Yes, you read that right. In less than a month, we’ll have two games called Assetto Corsa in Early Access: EVO and Rally. And honestly, this is something we’ve never seen before. Two titles from the same franchise, both unfinished, both being developed simultaneously.
Even if the rally project isn’t directly by Kunos, the association is unavoidable. Especially when EVO still hasn’t fulfilled much of what was promised in its Early Access release.
Kunos’ Reputation at a Low Point
For over a decade, Kunos Simulazioni was synonymous with reliability. They delivered what they promised and built a solid relationship with their community. But this past year has been, without a doubt, the worst in terms of public perception.
The EVO Early Access has been a tough blow: delays, small updates, and a growing sense of disorganization have made many players lose trust.
And right in the middle of that storm, they announce another project with the same name.
The timing couldn’t have been worse.
The Endless Early Access Debate
I’m tired of Early Access.
As a lifelong simracer, I miss when launch day actually meant launch day no patches, no excuses, just a complete product from the start.
That magic is gone. We now live in an era where “patience” has become the most overused word in gaming. “It’s not finished yet,” “Give it time.” Sure… but in the meantime, we’ve already paid for it.
If Assetto Corsa Rally has been in development since 2021, then Kunos knew exactly what they were doing.
They could’ve delayed the announcement, let EVO breathe, show tangible progress. But no they chose to overlap both projects. And from the outside, that can only be interpreted in two ways:
- A monumental case of poor planning.
- An urgent need for funding, where revenue from the new Early Access helps sustain both developments.
The second option sounds ugly, but it makes sense. When schedules slip, resources dry up. And nothing brings in quick cash like launching another Early Access title.
As promising as Assetto Corsa Rally looks and it truly does look fantastic there’s no way to justify announcing it before finishing EVO. Even if it’s made by another team, even if development is well underway, even if it ends up being excellent… the damage to public trust is already done.
Kunos has earned criticism that could have been easily avoided. And not because Rally looks bad, but because trust is built with results, not promises.
An Unnecessary Risk
In the end, this whole situation leaves a bittersweet taste.
On one hand, we have a game that could fill the gap for hardcore sim racing — a true spiritual successor to Richard Burns Rally. On the other, a poorly timed marketing move that clouds what could have been an exciting reveal.
Maybe in a few years, when Assetto Corsa Rally is finished and successful, we’ll look back and say it was worth it.
But today, it feels like Kunos is playing with fire. And while the final product might redeem them, winning back the player’s trust won’t be so easy.
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