January 2025 is lastly right here and guarantees a variety of noteworthy titles for gamers to sink their enamel into. Excessive-profile ports of console exclusives, long-awaited follow-ups to established franchises (each indie and big-budget) – they’re all right here. It wouldn’t be a brand new yr with out some new early entry titles, nonetheless, and the most important in that division is undoubtedly Assetto Corsa EVO.
As the most recent title in Kunos Simulazioni’s sequence, it’s a racing simulator centered on realism. Launching on January sixteenth for PC, it arrives nearly 5 years after its Assetto Corsa Competizione. So much has modified within the interim, and this may occasionally very effectively be the sequence’ most formidable outing but. Listed here are 15 issues it is best to find out about Assetto Corsa EVO earlier than launch.
Early Entry Launch
Like its predecessors, Assetto Corsa EVO will first enter early entry, providing a portion of the completed product earlier than the ultimate launch. The latter is deliberate for Fall 2025, which is all the time topic to alter, and so far, Kunos Simulazioni hasn’t confirmed if there will probably be a month-to-month replace cycle like Competizione. Nonetheless, it’s mentioned that participant suggestions will probably be “essential in refining the gameplay, optimizing efficiency, and including the ultimate touches that may make EVO the last word racing simulation.”
New DirectX 12-Primarily based Engine
Maybe probably the most notable change with EVO is beneath the hood, particularly the DirectX 12-powered Kunos Engine. Promising reasonable skies, volumetric clouds and fog, dynamic international illumination and reflections, there are notable leaps, particularly with the way it handles climate results on observe circumstances.
Observe Periods and Fast Race Modes
As the primary “half” of the single-player element, EVO options two acquainted modes – Observe Periods and Fast Race. Kunos didn’t go into intensive particulars about what’s new for both mode, however their names in all probability shouldn’t betray any expectations. The previous is for practising totally different autos. The latter is for fast races. You may’t get any extra easy than that.
Driving Academy
It’s the Driving Academy the place issues get attention-grabbing. Debuting in EVO, it gives “step-by-step sections of every observe” within the present launch, the place you drive totally different vehicles and expertise distinctive challenges. Succeed, and also you earn the licenses required in your “dream automotive” with Credit used to buy them. If it’s something just like the License Mode from the Gran Turismo sequence, Driving Academy ought to function a difficult but enjoyable alternative for sim fans.
Automobiles and Manufacturers
When early entry launches, Assetto Corsa EVO will function 20 vehicles, with the total sport deliberate to function over 100. To this point, we’ve seen the BMW M2 CS Racing, the Mercedes-AMG GT 63, and the Ford Escort Cosworth RS, with newcomer manufacturers like Maserati and Cadillac, although the total line-up for early entry has but to be revealed.
Realistically Depicting Autos and Tracks
As for the way reasonable all the things will look, from the autos to the tracks, Kunos Simulazioni says it employed a complicated system to simulate “mechanical, digital, and aerodynamic efficiency.” Moreover, laser scan know-how has been used to seize the circuits and their constancy, additional growing immersion.
Suspension Enhancements
After all, that constancy would imply nothing if the sensation of racing isn’t proper. Kunos has been enhancing the suspension to simulate methods like torsion beams and swingarms. Suspension damping and bump stops are additionally extra pure, whereas the tyre mannequin has been extra realistically fine-tuned. The crew has labored for 4 years to “enhance the sensation” behind the steering wheel and so far, it appears to have borne fruit.
Automotive Customization
Customization can be essential, and whereas the total suite of choices for early entry has but to be detailed, sport director Davide Brivio instructed Multiplayer.it final November that “all of the configurations and engines that you’d discover in any dealership will probably be obtainable” for every car. “In case your favourite automotive is offered each in petrol and diesel, for instance, or in a model that has 17-inch wheels or a sunroof fitted, then it would even be the case in our sport.” There will probably be a “big selection” of “aesthetic” modifications per the location, which may influence your efficiency.
Dynamic Climate and Observe Situations
Climate is all the time an essential think about racing sims, and in EVO, it’s dynamic, with precipitation and different elements affecting races in actual time. Not solely will totally different ranges of rainfall have an effect on your efficiency, however you even have to fret about rubber build-up as a race progresses and modify accordingly.
Obtainable Circuits
The developer confirmed that Manufacturers Hatch, Imola Circuit, Laguna Seca Raceway, Mount Panorama Circuit, and Suzuka Worldwide Racing Course will probably be obtainable when early entry launches. The complete sport will function 15 tracks, however EVO’s environmental choice is branching out in new instructions this Summer season.
Open World Map in Eifel, Germany
In a sequence first, EVO will function an open-world map. Set in Germany’s Eifel area, it would function native companies, workshops with aftermarket elements to improve autos, and even automotive rental providers. Although debuting within the Summer season, the map will roll out by way of quite a few updates in early entry. These will additional broaden the map whereas including new content material, and we’re eager to see the way it matches as much as the likes of Forza Horizon when it comes to construction and occasions.
24-Hour Race Cycle
Gamers may also stay up for full 24-hour race cycles, thus pushing the boundaries of their racing endurance. Naturally, this implies the return of Nürburgring Nordschleife, and we’re eager to see how dynamic climate and observe circumstances will have an effect on the expertise.
VR and Triple Display Help
Like the primary sport and Competizione, VR assist returns with OpenXR, Oculus VR and SteamVR supported out of the field. In true racing simulation vogue, there’s additionally assist for triple-screen set-ups, guaranteeing even better immersion, particularly you probably have a racing wheel set-up.
PC Necessities
Relating to {hardware} necessities, Assetto Corsa EVO doesn’t seem to demand a lot on PC, although it’s a big step up from Competizione. Its minimal necessities embody an Intel Core-i7 8700k or AMD Ryzen 1500X, 16 GB RAM, and a GeForce GTX 1070 or AMD Radeon RX 580. The beneficial necessities embody a Core-i5 10500 or AMD Radeon 2600X, 16 GB RAM and an RTX 2070 or Radeon RX 5600. These seemingly apply to VR set-ups, although necessities may change by way of the early entry interval. You additionally want a solid-state drive with 100 GB of set up area, which is already loads with out the open-world map.
Free Publish-Launch Updates
Whereas the total sport plans to supply greater than 100 vehicles and 15 tracks from all over the world, that received’t be the top of assist. The event crew plans so as to add extra post-launch in free updates. We’re a good distance off from extra particulars, nevertheless it’s good to listen to that assist will proceed past Fall 2025.
