Well, we got it wrong.”
Those are the words Marco Massarutto chose to open the latest video about Assetto Corsa Evo. And while they sound like the beginning of an apology… it quickly becomes clear this is more PR strategy than genuine accountability.
Yes, Assetto Corsa Evo is their most successful launch in terms of numbers. But it’s also the one that has stirred the most backlash from its loyal community. And no, it’s not because fans are “confused.” It’s because they feel betrayed.
Let me tell you a little story.
The Day I Launched Assetto Corsa Evo
It was a Saturday. I canceled plans, set up the wheel, adjusted the seat — almost like a ritual. How often do you get to experience the launch of a long-awaited sim?
I install it, fire it up, and… something feels off. Only a handful of cars are accessible. I try to enter an offline mode… and get an error because the servers aren’t responding.
Wait… servers?
I’m playing alone. Why do I need to be connected?
That’s when the disappointment set in. And I wasn’t alone.
Did We Really Get It Wrong?
The most surprising part of the video wasn’t what they said — it was what they didn’t. They failed to mention that offline modes were limited without a connection. Or that user ratings were noticeably worse than those of previous games.
But yes, they promised changes. Or at least, some clarity.
Now there will be two main modes: Career and Open. But even with that, anything tied to progression or unlocking content will still require an online connection. A requirement that feels not only unnecessary… but actively hostile to solo players.
Nostalgia as a Shield
Throughout the video, they kept repeating the idea of delivering a “classic Assetto Corsa experience.” And sure, that sounds nice — like a restaurant promising “grandma’s original recipe.” It plays on nostalgia. On familiarity. On safety.
But it’s also a subtle way of saying: “Don’t expect innovation in the areas you care most about.” Because what they’re really proposing is that all the new content — licenses, events, progression — will be locked behind server walls. While the old, the familiar, will remain untouched.
It’s like a baker saying, “Don’t worry, bread is still bread. But if you want butter, you’ll have to log in first.”
Not All Hope Is Lost
Amid all this, one piece of news made me raise an eyebrow — and not in a bad way: modding support will arrive before the official 1.0 release. And in the sim racing world, that’s pure gold.
The modding community is what turned the original Assetto Corsa into a legend. Giving them tools during Early Access isn’t just a gesture of goodwill — it’s a move for survival.
We’re also getting new tracks — Donington, COTA, Red Bull Ring — AI and performance improvements, VR and triple-screen support, and something totally unexpected: open-wheel cars are making a comeback after eight years.
Is it enough?
Failure Isn’t the Worst Thing
Failure isn’t just shipping something broken. Failure is not listening. It’s hiding. It’s spinning decisions as misunderstandings.
And yet, failing doesn’t have to be the end.
What Assetto Corsa Evo has now is an opportunity. One of those rare times when the road to redemption is paved with real feedback. Because there’s one thing that sales numbers can’t buy: trust.
So, What Now?
There are still plenty of unanswered questions: Will the game continue to rely heavily on online servers? Will they engage more with their community? Will the online system be fair, competitive, and sustainable?
We don’t know yet.
But at least now, we know something. We know they’re there. That despite the awkward messaging, they’re listening. And maybe — just maybe — that “we got it wrong” can become the start of a “now we’ll get it right.”
And that… that would be a story worth telling.
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Happy Racing!
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You’re talking about it as if the game has launched. It hasn’t. You, and everyone else, paid to be a beta tester. This was clearly communicated. I have no sympathy for the people who rushed to buy a shell of a game.
It’s not even beta testing. It’s early access. These people used to super polished AAA games or just kids with no responsibilities. I’ve played some rough early access games that I really enjoy and appreciate.
well, partially right…. people paid to give feedback and have a hand in the direction of the game. So if there are issues and there is backlash,, now iss the time to raise it, the time to push the Devs to address things and acknowledge the players with valid opinions.
Hhmmmm the community turned really toxic really quickly. That’s not all Kunos fault. It’s the fault of every keyboard warrior out there.
Modding support is to be welcomed, however what it really needs is to get over it’s identity crisis. Is it a racing SIM? Or driving? Or is it the PC equivalent of Gran Turismo? Frankly in the time I’ve spent on there I really don’t know and maybe there’s the problem. They really have tried to make this all things to all people. Leave that to the modders. Make the best Base SIM you can others will do the specifics. I still see the nurburg hype as a gimmick sorry but there you are. And I will be really happy if they NEVER include COTA
Calling people upset for promises not being kept “keyboard warriors” is a proper dumb boomer comment.
Erm…….. What promises haven’t been kept? It’s in EARLY ACCESS not having any patience is a symptom of modern life?
Each to their own but I love COTA, especially from it’s iRacing interpretation, especially in a Lotus 49 or 79.
As you say the problem is kw’s – feeling fully entitled and ignoring that Early Access tag. Something essential for cash flow for a small independent dev.
The two if not three predecessors are classics. Therefore I’m willing to invest. Let’s not forget, investments don’t guarantee a return…
My problems with COTA aren’t limited to COTA it’s Tilkedromes in general, but COTA seems to suffer more than most from a real nagerry infield section that does anything but flow
Odd. Real drivers love that track…
It’s becoming common with Sims, ‘broadening the appeal’, obviously for more sales. Msfs2024 did the same. Personally not a fan if this approach.
Spends all day online on phone… Puts phone down… Complains game is online.
Here’s my upvote!
I have never understood the whole “always online” backlash. I play all sorts of games that have that requirement and i never even remember it unless my internet goes out (which obviously isnt there fault lol).
It all seems like just being angry for the sake of being angry. It doesnt affect anything really.
Getting people angry is a great way of driving engagement therefore selling advertising………when the people that are perpetually puppets having their strings pulled and everybody calms the hell down the world will be a better place.
Hence no social media. Never buy a newspaper, never watch the news. Ignorance is bliss…….
“where ignorance is bliss ’tiss folly to be wise”, Thomas Gray’s poem “Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College”
It runs like an old dog with two broken legs on my triple qhd / 7800x3d / 4090. But I wasn’t expecting much from an alpha, so there’s that.. iRacing is in a league of its own performance and looks wise, the recent updates look stellar.
Still cant drive at all, as soon as the track tries to load it crashes on my r10. Could be my PC but runs anything and everything i ask it to no problem
Assuming that the online requirements don’t mean the game literally ceases to exist when they turn the servers off several years from now (like The Crew) then I really don’t care about the online requirements. All this complaining about games having to be online is pretty ridiculous when we all spend our entire day on the internet regardless.
Like the original post I too canceled plans and got a severe migraine 10 min before my shift started and just had to call out of work (coughcough)… I got the sim-pit all ready to go, the ryzen 9 7950x3d , the RTX4070 gpu and 64gb of 6000mhz ram……. Studder…. Studderrrrr… FREEZE….. R U SERIOUS…. I couldn’t get the first race half way done for 2 WEEKS… I UNDERstand the early access, and trust me I’m not looking for a polished out the gate AAA game when it’s labeled as Early Access… My only position in this debate is this》》》¤What does ◇Early Access◇ mean as a statement to yall?¤ Because I don’t know if it’s just me but what once was deemed Early Access is not what it is today… and it’s not just Evo… look at the last 5 or 6 big name drops in Early Access and not a single game was even 15% complete when it was launched.. I’ll just throw out a few… Solar Crown, COD6…. It’s Crazy that the new gamers coming into the gaming world aren’t even old enough to remember when you paid a single solitary payment and received a COMPLETE finished game from start to finish, no updates or day one patches… We even Owned the Game!!! (Ubisoft…) the only reason that the developers are able to send a game out unplayable is because by launch they’ve already gotten paid from all the dumbass people that pre-ordered the 83% unfinished Early Access Title!!! And it’s not all just the Developer side of things either… I can’t even count how many times just this last year that I ordered an IN STOCK piece of racing or flying simulation equipment for 2 reputable sources( Fanatec** & Moza**) and after a few weeks of bullshit runarounds the real truth always comes out, that I’m waiting for an international shipment because they infact were NoT IN STOCK. I’m waiting for the FFB Yoke system STILL from 3 months AgO!¡! The whole gaming community are being teated like we don’t matter…. People WAkE UP >> $2000 dollars for a Freaking GPU!!!! AT this rate by 2026 unless your strapped with cash it will be gaming back at 720p at 45fps…. Shits gotta change…