ApexRivals Career Mode Shakes Up The Singleplayer Experience in Assetto Corsa & Automobilista 2

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AR Cover Image.jpg
Image: Kunos Simulazioni
Are you tired of being shunted into the barrier at turn one in every single online race you do? Well, fear not. ApexRivals gives you the online ranking experience with ELO and a competitive environment but against Assetto Corsa or Automobilista 2's AI.

Within ApexRivals, created by modder EverLastingApex, you are not the main character. The AI does not pander to you, and the application does a fantastic job of ensuring each race you compete in has a consequence in the end if you have a terrible result. If you finish at the bottom of the table, you won't get an offer from a team in the higher division.

Race Results.png

Mid-season overview. Image: EverLastingApex

The variety of classes spans a tiered system, and once you have started climbing, you will come across more advanced machinery. You will start in karts, streetcars, and a handful of supercars before you get anywhere near GT or Formula cars.

The advancements through this career model are tailored to the experience you want to have. If you are racing in Assetto Corsa, you can adjust just about every getting to make the championship exactly how you want it to be.

Screenshot 2024-12-04 122048.png
An example of a pre-championship setup within Assetto Corsa

Each AI is forced to be fully persistent throughout the career mode. This allows each AI driver to have an entire career, progression and stats, just like the player. Be aware that once you start reaching the heights of multi-class races, the load on your PC could become too much for some lower-end machines to load constantly.

Mods & Add-ons​

Unlike more generic career mode options, ApexRivals allows you to use your entire catalogue of mods and addons like liveries and sound packs. The scale of this championship builder is relatively extraordinary, and the racing is just as good. Each driver has a profile photo and an identifiable national flag to give the career mode a bit more depth, and these can all be customized.


It is not just Assetto Corsa you can enjoy this single-player experience through. The freshly updated Automobilista 2, in all of its 1.6 glory, is also an option. Of course, modding cars and tracks into Automobilista 2 is not possible as easily as with AC, but livery packs with accurate driver names, helmets and car liveries are! This next level of immersion is something unique that Automobilista 2 offers in droves.

There are so many routes you could take your career mode through. If you have a love of touring cars, there are plenty of mods to bolster your career mode appropriately. The same goes for formula cars, historic and GTs.

What do you think about this single-player career style? Is it something you would want to try? Let us know in the comments down below and join the discussion in our forums!
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Connor Minniss
Connor Minniss
Website Content Editor & Motorsport Photographer aiming to bring you the best of the best within the world of sim racing.

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gdubmx
Having tried all 3 companion apps for ams2 they all offer something slightly different, I played about 100 hours with apex rivals but it became evident after some time that once you are a high enough "level" you could only drive in those top categories such as gt3, f1 etc. This was a few versions back of the mod so not sure if it has changed since.

For the win is another app which focuses on licenses to enter certain series, didn't spend a much time with this as I found it to be a little simple compared to the other mods. I will however visit it again once a new update arrives.

Lastly, my favourite out of all available companion apps is @pombeiros Racing Life app. It feels like the most "natural" app to coincide with ams2, you can decide to race whatever series you like whenever you like, buy cars, lease cars, choose sponsors, take loans, race special events etc. It also allows for you to run simultaneous series at once. Race at Silverstone dtms on Saturday morning, then race at interlagos in f3 during the early evening of the same day. Plus, it works with raceroom too.

Massive thanks to all authors of the aforementioned mods, without you guys offline racers get bored. Thank you
 
Davide Nativo
Premium
gdubmx said:
Race at Silverstone dtms on Saturday morning, then race at interlagos in f3 during the early evening of the same day.
Click to expand...
Although that might be a bit of an immersion breaker. I like the idea of racing multiple series, just like the drivers of the golden era used to, but that is a bit of a stretch.
 
EverlastingApex
gdubmx said:
Having tried all 3 companion apps for ams2 they all offer something slightly different, I played about 100 hours with apex rivals but it became evident after some time that once you are a high enough "level" you could only drive in those top categories such as gt3, f1 etc. This was a few versions back of the mod so not sure if it has changed since.

For the win is another app which focuses on licenses to enter certain series, didn't spend a much time with this as I found it to be a little simple compared to the other mods. I will however visit it again once a new update arrives.

Lastly, my favourite out of all available companion apps is @pombeiros Racing Life app. It feels like the most "natural" app to coincide with ams2, you can decide to race whatever series you like whenever you like, buy cars, lease cars, choose sponsors, take loans, race special events etc. It also allows for you to run simultaneous series at once. Race at Silverstone dtms on Saturday morning, then race at interlagos in f3 during the early evening of the same day. Plus, it works with raceroom too.

Massive thanks to all authors of the aforementioned mods, without you guys offline racers get bored. Thank you
Click to expand...
Hey! I'm the maker of ApexRivals

In the newer version of the app, you can end up multiclassing at the top tier, and race in a lower class such as GT4, multiclassing against something like LMDh, while still being a tier 1 racer (though multiclassing is only possible in the pro version)

Or, if you prefer, you can manually pick the option to "drop down" a tier and force yourself into a lower tier. Your rivals also have that option, they still play by the same rules you do

Lastly, if you end up "stuck" at the upper tiers, you might want to just increase the difficulty, finishing mid-pack will let the other drivers challenge you for promotions and you may drop a couple tiers

The next major update is also going to bring back special events from the older version of the app, which will have one-off events at a set date, which will be completely separate from the regular league, so this could allow you to race slower cars even being a tier 1 racer

I'm always open to feedback though so don't be afraid to reach out if you have suggestions!
 
J
Great as this sounds, the biggest immersion breaker for AC is the AI itself. A universe where rolling starts aren't possible, the AI never pits for tires because it doesn't suffer tire wear, and any race longer than a fuel stint is an exercise in frustration among other issues, is not a universe worth having a career in.

Wish some modders would commit to improving the foundations of race administration before piling on fluff like career tracking.
 
P
TomLehockySVK said:
I would not call AMS2 "singleplayer ready" just yet.
Click to expand...
This ridiculous video clearly showcases the YouTuber's determination to discredit AMS2. While the AI isn't perfect, it significantly surpasses that of other simulators, which I won't name out of respect for their individual merits. All simulators have their strengths and weaknesses, including AMS2. However, AMS2 seems to be a particular target for unwarranted criticism. I wonder if this is due to jealousy, malice, or perhaps the fear of players migrating to a competing title?

As an exclusive VR player, I don't play ACC, but I acknowledge its strengths. For my part, I thoroughly enjoy all other simulators, each bringing its own unique touch. I want to thank the developers and modders of all simulators for their hard work in creating these incredible experiences.
 
TomLehockySVK
Pazop said:
This ridiculous video clearly showcases the YouTuber's determination to discredit AMS2. While the AI isn't perfect, it significantly surpasses that of other simulators, which I won't name out of respect for their individual merits. All simulators have their strengths and weaknesses, including AMS2. However, AMS2 seems to be a particular target for unwarranted criticism. I wonder if this is due to jealousy, malice, or perhaps the fear of players migrating to a competing title?

As an exclusive VR player, I don't play ACC, but I acknowledge its strengths. For my part, I thoroughly enjoy all other simulators, each bringing its own unique touch. I want to thank the developers and modders of all simulators for their hard work in creating these incredible experiences.
Click to expand...
Why the heck would i want to "discredit" a game that i've put (by my average) a ludicrous number of hours into ?
20241203000605_1.jpg
And i also make zero money out of any videos that i upload. I only make them to show people when they speak about how AI in racing simulator is great that no, it is actually TERRIBLE and my video doesn't even cover half of the nonsense that happened to me when i tried to have just any race on any track with any car - all of it was broken in some way that ruined immersion in multiple ways. It is not even at a point of "Good enough" !

Try starting in the midfield and race GT4 at Laguna Seca and tell me your experience, if you actually enjoyed the nonsense that happens there, or the Le Mans Bugatti opening lap and then the subsequent Turn 1 nonsense that keeps happening afterwards.

If you actually watched the video in it's entirety you would have seen that i also praise the AI where they should be, but overall the experience is nothing short of a disaster if you want a pure offline experience, the game is nowhere near ready.
 
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DB_1973
Premium
jonination said:
Great as this sounds, the biggest immersion breaker for AC is the AI itself. A universe where rolling starts aren't possible, the AI never pits for tires because it doesn't suffer tire wear, and any race longer than a fuel stint is an exercise in frustration among other issues, is not a universe worth having a career in.

Wish some modders would commit to improving the foundations of race administration before piling on fluff like career tracking.
Click to expand...
Your kinda behind the times with AC. New AI improvments have made the AI much better.( still not perfect). With Nuzzi's apps he fixes most, if not all the issues you are having.
 
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SharkVA
TomLehockySVK said:
Why the heck would i want to "discredit" a game that i've put (by my average) a ludicrous number of hours into ?
View attachment 803339And i also make zero money out of any videos that i upload. I only make them to show people when they speak about how AI in racing simulator is great that no, it is actually TERRIBLE and my video doesn't even cover half of the nonsense that happened to me when i tried to have just any race on any track with any car - all of it was broken in some way that ruined immersion in multiple ways. It is not even at a point of "Good enough" ! Try to starting in the midfield and race GT4 at Laguna Seca and tell me your experience, if you actually enjoyed the nonsense that happens there, or the Le Mans Bugatti opening lap and then the subsequent Turn 1 nonsense that keeps happening afterwards.

If you actually watched the video in it's entirety you would have seen that i also praise the AI where they should be, but overall the experience is nothing short of a disaster if you want a pure offline experience, the game is nowhere near ready.
Click to expand...
Out of curiosity, what type of skill and aggression levels are typical in these sessions? Would be interesting to take a deep dive on how skill, aggression and now the additional attributes (mistakes, wet skill, etc.) affect them in specific scenarios. If you're ever bored enough to test it that is. Maybe one day we'll see all of the new age machine learning put to use in sim racing and have AI capable of believable racing. I have yet to encounter AI in any sim that holds water to a human grid...here's to hoping.
 
TomLehockySVK
SharkVA said:
Out of curiosity, what type of skill and aggression levels are typical in these sessions? Would be interesting to take a deep dive on how skill, aggression and now the additional attributes (mistakes, wet skill, etc.) affect them in specific scenarios. If you're ever bored enough to test it that is. Maybe one day we'll see all of the new age machine learning put to use in sim racing and have AI capable of believable racing. I have yet to encounter AI in any sim that holds water to a human grid...here's to hoping.
Click to expand...
I have done many, many more tests than what i showed in that particular video. Unfortunately there are just fundamental issues with the AI that no matter how you adjust skill, aggression or detailed attributes, you simply CANNOT achieve a good experience. I use between 110 and 120 difficulty and with open wheel cars either Low or Medium aggression because otherwise they will be getting stuck into each other's wheels, and High or Maximum for everything else otherwise they are even more hesitant to make a pass.
 
Cote Dazur
TomLehockySVK said:
you simply CANNOT achieve a good experience
Click to expand...
This resume the situation very well from my POV. You cannot, from what you have highlighted in your video, fair enough.
This video, thank you for taking the time to put it together, is very revealing to me. It reveals, what you mean when you say, AI in AMS2 is not good. Most of the time, we only get the short sentence, from diverse post, either AI in title x is good or not good, with no indication, or very little, of what makes that particular individual like, or not like, AI in title X.
From what I have seen in your video, my impression is that AMS2 AI is not bad, I can have fun with such an AI. It is also not that different from any other AI.
For the record, from my POV, I regularly enjoy AMS2 AI, but also in AC, ACC, PCars2, LMU. Not on every combo all the time, but most of the time, which makes my daily SIM driving a very nice and enjoyable experience.
I hope, more people, when criticizing AI, will show us exactly what it is they dislike, as I suspect most of us will notice, that in fact, it is their expectations that are not met, not that the AI is particularly inadequate.
So thank you again for showing us in details and I hope one day a title will have AI that meet your standards for you to enjoy.
 
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M
Premium
Cote Dazur said:
This resume the situation very well from my POV. You cannot, from what you have highlighted in your video, fair enough.
This video, thank you for taking the time to put it together, is very revealing to me. It reveals, what you mean when you say, AI in AMS2 is not good. Most of the time, we only get the short sentence, from diverse post, either AI in title x is good or not good, with no indication, or very little, of what makes that particular individual like, or not like, AI in title X.
From what I have seen in your video, my impression is that AMS2 AI is not bad, I can have fun with such an AI. It is also not that different from any other AI.
For the record, from my POV, I regularly enjoy AMS2 AI, but also in AC, ACC, PCars2, LMU. Not on every combo all the time, but most of the time, which makes my daily SIM driving a very nice and enjoyable experience.
I hope, more people, when criticizing AI, will show us exactly what it is they dislike, as I suspect most of us will notice, that in fact, it is their expectations that are not met, not that the AI is particularly inadequate.
So thank you again for showing us in details and I hope one day a title will have AI that meet your standards for you to enjoy.
Click to expand...
Yep, totally agree. I see Tom post all the time on various threads/youtube videos about the AI being not fit for purpose. A couple of other people also do this. They make it seem like the AI is totally inadequate and this puzzles me, because I, and my friends, have a good time with the AI and I find it a useful tool to prepare for online races. So there is clearly a sky high expectation that is not being met here. And I doubt any games outside F1 games that exists now will meet those expectations. And it is obvious why it's easier to code AI for the F1 games.
We get it. But Reiza will work away steadily at it in their way, with their limited resources and it will improve. It's a massive disservice to the effort that has gone into the AI though ( and if he in the beta program he knows how much that is ) to paint it as non functional. For the majority of users, its pretty decent and one of the better ones. iRacing might be a bit better, but the base game is dull and joyless so I'd rather not thanks.
 
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Cote Dazur
mcroshaw said:
Reiza will work away steadily at it in their way, with their limited resources and it will improve
Click to expand...
For me, it has improved in 1.6 on something that was important to me. On many combo, the cars acceleration was very different from what my car was able to achieve, I find that in 1.6, Reiza as mitigated the issue, that is a big bonus for me to enjoy AMS2 Ai even more.
 
P
TomLehockySVK said:
Why the heck would i want to "discredit" a game that i've put (by my average) a ludicrous number of hours into ?
View attachment 803339And i also make zero money out of any videos that i upload. I only make them to show people when they speak about how AI in racing simulator is great that no, it is actually TERRIBLE and my video doesn't even cover half of the nonsense that happened to me when i tried to have just any race on any track with any car - all of it was broken in some way that ruined immersion in multiple ways. It is not even at a point of "Good enough" !

Try starting in the midfield and race GT4 at Laguna Seca and tell me your experience, if you actually enjoyed the nonsense that happens there, or the Le Mans Bugatti opening lap and then the subsequent Turn 1 nonsense that keeps happening afterwards.

If you actually watched the video in it's entirety you would have seen that i also praise the AI where they should be, but overall the experience is nothing short of a disaster if you want a pure offline experience, the game is nowhere near ready.
Click to expand...
My takeaway from this post is that you can change the pic of the game in the library, and I want to do the same, because that looks so cool!
 
P
TomLehockySVK said:
I would not call AMS2 "singleplayer ready" just yet.
Click to expand...
Nice work, you do a good job highlighting where it has gotten better and where it's still lacking. In short, this video goes with my line of thinking: it needs both more calibration passes, AND code fleshing to make it "think" with a broader approach different scenarios, as it makes illogical decisions because it seems to trigger a different understanding, so to speak.

Not an easy job trying to make it fit on such a large content scope, but it's an opportunity to push AI forward, we sorely need it.

Got a question for you: how would you say that AI on Codemasters's F1 games compares to Grand Prix 4? (I assume you played the latter).
 
TomLehockySVK
pai said:
Nice work, you do a good job highlighting where it has gotten better and where it's still lacking. In short, this video goes with my line of thinking: it needs both more calibration passes, AND code fleshing to make it "think" with a broader approach different scenarios, as it makes illogical decisions because it seems to trigger a different understanding, so to speak.

Not an easy job trying to make it fit on such a large content scope, but it's an opportunity to push AI forward, we sorely need it.

Got a question for you: how would you say that AI on Codemasters's F1 games compares to Grand Prix 4? (I assume you played the latter).
Click to expand...
Thank you, glad you enjoyed the video. I did not want to make it just a "This is all bad and you should dislike it", especially the 3-wide passing of GT4, GT3 and LMDh was perfect, Opala 86 has some great moments, F-Retro Gen 1 overtaking of the player was amazing, there are good things there ! It needs some drastic adjusting and maybe push a bit over the edge with values to show them be more bold with moves instead of going in a train or passing through the grass.

I got into simracing just a few years ago and unfortunately never got around the Grand Prix series. But with the Codemasters series i have experience and can safely say that F1 22 and 23 are THE benchmark when it comes to quality AI racing experiences. Here from 1:23 watch how i have to pass the Alpha Tauri on the outside because they actively block the inside, then at 1:55 when i think i passed my teammate he comes back at me with ERS and goes on the left of the Alpine, which i know our cars are faster than Alpine so i slide behind him and we both drive away. Then at 2:20 i finally complete the overtake. I might have had the AI difficulty set too low in this video but it shows AI defending, attacking, changing lanes, not hesitating when they see an opening, exactly what i expect from AI in a racing game.
 

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