Assetto Corsa Evo makes another big step in its Early Access phase with Update 0.8 now available. The new content update adds three new cars and one new track, but also makes some improvements in many of the racing simulator’s still-in-development features.
First, the cars. It’s a very specific mix of cars. The race-going machines are both a variant of the KTM X-Bow. The road-going version is an open-top no-compromise enthusiast road car that’s meant to go from point A and back to point A.
The new addition of this road car from an Austrian manufacturer more famous for their two-wheeled offerings are the GT2 and GT4 variants. The KTM X-Bow GT2 has a carbon monocoque and a five-cylinder engine. The KTM X-Bow GT4 is more accessible version built to the lower-end GT4 regulations. The KTM X-Bow does not have a GT3 variation which, fun fact, is considered the higher tier of GT race cars compared to the GT2 and GT4 classes.
The other new car is the Volkswagen Golf 8 R. This is the latest eighth-generation of the German hot hatch, and this is the top-of-the-line variant boasting an all-wheel drive drivetrain. It is a variant of the Golf 8 GTI included already in AC Evo. Fun fact: the Volkswagen Golf 8 R is available in Malaysia for at least RM300,000.
Assetto Corsa Evo Update 0.8 New Cars
- KTM X-Bow GT2
- KTM X-Bow GT4
- Volkswagen Golf 8 R
Assetto Corsa Evo Update 0.8 New Track
The new track added to Assetto Corsa Evo with Update 0.8 is Kyalami. The track located near the city of Johannesburg, South Africa has hosted F1 Grands Prix in the past, and is still FIA-graded. There’s a good amount of undulation and sweeping corners that makes it a hoot to master. While Kyalami has featured before in Assetto Corsa Competizione as a DLC add-on, this marks the circuit’s first entry as part of the base game of an Assetto Corsa game.
Assetto Corsa Evo Update 0.8 New Features
There’s a few additions in Update 0.8 that builds of from the additions in Update 0.7. The car editor, i.e. tools to make custom cars via modding, can now be used in online multiplayer.
Multiplayer servers now have options to check and reject modded cars should they wish.
External livery creation support has been expanded to its second stage. Creators still need to use external tools to create custom liveries for cars, but support has been improved with this update.
And for the VR enthusiasts, Update 0.8 for AC Evo is described to be “the most significant VR update of the Early Access cycle to date.” A pixel-density slider, new world-scale option, super-sampling, and the addition of a custom MSAA (a version of anti-aliasing) designed specifically for VR is added. In addition, there’s now a dedicated video settings profile just for VR, seperate from flat-screen settings.
The full patch notes, which includes more changes and fixes both for the game physics and the way the game handles its graphics rendering, can be found here.
Assetto Corsa Evo is getting ever closer to its full release. Publisher 505 Games and developer Kunos Simulazioni describe that the development for AC Evo “continuing at pace.” The game as it is today certainly has evolved much since its tumultuous Early Access launch.
Assetto Corsa Evo is out now on PC (Steam) in Early Access. It’s currently on a discount, 20% off.