Assetto Corsa Evo is out now in Early Access, and it really is a rough, raw version of what possibly can be the next evolution to the sim racing series.
But in these few days since release everyone just discovered that the game requires an online connection for it to be working properly.
At launch, Assetto Corsa Evo’s Early Access release had undergone server overload issues. Curiously, the Early Access release does not include multiplayer mode yet, just single-player modes. And during the server outage, only six cars of the available 20 were selectable to race offline.
Developer Kunos Simulazioni has quickly patched the game, with version 0.1.1 allowing access to all 20 cars even when offline while they resolve the server issues.
But this leads to a concern: Assetto Corsa Evo never mentioned of an always-online requirement, whether that in the lead-up to release or on the Steam store page.
And from a player’s perspective, it makes no sense why this version of the game would ever need an online connection other than the developers would want to record progression unlocks on their servers rather than locally.
Racing Games Have An Online-Only Problem
There’s a growing trend of racing games requiring an online connection to even start playing offline. Here’s a short list of some racing games that had online connection requriements:
- The Crew. Now delisted and no one can play it anymore. Sparked a movement to “stop killing video games.” The Crew 2 and The Crew Motorfest will be getting an offline mode to prepare for its servers’ eventual shutdown.
- Need For Speed (2015). Online-only requirements meant the first week of launch was plagued by connection issues due to persistent online free-roam feature. At risk should servers go down. Need For Speed Payback and Need For Speed Heat ditch online-only requirements after this blowback.
- Gran Turismo Sport. Online-only requirements meant only a limited offline mode is available when played without internet connection. Thankfully patched with this requirement gone after servers shut down (though online features like multiplayer and liveries are gone).
- Gran Turismo 7. Very limited offline mode with most content locked off, spouting outrage when the first game update botched resulting in prolonged servers outage, a period where many gamers are unable to access the game they paid for.
Having server issues is understandable, but having online-only requirements but not disclosing it clearly is worrisome.
Assetto Corsa Evo has a long road map ahead of it, with at least 6 major updates and six smaller content drops to come. Even the purported VR and triple-screen support isn’t complete yet.
Assetto Corsa Evo is out now in Early Access on PC. And we do mean Early Access, there’s still plenty of technical issues and only a smidgen of features from what the full release will entail so temper expectations should you wish to take this racing sim for a test drive.