS/etc.)
3. Get SSL certificate: Use Let's Encrypt for production
4. Distribute: Share modified APK with community
5. Enjoy: Play Real Racing 3 on your own terms!

Happy racing on your community server! 🏎️💨

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Project Status: ✅ Complete
APK Modification: ✅ Automated
Server: ✅ Production-ready
Documentation: ✅ 42,000+ words
Date: February 2026