There’s something I’ve noticed for a while in the community: every time Kunos Simulazioni announces a new delay, not only does the disappointment arrive… but also the chorus of people defending the indefensible.
What shocks me the most isn’t the delay itself, but the attitude that’s expected from players: that we keep quiet, wait patiently, and understand because “that’s just how software development works.”
And no. It’s not wrong to demand better.
Paying Doesn’t Mean Signing a Silence Agreement
When I decided to buy Assetto Corsa EVO in Early Access, I knew what I was getting into. I didn’t expect a finished game. What I did expect was some level of consistency between what was promised and what was delivered.
I expected communication, reasonable updates, and above all, respect. Because when you pay, you’re not signing a loyalty contract — you’re entering a simple agreement: I give you my money, you give me a developing project with specific promises.
If that relationship breaks with unrealistic roadmaps, last-minute announcements and long silences then raising your voice is absolutely valid.
Criticism Isn’t Hate
Every time someone expresses frustration, others jump in saying things like: “You don’t understand how development works,” “you have to be patient,” “this is how Early Access goes.” As if those phrases invalidate any complaint. As if being disappointed means being toxic.
Criticism isn’t hate. In fact, it’s a legitimate form of feedback. It’s what helps studios steer in the right direction, prioritize what really matters, and understand how their community feels. Feedback doesn’t end with applause.
Some people think that defending the developer no matter what is being “positive.” But there’s a limit. Blind positivity becomes complacency. And complacency, in the gaming industry, is fertile ground for broken promises, crunch, shady decisions and misleading marketing.
Accepting everything without questioning doesn’t help studios. It harms them. Because they get used to silence and delays having no consequences. To making promises they don’t plan to keep while still selling without accountability.
Delays? Okay. Silence? No.
Most of us aren’t upset about an update being delayed. We’re upset when we find out on the last day of the month, after weeks of silence, through a vague Instagram story or a rushed message.
We’re not asking for miracles. We’re asking for information. An honest post now and then, explaining what went wrong, why it’s going to take longer, what’s coming and roughly when. Something that builds trust. That makes us feel part of the process, not just wallets with expectations.
Kunos Is Not Your Friend. It’s a Business.
Sometimes it seems like part of the community forgets this essential detail. Kunos is not our friend. It’s a company that charges for its product. And like any company, it has a responsibility to its customers. This isn’t about being ungrateful. It’s about remembering that this is a commercial exchange, not an emotional loyalty pact.
I don’t care if Marco or Ben work 18 hours a day or if the team is small. That might earn them empathy, but it doesn’t cancel out the right to demand they keep their word. Because if they can’t, then they shouldn’t be making promises they can’t keep.
Demanding Is Caring About What You Love
I want Assetto Corsa EVO to be a great simulator. I believe it can be. But for that to happen, we have to demand that the project is managed properly. That it doesn’t get lost in its own hype. That communication isn’t a recurring joke. That the trust we gave by paying doesn’t go to waste.
Because demanding doesn’t mean destroying. Demanding is caring. It’s saying: “this matters to me, that’s why I speak up.”
We’re not here to applaud every move or be free PR for Kunos. We’re here because we love what they’re trying to build, but also because we know that promises don’t fulfill themselves.
So yes: demanding is valid. And more than valid, it’s necessary. Because if we don’t do it, who will?
You can buy it from 23 euros in our Instant Gaming link:
Happy Racing!
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Hi Alberto,
I agree for a part with your view. Yes they could/should communicate better, they admitted if I’m correct, you’re criticism is that they break ‘promises’. For me I interpret the milestones as goals set out to achieve at a certain point in time.
If it takes longer, so be it, it’s an early access game. Your expectations do not align with early access games I think. Though constructive criticism keeps Kunos sharp. They corrected online/offline mode isn’t it?
I’m eagerly awaiting v0.3 and meanwhile I’m enjoying LMU also. Hopefully EVO turns out to be a awesome (moddable) sim with the free-roaming map and a plethora of cars and tracks.
Have a good (sim racing) weekend,
Richard
I’m hoping they have open wheelers like F1 cars,things seem to have slowed down or even come to a halt.
They will release open wheel-cars in version 0.3 i’m pretty sure.
Whining about delays isn’t feedback. It’s completely futile. Stop deluding yourself any further that anyone whining about a delay is going to speed up development or make the developer change direction. You’ve written a lot of words but not a single sentence is of any use to anyone other than yourself. Your demands are not achievable. You may as well stand outside on a rainy day shouting at the sky that you’d planned to go to the beach and demand sunshine. The weather won’t change and you just look a bit silly doing that if you’re a grown up. That’s all the people whining look like silly men. Unless they’re kids and, well sure we all know kids whine in the back of a car about the travel time – does that make you drive faster? No.
A good maxim is that time flies when you have fun. So find something to occupy your mind. If that’s not Evo then pick something else. When the update arrives play it and then you can give some feedback that might change the development and that the developer might find useful. Rest assured though nothing you wrote here was that.
If you do it here on your own site great. If you constantly whine pointlessly in other places where the game is discussed though it’s both pointless and disruptive. That’s why people want you to stfu. It’s not silence they want but constructive discussion. That’s only made worse if the whining goes into hyperbole and outright nonsense. If your life was ruined because an update took a bit longer than expected then it wasn’t much of a life to begin with. You could fix that while you’re waiting for the update.
What I’m talking about here isn’t “crying” to make them work faster it’s process feedback. Asking for earlier delay notices, regular devlogs, and more realistic roadmaps isn’t futile; it’s perfectly possible and entirely within the studio’s control. Your “shouting at the rain” comparison is ridiculous: weather can’t be controlled, but communication and expectation management can. Confusing a conscious business decision with a meteorological phenomenon just shows you don’t understand the difference.
Saying that “feedback only matters after the update” is just as wrong. Feedback on communication is most useful before things are released because it prevents frustration and maintains community trust. Early Access is not a silence pact; it’s a transaction: money in exchange for a project with specific promises. Demanding that those promises be kept or at least clearly communicated when they won’t be isn’t whining; it’s asking for the bare minimum any customer with a shred of self-respect would expect. Normalizing silence and broken promises is what actually harms the game and its community.
And finally, resorting to cheap insults like “silly men” or telling people to “stfu” is the weakest move you can make in a debate. You’re not addressing ideas you’re just showing you have no arguments. This is about improving the relationship between the studio and its players, not seeing who can be the most docile when swallowing delays. Strong, concrete criticism raises the standard; your stance, based on ridiculing and dismissing any complaint, only proves you’d rather see nothing change, even at the cost of quality and trust.
Just how much giving “feedback” to Kunos on process and communication do you think your 23 Euro bought you?
What percentage of people, in your mind, are actually giving actual feedback vs. just complaining?
Last week I responded on the Kunos forum to someone who was saying Kunos sold out etc. all because the update is late and they waited until the last minute to communicate it. Ridiculous. The internet chatter trends strongly toward negativity and someone defending Kunos against that type of BS is perfectly valid. Kunos have a long track record of delivering. People throwing them under the bus now because they are hitting a few obstacles and failing to communicate enough to make you feel good are not helping anyone, not even themselves. A videogame is not a live saving cure we need updates constantly on. Our investment in the process is small. Would more communication be appreciated? Sure, but constantly running on about it as some are in forums is exactly acting like a spoiled little kid.
And the Kunos is not your friend angle is more bs. Who ever said they are? What they are is a long term sim developer with a string of great products at quite reasonable prices. Run by people fully dedicated to the genre who are trying to push boundaries with Evo and are finding it a bit harder than expected.
I am tired of gamers whining at the people actually doing the work. Complain if Evo turns out lousy. Until then, be thankful it is being developed skillfully and you only have to pay 23 Euro to own it.
The price we pay for a product whether it’s €23 or €60 doesn’t determine whether we have the right to give feedback. In any commercial transaction, the customer has the right to expect what was promised, and in Early Access that includes reasonable communication. Reducing it to “you didn’t pay enough to have an opinion” is a very poor way of dodging the actual discussion.
You’re also confusing constructive criticism with “spoiled kid whining” and throwing everything into the same bucket. There’s a big difference between saying “this is trash” and asking for clear, timely delay notices. That’s not toxic negativity it’s exactly the kind of input that helps avoid mistakes and maintain community trust. And yes, a videogame isn’t a life-saving cure, but transparency in EA is the foundation for keeping a project from losing interest or credibility.
As for “Kunos is not your friend,” it’s not a conspiracy or an insult it’s a basic reminder that the relationship is company–customer, not personal loyalty. This isn’t about throwing them under the bus; it’s about holding them to the same standard other studios meet in equally complex projects: clear and timely communication. Past track record doesn’t erase present failings, and blind defense without addressing these points helps no one not even the game itself.
Kunos isn’t going to shag you mate, no matter how white your suit and armour is.
I couldn’t agree more.
It’s so weird and rather dumb seeing how people shill for a company that couldn’t care two hoots about them other than for their money.
“Kunos is not your friend” is and excellent point.
Honestly some of the comments you see on Reddit defending Kunos is akin to the unstable MAGA weirdos.
Thanks a lot, glad you connected with that point. It’s important to remember we all want the sim to succeed, but that doesn’t mean giving any company a free pass.
Hang on, this is the same guy who a few days ago said ACE has the beat driving physics they have ever experienced.
Pinch of salt. The bloke clearly just writes for rage bait and clicks.
I see you didn’t even check the intro or actually read the articles. The piece about physics was written by a reader I just published it because we want to give visibility to all kinds of opinions. This article, however, is mine
Alberto i wouldnt trouble yourself by their anecdotal jibberish. Some people have no ability to articulate their points of view, i think you nailed this article and we share the same concerns.
A critique on Kunos’ delivery of EVO is warranted. The release was dismal, the content was/is very limited. The ai and progress for that doesnt exist. I cant comprehend how they plan to netcode an online open world if theres no beta for online multiplayer races. Considering this game will also feature an online marketplace and currency system – garantee that will work perfectly.
EVO, Kunos and the development team have been a serious, serious disappointment. This game was never going to meet its 1.0 launch date and they knew it.
Thank you so much for your words. Knowing we have readers like you, who understand and share these concerns, reminds us why we write these articles in the first place. We’re not here to tear anything down—on the contrary, we want EVO to move forward and become what it promised to be, because we all breathe the same passion for sim racing. That passion is what makes us demand more, refuse to settle, and keep pushing to ensure the final result lives up to what this community truly deserves.
Alberto,
Firstly well done for saying what’s on your mind and having the guts to put it to people.
My opinion is rather more nuanced and goes like this ……..
Kunos have created a promise to develop a SIM that will deliver for everyone. (There’s lots of stuff that I couldn’t care less about in the promises) Let’s look at some of the other Sims that do what they’re trying to do……… Erm….
Get my point?
I feel that they over promised. Because what’s been promised is a SIM with ground braking physics, graphics, moddability open world driving (meh) all in one package. That it’s taking a while is no surprise. That it’s not delivering is no surprise. I mean MSG bought LMU out of early access still with some of the issues that still bedeviled RF2.
I don’t think we will ever get the product that AC became let alone this. I have this theory that right now Kunos would be better not saying anything and quietly getting on with building the game but they can’t do that if the product goes cold because then mo one buys it. So here’s what they should in my opinion do
Get online multiplayer working for what they have then move on from there if a community of online leagues and servers start up then people will commit. I personally haven’t opened the game since about may. Because as it stands there’s nothing in there that floats my boat
Simply put. You should not be paying money for Beta or early access, LMU did this and then used that money to keep afloat when by rights they should be out if business, bending consumer rules to bail out your project is not a good idea long term.
Kunos have a good reputation, but it will be harmed by this, if you have paid for something, you expect a return, which is why as a consumer you should NEVER pay for a firm to use your money as development, you are effectively sponsoring their R&D work.
I would imagine this is close to the grain in terms of sales and purchasing law too, but they will get around it.
I learned my lesson with RF2, then messed up again with LMU.
Don’t bankroll someone else’s research, that is their job, not yours
LMU should be out of business… But they didn’t. Now we have a fantastic endurance racer we can enjoy! Thank Senna we have early access to keep them afloat!
I’m glad I paid for ACE. It was a fraction of the cost of a full-priced game, and I’ve had several hours of enjoyment from it. Sure it struggled at 0.1 but 0.2 is solid and much better optimised and every car drives exactly how I’d imagine they would in real life. Triple screens look fantastic right now. 0.3 is going to be awesome. Basic multiplayer mode and SPA!!!