Assetto Corsa Competizione initially released on PC in 2019 then eventually moved to PS4 and Xbox One in 2020. Developed by Kunos Simulazioni and published by 505 Games, this fine tuned machine has been dyno tuned and upgraded and is now available for Xbox Series X and Playstation 5. Reviewing on Xbox Series X with a standard controller, I immediately felt like I was going in blind by not having access to a steering wheel. That being said, the moment I got behind the wheel, I could see the graphical enhancements and the detail of the cars has certainly been improved – those colours really popped!
Assetto Corsa Competizione now boasts 4K and 60FPS and for a racing sim on console, it’s super important for the racing to be very smooth. The textures of the tracks and other components like the flags and pit crews were fantastic and highly detailed. Though while viewing replays, I found the details further out, like tree lines thinning, were less than impressive. There were no frame rate dips during my playthrough which included driving around Silverstone at night with rain, or a sunny day driving around Monza.
This is a very focused simulation racer based on the GT3 World Challenge and although it’s extremely detailed, with the absence of a learning curve or any significant structure, it may likely turn off those not already familiar with sim racers. The customisation options are abundant but where Assetto Corsa Competizione really stalls is with guidance. The player has to know what needs fixing or changing at the exact right time as there is no margin for error. This means you’re in charge of everything from tyre pressures to the fuel strategy before and during your racing.
A lot of games in the genre have a nice harmony between arcade and simulation, with more leaning towards the arcade side of things than hardcore sim. Assetto Corsa Competizione falls firmly in the simulation side. Damage will affect how you race and whether or not you can make it back to the pits. If you are unable to make it back, you will have to restart the race. Players have the option to turn on the racing line, though I found this did not assist as much as I thought it would.
In true sim racing style, Assetto Corsa Competizione is not about the number of laps you complete but time. I found the races to be a test of endurance rather than speed, testing a player’s resolve to stay focused for long periods. There are no checkpoints or the ability to rewind time like in Forza Horizon 5, and I found it a mission to complete the race requirements and try qualify for the next round or even to make a podium finish. Some requirements, like pitting during the chosen pit window, helped keep the realism in the game. However I found it didn’t add anything to the gameplay, rather it was only there for the true sim racing experience which enthusiasts will no doubt appreciate.
Assetto Corsa Competizione has really lifted its game regarding graphics and performance upgrades with improved textures and environments, dynamic weather effects and steady 60FPS on the Xbox Series X. Those racers looking for some slight variation to the formula to break up the hardcore racing may be disappointed. The career mode had no plot and felt like a handful of races strung together with no incentives for winning. It would have been nice to see some content or cosmetics rewards that were unlocked during Career mode which would give incentives for casual racing fans to stick at it.
Assetto Corsa Competizione is a hardcore sim racer, putting you in the driver’s seat and in direct control of every facet of your car and your racing strategy to guarantee success or crash and burn. I enjoyed my time playing Assetto Corsa Competizione, however with a few tweaks to gameplay I think it could appeal to a wider audience and I would have enjoyed it more.
This review utilised an Xbox Series X key provided by Stride PR. Assetto Corsa Competizione is out now for Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X.
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Written by: @Blustreak81
