We had been waiting a long time for this trailer and to see what Kunos’ new product could show. Who isn’t a fan and lover of Assetto Corsa ? It’s a product so well maintained by the community that it’s impossible not to smile when you turn it on. A 2013 game that, thanks to its modularity, has managed to become a source of wonders for almost the entire simracing community.
After watching the trailer, I have to say that personally, I wasn’t impressed. They haven’t shown us anything groundbreaking that hasn’t been done before in other simulators, and for me, the most problematic point is that there isn’t anything that justifies a complete new development (or a new expense) for a new product.
We’ve said it many times on the show. The biggest problem with Assetto Corsa EVO is the existence of its predecessor. And this relates to the lack of imagination and the stagnation of official development for the original Assetto Corsa. Kunos made a huge mistake by not “inventing” a way to monetize a title that is clearly “infinite.”
They could have continued milking the original title and improving it to absurd levels with a bit of imagination, such as: an online competition module, a mods verification module, an anti-cheat module for online, seasonal skins updates, commercial vehicle packs, expanded weather conditions, traffic simulation, global circuits, new licenses, a subscription module, etc. All while still being supported by the community and keeping control over their creation. However, in a completely predictable move, they decided to abandon development to create something that will hardly surpass a “free” product built on its foundation.
What are they selling us in this trailer? Dynamic weather? Traffic? New car models? New physics? It’s the same old story, and curiosity, nothing else, is the only thing keeping me interested in next year’s release, which will also begin a new development cycle with its usual phases:
- Launch day patch
- Bug and compatibility stage (6 months to a year)
- Content stage (2 to 3 years)
- Maintenance and late content stage (final year)
- Announcement of Assetto Corsa EV (Electric Vehicle) featuring what the community didn’t create in EVO
Are we, as users, willing to abandon a complete, mature, and functional product for Kunos’ new uncertain bet? Without a doubt, you only need to look at what’s around us and see how people swallow everything put in front of them. And there we will be, repeating our cycle of complaints and praise until one day the wheel stops turning.
The game will be released on January 16, 2025. Some licenses confirmed in the trailer are:
- PORSCHE
- ALFA ROMEO
- Rseat
- BBRModelStore
- Bell Helmets
- OMP Racing
- Ford Motor Company
This is its Steam page.
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Very insightful article indeed, unbiased and avoiding the ‘fan boy’ sway that most articles make the mistake of falling into.
Completely agree with you that it just seems like more of the same, just another new product to follow the usual path of:
1. Purchase game version (all different prices)
2. Be a beta tester for a game that’s riddled with bugs for at least 6 months because every game is released as broken these days
3. Be flooded with DLC options that are a mixed bag in terms of quality/value for money
4. Wait for modding support to actually get the game you wanted
5. Probably have to deal with some type of paid model based on your comments that I’m sure they have already thought of over the years regarding the OG AC and how they could have monetized it.
Just really very lack luster – will be a Steam ‘sale’ title for me since there’s nothing unique that I don’t already have in iRacing etc. I think Sim Racing is more about the experience than the graphics, and whilst the graphics enhance the experience, the actual racing has to be the thing that pulls you back to play more. I mean, who’s looking at the interior car details like seats and buttons, or the grass/trees when you are racing side by side?
If you like sightseeing then there’s other titles, like the OG AC for example!
I have a bad feeling its going to be a dud and they will end up shutting down AC in an attempt to force people to EVO. I doubt they will allow the current level of modding and I suspect limited track and car selection. They claim they are returning to their roots but I kinda read that as a narrowing of content considering where AC is today. I don’t think better graphics but less content will get people to make the switch, if so AC would already be dead.
A year from now we all could be playing GTR2 lol
Couldn’t agree more, so far I’ve seen nothing that I don’t already need. The only thing that the original AC really needs to put it truly front and centre (if it’s not already) is a tyre model upgrade, it’s kerb handling attributes are lacklustre. But with CM, CSP, Sol, Pure, and any car or circuit you could wish for already the new title I’m afraid smacks of the emporers new clothes.
I’ve been cyberpunked before. I had the misfortune of trying to get RF2 to work, I’ve paid a fortune to Iracing, I’ve refunded LMU, I have ACC and AMS2 sitting on the hard drive gathering dust. I don’t even know if I’ll buy ACE