Speculation is rife that Assetto Corsa EVO will feature free roaming after a road outside the Nürburgring was seemingly spotted in the trailer.
It’s been a few days since Kunos Simulazioni provided a first glimpse of Assetto Corsa EVO before its early access release in January 2025. The announcement trailer showcased several new cars, weather effects, and other hidden details. But one particular shot has sparked speculation that Assetto Corsa EVO may feature free-roaming elements. This would be a surprising direction for the series, which primarily focuses on circuit racing.
Towards the end of the trailer, a Morgan Super-3 is shown cruising down a country road as a BMW M4 CSL drives past it on the opposite side. This has caused fans to speculate if this means Assetto Corsa EVO will have explorable environments with traffic cars cruising the streets.
Image: Kunos Simulazioni / 505 Games
Open-world environments with traffic are popular in the Assetto Corsa modding scene, but this would be unprecedented in the standard version of Assetto Corsa EVO. If free roaming is in Assetto Corsa EVO, Kunos has seemingly been inspired by Assetto Corsa’s active modding community.
Image: Michel Wolk
With its hairpin turns, elevation changes, and fast-flowing layout, the L92 is like a rally course. It is a heavenly driving road and would be a fun addition to Assetto Corsa EVO outside of circuit racing.
Furthermore, an eagle-eyed fan on Reddit spotted a house appearing in the Morgan's wing mirror. This was then matched with a house in Hauptstraße outside the Nürburgring, further implying that players can visit the circuit's surrounding roads in Assetto Corsa EVO.
Image: Kunos Simulazioni / 505 Games
Of course, this is not confirmation that Assetto Corsa EVO will have free roam. The shot could have been created specifically for the trailer, or it could simply be a Gran Turismo-style cinematic in the game showcasing the roads outside the Nürburgring. Considering it is an M4 CSL, the car driving on the opposite could also be returning from the Nürburgring rather than a traffic car.
However, this would be an exciting new direction for the series. Games like Forza Horizon 5, The Crew Motorfest, and Test Drive Unlimited let you enjoy the freedom of the open road in exotic cars, but these titles tend to be simcade or pure arcade games. With Assetto Corsa’s class-leading physics, EVO would provide the most realistic open-world driving experience yet.
Alas, we will have to wait and see if Assetto Corsa EVO has free roaming when Kunos shares more details. But having the freedom to explore the surrounding roads before hitting the track and doing some hot laps is a tantalising prospect. Free roaming would add a new dimension to Assetto Corsa EVO and potentially broaden the appeal of sim racing.
Are you hoping to see free roaming and explore an open world in Assetto Corsa EVO? Let us know in the comments below or join the discussion on our forum.
It’s been a few days since Kunos Simulazioni provided a first glimpse of Assetto Corsa EVO before its early access release in January 2025. The announcement trailer showcased several new cars, weather effects, and other hidden details. But one particular shot has sparked speculation that Assetto Corsa EVO may feature free-roaming elements. This would be a surprising direction for the series, which primarily focuses on circuit racing.
Towards the end of the trailer, a Morgan Super-3 is shown cruising down a country road as a BMW M4 CSL drives past it on the opposite side. This has caused fans to speculate if this means Assetto Corsa EVO will have explorable environments with traffic cars cruising the streets.
Image: Kunos Simulazioni / 505 Games
Open-world environments with traffic are popular in the Assetto Corsa modding scene, but this would be unprecedented in the standard version of Assetto Corsa EVO. If free roaming is in Assetto Corsa EVO, Kunos has seemingly been inspired by Assetto Corsa’s active modding community.
Visiting The Real Location
Specifically, the stretch of road in the trailer appears to be a hairpin corner on the L92, a public road near the Nürburgring leading to the town of Adenau in Germany. Our own Michel Wolk visited the location to compare it with the Assetto Corsa EVO trailer, and the similarities are striking. Everything from the cobblestones, angled guardrail, roadside posts, and trees closely match the real location.Image: Michel Wolk
With its hairpin turns, elevation changes, and fast-flowing layout, the L92 is like a rally course. It is a heavenly driving road and would be a fun addition to Assetto Corsa EVO outside of circuit racing.
Furthermore, an eagle-eyed fan on Reddit spotted a house appearing in the Morgan's wing mirror. This was then matched with a house in Hauptstraße outside the Nürburgring, further implying that players can visit the circuit's surrounding roads in Assetto Corsa EVO.
Image: Kunos Simulazioni / 505 Games
Of course, this is not confirmation that Assetto Corsa EVO will have free roam. The shot could have been created specifically for the trailer, or it could simply be a Gran Turismo-style cinematic in the game showcasing the roads outside the Nürburgring. Considering it is an M4 CSL, the car driving on the opposite could also be returning from the Nürburgring rather than a traffic car.
However, this would be an exciting new direction for the series. Games like Forza Horizon 5, The Crew Motorfest, and Test Drive Unlimited let you enjoy the freedom of the open road in exotic cars, but these titles tend to be simcade or pure arcade games. With Assetto Corsa’s class-leading physics, EVO would provide the most realistic open-world driving experience yet.
Alas, we will have to wait and see if Assetto Corsa EVO has free roaming when Kunos shares more details. But having the freedom to explore the surrounding roads before hitting the track and doing some hot laps is a tantalising prospect. Free roaming would add a new dimension to Assetto Corsa EVO and potentially broaden the appeal of sim racing.
Are you hoping to see free roaming and explore an open world in Assetto Corsa EVO? Let us know in the comments below or join the discussion on our forum.
