Assetto Corsa Evo is well one of the vital thrilling racing video games of 2025. The large open-world map of German countryside surrounding the well-known Nürburgring Nordschleife that developer Kunos Simulazioni is at the moment crafting for it ought to make it one of many greatest within the style. Actually, that’s. The map goes to be 1,600 sq. kilometres in dimension. That’s about 15 Forza Horizon 5s. Nevertheless, we’ll must be affected person for that, as the primary chunk of it isn’t set to reach in Evo’s evolving early entry model till mid-year, after which develop from there. For now, a minimum of, we get 5 tracks and 20 automobiles to noodle round in. The excellent news is that the driving really feel is unsurprisingly fabulous, proper out of the gate. At this level, nevertheless, that’s… primarily it. It’s exhausting to argue Evo makes a robust case as an instantly essential buy on this early state in the event you’re not particularly eager on taking some warm-up laps earlier than the principle occasion kicks off.
It’d be unfair to haul Assetto Corsa Evo over the coals too severely for its present technical blemishes. Sure, I’ve had it hitch up and drop frames sometimes and, sure, it’s crashed or frozen on me a number of instances following its launch – though I’ve actually had prolonged stints on-track the place it’s been totally cooperative on my present high-powered PC setup (RTX 4080, Intel Core Extremely 9 185H). General, it’s admittedly not operating on all cylinders proper now, however that’s the character of ‘Early Entry’ as an idea. We clearly must be ready for it to be a bit of extra Alpha Romeo than Alfa Romeo at this level.
And whereas 5 circuits and 20 accessible automobiles is modest, it does make for an honest quantity of mixtures to experiment with – and that’s with out factoring within the adjustable moist climate choices that clearly have very actual results on dealing with. In the event you suppose you’ll be completely satisfied to easily hotlap solo across the preliminary tracks (which embody Mount Panorama, Manufacturers Hatch, Imola, Laguna Seca, and Suzuka), Evo’s early entry model could preserve you busy for a minimum of a number of days. It’s actually price remembering the early entry program for Evo’s instant predecessor, Assetto Corsa Competizione, launched with simply a single automobile and a single observe – the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 race automobile and the Nürburgring GP circuit. By comparability, Evo’s launch is a minimum of a significantly chunkier one.
Furthermore, it’s a well-curated one. Discover, as an example, the primary salvo of circuits features a observe from the US, Japan, the UK, continental Europe, and Australia. That’s a considerate combine that I don’t doubt was deliberate. Equally, the brief however candy automobile checklist features a spectrum of automobiles, starting from front-wheel drive hatches to purpose-built race fashions. The texture of the automobiles I’ve examined thus far has been prime notch. I gained’t faux to have the ability to gauge the accuracy of the tyre mannequin with the sort of perception you may glean from an expert racing driver, as a result of I’m not one; I’m a automobile nerd journalist with a handful of trackdays in my previous that I’m skeptical I’ll ever be capable to afford to repeat. What I can say is the feeling of grip is superb and I used to be immediately assured to push exhausting throughout the highest of the mountain at Bathurst. Issues all the time get a bit of murky after I’m evaluating experiences gleaned a few years in the past utilizing completely totally different racing setups (I personally migrated from a Thrustmaster TS-XW racing wheel to a direct drive Moza R12 some years in the past), however Evo already appears to have nailed that feeling of with the ability to overdrive a automobile however nonetheless snap it again below management, as a result of the grip will return so long as you wrestle it again into the window. That all the time fits me, as I’m a bit extra of a butcher than a surgeon on the subject of racing sims as of late. Overlook the entire world turning into ice the second you slip right into a slide; Evo is splendidly intuitive.
In comparison with ACC, race automobiles additionally really feel rather less punishingly stiff and cling to the observe extra tenaciously, even whereas clattering over bumps or kerbs. In ACC, I usually felt like I used to be going as quick as I might with out shedding management. In Evo, I’ve discovered I really feel like I might most likely push sooner. If I had the ability, that’s.
There’s additionally a very nice feeling of steadiness, particularly as automobiles squirm below braking, and the texture of the entrance finish changing into lighter and heavier based mostly on elevation adjustments is sweet and pronounced.
So sure, within the custom of the unique Assetto Corsa and ACC earlier than it, Evo is already a genuinely terrific driving expertise. However does that make this primary style a must-play?
Proper now, no. Probably not. In the event you get it as we speak you’re primarily simply pre-ordering the ultimate sport at a barely discounted worth. That alone could possibly be cause sufficient so that you can seize it, and it’s a completely truthful argument. Nevertheless, aside from confirming it feels good, there’s simply probably not rather more pleasure to extract from Evo in the meanwhile. As a person who peeled numerous demo discs from the entrance of magazines again in ’90s, I’ve actually bought nothing in opposition to what’s primarily a hefty demo, however it’s not one I actually need to preserve enjoying anymore after seeing all of its tracks. However I’ll positively be again for extra when it’s accessible and a few of the extra annoying elements have been resolved.
Rank as we speak’s prime racing simulators
Rank as we speak’s prime racing simulators
Merely put, the racing itself simply isn’t that strong for the time being, and it’s tedious being punted off observe by computer-controlled opponents who merely attempt to drive via you round corners. I don’t know what the reply is, however the AI actually nonetheless wants work. There have positively been instances when different automobiles appeared to be intentionally giving me racing room, and others the place they’ve made unscripted errors. That’s good, as a result of it creates the phantasm they’re not simply machines. It’s additionally true that getting speared into from behind is an unlucky actuality in actual racing. Incidents occur, positive. But it surely’d be one thing that might occur to you fairly irregularly in actuality, whereas it’s far too widespread in Evo for racing to stay enjoyable. If I needed to get rear-ended for kicks, I’d brake-check Lance Stroll in a drive-thru.
That’s a reasonably large drawback when these races are largely all Evo provides in its present situation. There have been presupposed to be another modes accessible, based mostly on what was introduced when the early entry model launched, however ever since I began enjoying Evo has been caught in ‘Offline’ mode. Evo’s Driving Academy mode and Particular Occasions are at the moment inaccessible to me. All I can do is generate customized follow or race classes. Tying performance to an always-online caveat may be very regarding, and I can not fathom why it’s obligatory for single-player content material. Happily, there’s nonetheless loads of time for Kunos to tweak that on the street map forward.
