The hype train for Assetto Corsa EVO is running at full speed since the first playable version was available at SimRacing Expo 2024. Here's what we learned so far about Assetto Corsa EVO.
Images: Kunos Simulazioni
Last updated: October 25, 2024
To say that sim racers are curious about Assetto Corsa EVO would be an understatement. Rarely has a sim been met with as much anticipation as Kunos Simulazioni's third entry in the franchise after 2014's Assetto Corsa and 2019's Assetto Corsa Competizione. AC EVO is due for an early access launch on Steam on January 16, 2025, and for the longest time, Kunos did not share many details regarding the title - or rather any at all.
This changed in late September of 2024, when the early access launch date was confirmed and the first trailer of AC EVO was shown. The trailer allowed for a few conclusions to be drawn, but the hype train truly picked up speed at ADAC SimRacing Expo where the first hands-on version was available, as well as the opportunity for interviews with Kunos Simulazioni themselves.
Naturally, we took this opportunity and spoke to both Game Director Davide Brivio during our live stream, and Kunos Co-Founder and Executive Manager Marco Massarutto. Luckily, both were happy to share a lot more details on AC EVO. To keep you up to speed, here's what we know about Assetto Corsa EVO so far.
Will Assetto Corsa EVO support mods?
It is the most important item on many sim racers' wishlists for Assetto Corsa EVO - modding support. This should not come as a surprise to anyone, as mods are what made the original Assetto Corsa the sim racing staple it is today, even ten years after its release.The good news for modding enthusiasts: Mods will be possible in Assetto Corsa EVO, but not from the beginning. Instead, Kunos want the game to be "in a stable enough state for us to introduce the necessary tools for the community", as Brivio told us during our live stream.
Marco Massarutto went on to explain that they want to create a system of curated mods, as they must take the licensing agreements with the brands seriously. However, they are also considering a system that would allow mod creators to participate financially, but free mods should also be possible. It remains to be seen what exactly this will look like in the end.
Will Assetto Corsa EVO have free roaming?
One of the most popular types of mods for the original Assetto Corsa, free roam maps are the subject of many sim racers' enjoyment. There are countless options available online, and many of them in the OverTake download section, such as LA Canyons by @Phoenix77 or Union Island by @Ben O'Bro.After what looked like public roads around the Nürburgring-Nordschleife in the first trailer, Brivio confirmed that free roaming with traffic will be in Assetto Corsa EVO, which Massarutto later explained with Kunos wanting players to have the opportunity to enjoy both race and road cars in the environments they thrive in.
In an interview with GamerMuscle, Massarutto said the open world will be designed for petrolheads, with fueling cars, going to the workshop, renting cars, buying cars at the dealership and more being possible.
What exactly this free-roaming mode will look like is not clear yet, but we are eager to find out more details in the lead-up to the early access release.
What cars will be in Assetto Corsa EVO?
Unlike Assetto Corsa Competizione, AC EVO will not be focused on a single discipline of racing. Instead, it will return to the roots of the original game, featuring both road cars and racing machines, both of the modern and classic varieties. So far, most of the confirmed cars are road-going, but more race cars will come, and from various disciplines, too.List of confirmed cars for AC EVO
- Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm
- Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA
- Alpine A110 S
- Alpine A290_β
- BMW M4 CSL
- Ferrari 296 GTB
- Ferrari Daytona SP3
- Ferrari F40 Competizione
- Ford Fiesta ST
- (Honda S2000)
- Hyundai i20 N
- Hyundai i30 N
- Hyundai IONIQ 5 N
- Hyundai N Vision 74
- Lamborghini Huracán STO
- Lotus Emira
- McLaren 765 LT
- Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992)
- Porsche 911 Turbo (964)
- Mercedes-Benz 190E Evo II
- Mercedes-AMG GT2
- Morgan Super-3
- Mini Cooper
- Volkswagen Golf GTI (MK1)
- Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport (MK8)
On its early access launch, AC EVO will feature at least 20 cars, as per Kunos.
Can you customize cars in AC EVO?
We know that there will be plenty of road cars to drive to open-world workshops. In our live stream, Brivio confirmed that performance and visual tuning will also be on board. We will be able to fit different tyres, from wet to sport, semi-slicks and racing tyres. We will be able to change the colour and there will be at least factory body parts. The game will also have licenses from a number of motorsport manufacturers, including for gloves, helmets and more.What tracks are in Assetto Corsa EVO?
While the list of confirmed cars has already exceeded 20 entries, it is still rather short regarding tracks. From what could be observed in the trailer, screenshots and played in the pre-alpha version, the following circuits could be confirmed for now:- Brands Hatch
- Fuji Speedway
- Imola
- Mount Panorama (Bathurst)
- Nürburgring incl. Nordschleife
Kunos have stated that AC EVO will hit early access with five tracks on board. In an interview in Italian that has been brought to our attention by @Giando Fraschini, Massarutto named Brands Hatch, Mount Panorama, Imola and Fuji to be available once the game launches in Early Access, with the fifth circuit still being evaluated - so there is no Nordschleife guarantee for January 16 yet.
It has also been confirmed that there will be some sort of proving ground where drifting and testing will be possible. Drifting is an important factor for Kunos, as the first AC has a huge scene for it. This could argue for some dedicated tracks and mountain roads. There will also be a Driving Academy where you can learn the basics of racing and car physics.
Will Assetto Corsa EVO use Unreal Engine?
No. Unlike ACC, which runs on Unreal Engine 4, Kunos have reverted to an in-house engine for AC EVO. The studio opted for an all-new version instead of enhancing the original Assetto Corsa's engine. This gives Kunos more flexibility to do what they want to do with the game.Additionally, it will add to the longevity of the game, as Massarutto stated: "The structure allows us to support the game for many years, maybe even forever."
What will Assetto Corsa EVO's weather system be like?
Kunos' own engine also means that they can include a much more intricate weather system than previously seen. This allows for advanced features such as physically correct water flow, a proper wet line, a drying racing line according to where the cars actually run, and clouds that can result in rain on parts of the track whereas others are dry. Fog can also form, allowing for Eifel weather on the Nordschleife, with all its implications for the race. Day and night changes are on board, too.Will Assetto Corsa EVO support VR and triple screens?
Yes. Being able to offer both was one of the main reasons for Kunos to switch to an in-house engine again. "VR and triple screen support are at the top of our list ", Massarutto confirmed.Thanks to the new engine, Kunos will be able to deliver these. VR will be available right from the start, and the triple screen issue is also being worked on at full speed.
What will online multiplayer look like in AC EVO?
Competitive online racing is planned to be in AC EVO, and Kunos has taken an interesting approach to this by cooperating with SimGrid. The thought behind this is that SimGrid can offer their expertise for the ranked multiplayer side of things, leaving Kunos themselves with more resources to focus on the core gameplay.On the other hand, leagues and community servers will also be possible, as the SimGrid cooperation does not mean that multiplayer will exclusively be handled via their platform. Like in the previous two titles, AC EVO will rely on a server-based online model rather than P2P connections like in Automobilista 2, for example.
Will AC EVO have a singleplayer or career mode?
While both AC and ACC did technically have career modes, most sim racers never really touched them as they were lacking quite a lot. Kunos plans for that to be very different in Assetto Corsa EVO, as players will start out with some money - purely an in-game currency, as Kunos explained - to buy their first car. From that point, they will increase both their reputation and currency, allowing them to upgrade their cars and buy new ones. You will also be able to rent cars early on to be able to drive more expensive cars like Porsches or Ferraris.We also asked about the AI and Marco Massarutto said that there will be an element of AI drivers with names and different character shows on the track and their behaviour. There will also be some sort of machine learning, so if the AI overshot a corner, it will be more careful and choose a different line for the next lap. In multi-class events, slower cars should also respect higher classes. So the aim is to make everything feel alive and meaningful.
This will encompass online too, although not all aspects of it, as the competitive side of things will see a more traditional approach.
Will Assetto Corsa EVO be on consoles?
Development and the full release of the PC version is Kunos' priority for AC EVO, so console sim racers will have to be patient. AC EVO will indeed be released on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, but only when the full release of the game has happened.What PC specs do you need to run Assetto Corsa EVO?
While we will not find out about AC EVO's performance and optimization on different hardware, the game's Steam page already lists the system requirements. Find them in the lists below.Assetto Corsa EVO Minimum PC Specs
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit
- Processor: Intel i7 8700k / AMD 1500X
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: GTX 1070 / RX 580
- DirectX: Version 12
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 100 GB available space
- Sound Card: Integrated
- VR Support: SteamVR, Oculus VR, OpenXR
- Additional notes: SSD required
Assetto Corsa EVO Recommended PC Specs
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit / Windows 11 64-bit
- Processor: Intel i5 10500 / AMD 2600X
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: RTX 2070 / Radeon RX 5600
- DirectX: Version 12
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 100 GB available space
- Sound Card: Integrated
- VR Support: SteamVR, Oculus VR, OpenXR
- Additional notes: SSD required
What are you looking forward to the most in Assetto Corsa EVO? Let us know in the comments below and join the discussion in our forum!
