DaRmaZat Assetto Corsa EVO, the long-awaited successor to the racing classic Assetto Corsa, launched in Early Access on January 16 via Steam, published by 505 Games. Upon starting the game, you’re immediately presented with a future roadmap that announces no less than six content drops, all expected to release before the fall of 2025, marking the arrival of version 1.0. This clearly highlights KUNOS Simulazioni’s ambitious vision, though the current modes available are quite limited. So, is this PC edition already worth buying? Maybe, you’ll find out in this preview.
Graphics and Performance: Solid
This preview focuses on the standard mode. In addition to this mode, there’s also the Oculus VR/openXR option, allowing the sim to be experienced in Augmented and Virtual Reality—or, to put it simply, right out of the box with a supported VR headset. No matter how you choose to play, the game looks stunning. One of its biggest strengths is its ultra-detailed circuits and almost photorealistic cars, racing through reflective rain puddles and across dusty run-off areas. EVO’s visuals are sharp, even lifelike at times.
Visually sharp, even lifelike.
I personally encountered no noteworthy issues with visuals or performance. However, other players—many using older PC hardware—have reported occasional graphical glitches and frame rate drops, especially during races with many opponents or on graphically intensive circuits. Fortunately, both Nvidia DLSS and AMD FSR upscaling technologies are included, which should help boost performance somewhat.
Content: A Sparse Offering
Currently, the Garage section features around twenty race cars from brands like Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz. The final lineup will encompass a wide range of vehicles, from lightning-fast GT3 cars to legendary racers from the ‘80s and ‘90s. A recent patch introduced the “Customize Vehicle” option, giving you more flexibility to tweak the appearance of your cars to your liking.
The online mode remains the biggest hurdle…
The biggest drawback right now is the online mode, which has made the promised Special Events unavailable. This has been the case since day one. While KUNOS Simulazioni is working hard to address this as quickly as possible, for now, players are limited to the Single Player mode. In Single Player, you can choose between Practice and Quick Race, but with only five unique circuits currently available, the mode feels very barebones.
Before a race, the Vehicle Setup menu lets you adjust tire pressure and fuel strategy, but most other options remain non-functional. Adjusting and saving various settings, such as assistance levels and weather conditions, via the UI doesn’t always work as intended either. The fact that you sometimes have to wait endlessly for “other players” in a practice session against a single bot perfectly illustrates the technical issues EVO is currently facing.
But How Does It Play?
When the race does launch smoothly, the gameplay itself is unforgiving: this isn’t Need for Speed, but a pure simulation. Every steering mistake is penalized. This sets a high bar, especially for newcomers and players without a racing wheel. A steep learning curve is expected, but on top of that, the controller button configuration is still incomplete. Like others have noted, I also found that the mouse cursor frequently reappears, even when using a controller.
That said, the vehicle physics and handling are sublime, feeling realistic and showcasing KUNOS Simulazioni’s attention to detail. Tire temperatures evolve with your driving style and track conditions, as does tire wear. Exceptional audio is a must for a quality racing game, and here, Assetto Corsa EVO delivers as well. Engines sound raw and authentic, while environmental effects—like heavy rain pattering or wind rushing by at high speeds—enhance immersion. The soundtrack doesn’t disappoint either, with atmospheric synth and pounding beats providing a rush of adrenaline right before you start racing.
Preliminary Thoughts
Although Assetto Corsa EVO showcases impressive graphics, solid sound design, and some strong foundations, the racing game in its current state feels more like a demo. Many options in the menus are grayed out, and the functionality that is available doesn’t always work flawlessly. However, the roadmap provides hope, as the planned content drops promise more circuits, new cars, and unlocked gameplay modes. This Early Access version at least demonstrates the game’s potential to become a cutting-edge sim racer, but for now, it feels incomplete. As it stands, EVO is still more “Assetto Corsa” than “EVO”—the evolution, therefore, will take a little longer to arrive.
Additional Information
Release Date: January 16, 2025
Reviewed On: PC. Review copy provided by the publisher and PR agency via BeyondGaming.
Developer: KUNOS Simulazioni Srl
Publisher: 505 Games
Official Website:
https://assettocorsa.gg/assetto-corsa-evo
Relevant Links:
Assetto Corsa EVO on STEAM
