After a lengthy wait, the early access of Assetto Corsa Evo, the third installment in Kunos Simulazioni’s racing simulation series, is finally on the horizon. This will be the first release since 2018’s Assetto Corsa Competizione, which primarily targeted a more professional audience focused on GT3-class vehicles. In contrast, Evo aims to return to the franchise’s core essence as a genuine driving simulator that includes a diverse range of vehicles. The release date has been set for January 16, and a trailer has just been revealed, which you can view below.
The launch of Evo is highly significant, especially since the original Assetto Corsa has maintained considerable relevance since its 2014 debut. Its substantial mod support and the enthusiastic community have created an extensive repository of unofficial content, ranging from a mod that recreates Tokyo’s Shuto Expressway to the inclusion of iconic fictional video game cars, such as the Assoluto Bisonte from Ridge Racer Type 4. Although we may be digressing, this highlights the profound impact Assetto Corsa has had on the PC sim racing landscape, particularly for those who cannot afford iRacing’s subscription costs.
The trailer offers plenty of captivating “in-game” footage, showcasing a variety of racing scenarios. Highlights include a classic European club racing duel between an original Mini Cooper and an Alfa Giulia Sprint GTA, a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race at Brands Hatch, and modern sports cars like the Lotus Emira and Alpine A110 competing at Imola. Additionally, a Ferrari Daytona SP3 is featured beautifully illuminated in a courtyard at night. Notably, this is the first time the Daytona has been licensed for anything beyond mobile games, according to the Internet Game Car Database.
The trailer also showcases the game’s dynamic time and weather system, presenting an immersive experience. A particularly striking detail is the effect of water flowing across the asphalt in one scene, which is a rarity in many games. Other segments feature a Morgan Three-Wheeler navigating a public road while a BMW passes in the opposite lane, likely exciting fans of free-roam gameplay and photographers alike.
Assetto Corsa Evo will utilize Kunos’ proprietary game engine, in contrast to the Unreal Engine 4 used in Competizione. While the visuals do not appear to show a significant upgrade from the previous installment, the in-house technology is expected to make Evo more efficient on PC hardware, minimizing common issues often encountered with Unreal Engine-based games, such as the persistent stuttering seen in EA Sports WRC at launch. Kunos is also committed to supporting modding, though many questions remain regarding how user-generated content will be integrated into Evo on launch day, as noted by Reddit users.
Assetto Corsa Evo is set to launch in early access on PC starting January 16, 2025, with plans for a future release on consoles like PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S, although the timeline for this is still undetermined. You can now add it to your wishlist on Steam.
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