The world of sim racing has been buzzing with rumors and leaks, and one of the most exciting recent revelations concerns Assetto Corsa EVO. Fans of Assetto Corsa—one of the most celebrated racing simulators—are eagerly awaiting its next installment, and these leaks have sparked intense debate.
From whispers of a 2500 km² open world to new maps in Italy, Japan (Fast & Furious), and beyond, there’s plenty to digest.
But what should we really believe? The leaked information raises several questions, with some elements appearing plausible while others seem too ambitious for even a next-generation game.
The Initial Leak: What is it and Where Did it Come From?
The origins of this mysterious Assetto Corsa EVO leak have a somewhat dubious history, having first surfaced on Reddit and then later on various Sim Racing Discord servers. This alleged document was shared months before the official announcement of Assetto Corsa EVO, making it hard to verify at the time. Without any formal sources or backing, the initial response from the community was—understandably—skeptical.
However, once the first Assetto Corsa EVO trailer dropped recently, people began to notice that some elements from this leak appeared strangely accurate. This revived interest, as fans went back to scrutinize the leak, wondering if it might indeed contain valid insider information.
New Interest Sparked by Recent Trailer and Interviews
One of the most striking moments came from certain shots that seemed to depict roads surrounding Nürburgring, which closely resembled descriptions from the leak.
Further fuel was added to the fire when a new interview with Marco Masaruto surfaced. Masaruto didn’t confirm or deny many of the rumors but hinted that the next game would be more than just another racing simulator. He repeatedly emphasized that Assetto Corsa EVO would bring features “never done before” in the sim racing genre.
This vague yet hopeful language left the door open for speculation, with many fans believing that the leak might have more truth to it than initially thought.
One of the boldest claims in the Assetto Corsa EVO leak is the introduction of a massive 2500 km² open-world map. The idea of integrating an open world into a racing simulator is not unprecedented, but the scale suggested here is what makes this leak particularly intriguing.
If true, it would represent a significant departure from the traditional circuit-based structure of Assetto Corsa, making it a hybrid between a racing sim and an open-world driving game akin to Forza Horizon or Test Drive Unlimited.
But can Kunos Simulazioni realistically deliver such an expansive open world in a simulator of Assetto Corsa’s pedigree?
The Nürburgring: Central Hub or Expansive Region?
One of the most intriguing aspects of the leak is the mention of the Nürburgring as a central part of the open world. The Nürburgring, located in Germany, is one of the most famous and challenging racing circuits in the world. In this rumored open-world design, the track itself would be surrounded by an expansive network of real roads, forming part of a larger, interconnected map.
From the footage in the first Assetto Corsa EVO trailer, some roads shown in the background strongly resemble the Nürburgring area, including paths that are strikingly similar to roads found around the circuit in real life. However, it’s important to remember that this could easily be a matter of coincidence. As the leak itself points out, it’s not difficult to find roads in Germany that could resemble those near the Nürburgring.
If true, the Nürburgring could serve several roles:
- As a central hub for players to meet, race, or take part in other activities.
- As a transition point between open-world driving and track racing, allowing players to drive seamlessly between circuits and the open world.
- As part of a greater world that includes other major racing landmarks in Europe.
This concept of a blended open world with real circuits integrated into the landscape would be groundbreaking for the sim racing genre, making Assetto Corsa EVO stand out from both pure racing simulators and open-world driving games.
Here’s a quick comparison of Assetto Corsa EVO’s rumored features versus those of its top competitors:
| Feature | Assetto Corsa EVO (rumored) | iRacing | Gran Turismo 7 | Forza Horizon 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open-World Map | 2500 km² | None | None | ~107 km² |
| Car Physics for AI | Same as player physics | Simplified AI physics | Simplified AI physics | Simplified AI physics |
| Massive Multiplayer (100+ players) | Yes | Limited multiplayer | Limited multiplayer | Up to 72 players |
| Mod Support | Controlled via marketplace | No mod support | No mod support | No mod support |
As you can see, Assetto Corsa EVO could set itself apart by integrating the best features of open-world racing games like Forza Horizon, while maintaining the realistic driving physics that fans of simulation games demand.
The Evolution of the Assetto Corsa Engine
The leak mentions that the game will use an evolved version of the Assetto Corsa game engine, rather than the widely used Unreal Engine seen in Assetto Corsa Competizione.
The leak suggests that the game’s graphics engine will employ features akin to Nanite, a technology found in Unreal Engine 5. This system dynamically adjusts the level of detail in objects as players approach them, allowing the game to render highly detailed scenes without compromising performance.
How this works in practical terms:
- Dynamic Polygon Rendering: As players drive through different environments, such as forests or urban areas, the game engine will automatically generate higher polygon counts in objects that are closer to the player. For example, when racing through a forest, distant trees may be rendered at low detail, while those closer to the player will appear highly detailed, without causing any stuttering or FPS drops.
- Lighting and Shading Improvements: While Assetto Corsa EVO won’t feature traditional ray tracing, it’s rumored to include a similar lighting technology that will enhance shadows, reflections, and overall light diffusion. This is crucial in racing simulators, where realistic lighting can greatly impact immersion, whether it’s the sun glinting off a car’s surface or the way headlights reflect on wet pavement during a night race.
Is the Assetto Corsa EVO Leak Credible?
After examining the technical details from the leak, there’s no doubt that Assetto Corsa EVO is shaping up to be an ambitious project. If the open-world rumors and technical innovations hold true, this game could revolutionize the sim racing genre by combining the precision of traditional racing simulators with the expansive and dynamic elements of open-world driving games.
However, it’s essential to approach these rumors with caution. While the leak aligns with some information shared in official interviews, many of the more extreme claims, like the 2500 km² open-world map, may need to be taken with a grain of salt.
What do you think about the potential features of Assetto Corsa EVO? Do you believe the rumors about the open-world map?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Happy Racing!
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