Just over ten years after the release of Assetto Corsa, Italian developer Kunos Simulazioni has released the sequel Assetto Corsa Evo, initially in Early Access. The franchise is very important for publisher 505 Games.

The sequel to Assetto Corsa (2014), Assetto Corsa Evo is the third game in the Assetto Corsa franchise. Like its predecessor, the game is a sim racer, in contrast to arcade racing games. It features cars from a variety of classes spanning years of motoring history - from road cars, classics, hypercars and racers. While Assetto Corsa Competizione, the esport-focused game in the series, was based on the Unreal Engine, Assetto Corsa Evo uses its own proprietary engine that is specifically tailored to the needs of the racing and automotive genre, simulating the physics of the cars, such as mechanical, electronic and aerodynamic performance. "The new tyre model enhances grip feedback, providing more precise information through the wheel. Upgraded suspension dynamics allow cars to react more naturally to bumps and surface changes. Advanced force feedback technology makes steering feel fuller and more visceral, while the new differentials and dampers deliver greater control and responsiveness," the developers point out.

As well as this striking car simulation, the graphics engine also does a great job. The weather system creates skies ranging from clear to the darkest storm, using volumetric clouds and fog, as well as dynamic global illumination and refined reflections. The vehicle models are also impressive and detailed, so the game has nothing to hide from other sim racers, but in terms of engine performance, this Early Access title has room for improvement. All in all, the game supports a full 24-hour race cycle, dynamic weather and track conditions, and full VR (very barebones at the moment) and triple-screen support.


The first Early Access build includes 20 cars from various classes and five tracks, recreated using laser scanning and photogrammetry: Laguna Seca (America), Brands Hatch and Imola (Europe), Mount Panorama (Australia) and Suzuka (Japan). The initial Early Access releases will focus on the single player mode with Practice Sessions, Quick Races, Driving Academy and Special Events: Hotstint and Test Drive. The Driving Academy is a new addition to the world of Assetto Corsa and allows players to progressively learn sections of each track, driving a wide range of different cars in challenges. This mode allows players to experience the first version of the game's economy and progression features to earn Driving Licences for more powerful cars, and to collect experience points and in-game credits that can be spent to start their collector's journey and customise their cars with parts.

At the moment, the content available is still fairly limited and there is plenty of room for improvement in terms of performance and AI drivers. The same goes for the XR mode, but Kunos Simulazioni and 505 Games have already laid the foundations for what could be the best game in the series so far. Despite the Early Access, buyers should be aware that there is still a long way to go (Wheel Setup Guide).

If all goes well, the full version 1.0 should be released in fall 2025. It will include 100 cars, 15 officially licensed tracks, with five more to follow as free updates after launch. During the Early Access period, new features, cars, tracks and game modes will be added, including multiplayer and an open-world map that recreates the Eifel region of Germany surrounding the Nürburgring motorsport complex.

"In these wonderful eleven years, first with Assetto Corsa and later with Assetto Corsa Competizione, we have always tried our best to offer our community the most rewarding simulation and competitive driving experience possible. Finally, after four years of development, we have reached the launch of the Early Access version of Assetto Corsa EVO, certainly our most ambitious project ever. However, this important milestone represents even more a new starting point, thanks to your support, to make Assetto Corsa EVO the racing simulation that our great community has  been eagerly awaiting. During the Early Access period, we will work to provide constant updates of content and modes, refining the experience based on the valuable feedback received from the community to give our title its best possible shape when it will be released in its full version this autumn." - Marco Massarutto, co-founder and Executive Manager of Kunos Simulazioni

Kunos Simulazioni is the developer behind Assetto Corsa Evo and the other games in the franchise. Founded in 2005, the Italian software development studio specialises in creating driving simulations for professional racing teams and consumer software. In 2017, the company was acquired by Digital Bros, the parent company of 505 Games, for a total value of €4.3 million. The franchise is vital for publisher 505 Games, which last year closed its offices in Germany (founded in 2009), France and Spain as part of a restructuring programme. As of May 2024, the Assetto Corsa franchise had generated revenues of more than €134 million with nearly 15 million copies sold, continuing to exceed forecast estimates. From July 2023 to March 2024, the brand generated revenues of €19.1 Million.


Assetto Corsa Evo was released on Steam Early Access on 16 January 2025 for around €40. It launched with the highest CCU in the franchise, with a peak of 25,752 - beating Assetto Corsa Competizione (released in 2019; CCU peak: 12,376) and Assetto Corsa (released in 2014; CCU peak: 19,796). Kunos Simulazioni and 505 Games aim to have the full 1.0 release ready in less than a year from the start of Early Access, but this depends on community feedback and the ambition to deliver a "polished, complete experience". The price is expected to increase with the release of version 1.0.

Conclusion

Assetto Corsa Evo is a pretty strong sim racer that may have been released into Early Access a few weeks too early. The content available at the moment is a little thin and the game still feels unfinished in places, but the great racing experience, car physics and car customisation are more than a good basis for future updates in Early Access.

Features
  • Sim racer with a great sense of driving and car physics
  • Car customisation and dynamic track conditions
  • Game content is currently quite limited, but there are big update plans, including an open world in the Eifel region in Early Access

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Written by

Marcel Kleffmann
Marcel Kleffmann