The next title update for Assetto Corsa has been a hot topic lately, and over the course of the week Kunos have delved into the finer details of what’s to be included in the anticipated update.
First up was the picturesque “Black Cat County” that was placed under the microscope in the first of three updates on the official blog. Following that the team discussed new graphics, an improved sound environment and the three vehicles included in the second bonus pack.
The third and final blog update is now available, and like the others before it, it’s dedicated to exploring the update in finer detail. The final entry jumps right into a significant change to the simulation, one that is likely to be considered one of the most prominent changes found in the 1.5 update: improved physics and tire model.
First up, the new build will finish what the previous version began by bringing the latest tire model and features to all the cars. Tires will now have a more realistic load sensitivity, a variable grip curve after peak, closer performance level between compounds, a brand-new surface and core heating model as well as more realistic heating operation range.
Finding the optimal tire for your track day adventures might not be as easy as it once was either, as you’ll now have to take into consideration circuit characteristics, ambient and asphalt temperatures as well as car behaviour and the operating ranges of the tires while vying for maximum performance. It isn’t as intimidating as it sounds, and if it is, fear not as Kunos are currently working on an improved “Tires” app that will relay temperatures, pressure, wear and provides basic graphical feedback of the tire’s grip level in real-time.
Next on the list are the improvements made to the aerodynamics of the game with new equations for yaw sensitivity, and new values for aero stalling depending on yaw for every angle. Simply put, you’ll now have the opportunity to experience what professional racers deal with when struggling to explain weird handling characteristics when the limits of the car are exceeded. While this may sound gimmicky in nature, it will allow players to see the contrasts between a car that’s wholly stable until its reached the limit, and a car that maintains itself, allowing the driver to push it beyond the limits.
Continuing, a single player feature first brought to attention late last year is finally being introduced to the game – pitstop strategies will open up the game to endurance racing. The option to refuel the car, change the tires using compounds available for the individual car are all going to be present. The pitstop menu will further allow the option of repairing crucial parts of the car that directly affect aerodynamic performance, the suspension or the engine. All of these options will be available on the multiplayer side of things as well, making things even more challenging and strategy-driven.
Speaking of multiplayer, that too has seen improvements alongside the game’s artificial intelligence. Starting with multiplayer, visible damage has been added to opponent cars, further adding to the immersion factor. Time progression has also been added, meaning the lighting conditions are no longer fixed and time will elapse in the same manner it does during single player sessions.
The team is never content with ‘what is’ and the AI have been on the receiving end of some improvements as well. AI combatants are now more skilled in navigating through traffic and handling race situations. When combined with the previous improvements, it will offer a more challenging racing environment for those of us that prefer the single player side of the game.
The 1.5 platform for the game is no doubt interesting, and the same could be said for the future of the game itself, perhaps even more so. With the console launch right around the corner, Kunos has news for said future of the game that’s sure to go over well: Mazda is coming to Assetto Corsa.
The brand will be represented by the first-generation Miata and the Le-Mans-winning 787B, both of which are popular options in the modding community at the moment. Both will be added to the game for free in an update later this year. The news doesn’t end there as the 2015 MX-5, MX-5 2015 Cup and the RX-7 will be part of the Japanese Car Pack, available by May 18th.
The pack will include a number of vehicles requested by the community, such as the 2015 Nissan 370Z Nismo, Nissan GT-R 34, the Toyota Supra in three versions, and the Toyota AE-86 in two versions. Past that, when the console version of the game is released on June 3rd in Europe a new pack including the Ferrari 488 GTB, FXX K, Praga R1 and Audi A1 S1 will also be available on Steam.
There’s even more to the final developer diary covering 1.5 and the future of the game, including the planned release of the A1/Red Bull Ring coinciding with the Formula One event in July.
The first major update for Assetto Corsa goes live today so hop on over to our dedicated Assetto Corsa section for more in-depth discussion!
See more articles on Assetto Corsa, Assetto Corsa Game Updates, and Developer Diary.
Every part of me wants to get excited for this game but the track selection is downright awful.
Small dev so they chose quality over quantity. Every track but one laser scanned and with the excellent FFB and physics it makes a big difference in the driving experience. The one track that isn’t laser scanned could easily pass for it if you didn’t know otherwise.
I want to support this game, I like how they are open with the development and don’t overpromise.
How is the game with a controller?
I think these guys sat back and watched all the crap that went on with Polyphony Digital and SMS and decided to take a slightly different route. I said this last year and will iterate;
Assetto Corsa has a chance to unseat all the SIMS as players game of choice. And with them going to the console, their chances get even better. I am sure they will have failures.
But they take the time to explain what their issues are BEFORE they blow up.
If the refine their user interface and social aspects of their game this franchise will be special.
They can also work on the single player (Career) aspect as well. Bottom line, the little company that could……..is.
Go AC!! Kudos to Kunos!!
I too wish the could add weather and time of day, but I think that will be for AC version 2 (or, if you are Slightly Mad, version 1473 or something equally, well, mad… Blame Mozilla and Google for that one – I’m pretty sure those are the two organizations that started the trend of completely bogus version numbering…) I’m OK with waiting for those features as long as they don’t sacrifice that glorious physics and ffb model they are using.
Speaking of which, it worries me that “improved physics and tire model” is going to be part of the 1.5 update (I’ll be backing up the current version in a very safe way tonight for sure!) Overall I trust these guys to get it right; but I’m also worried that “updated physics model” comes so close to the console releases. All I can say is the new physics better be just as excellent as the current physics or I’ll have to bail on the franchise.
This game only needs time of day and weather to be a granted purchase for me.
I’m wondering if the AI and the career is good in the current state of the game.
The AI is artificial but not intelligent
I’m impressed by this small team of professionals. I hope the PS4/XB1 versions sell very well for them.
This title, along with Project CARS are probably going to be the main reasons for my future purchase of a PS4. I’m interested to see if I can have as much fun with these as I used to with Gran Turismo.
My PS4 is waiting patiently for June…
Won’t wait until “PS4.5”??
I’m kinda debating if I should just wait… But there’s a few games that look really good including this one. Decisions, decisions! :/
Ah…. Never mind… I read that wrong….^ you already have a PS4.
Everything this game will do has already been covered by project cars ages ago and done in a much better way.
I won’t bother to point how utterly foolish this sounds, I’ll just let you figure it out.
Then I hope they won’t cover the shameful-and-game-killing-bugs-1-year-after-the-release feature. A domain in which Project CARS already excels.
Except physics, which are much better on AC than on Project Cars.
Tell me another joke. I’m entertained :)
I completely agree. Assetto Corsa has nothing on pCARS’s advanced simulation of spontaneous car demolition, for instance.
While I won’t be quite as mouthy as Michael is – and goodness Mike, you’ve become quite a grouch lately – I will say that your remarks completely baffle me. While the graphics have their beauty moments, overall they aren’t all that special. The bot A.I. is about as stupid as a number of other racers with annoying traits. The weather system is appalling. And the physics, the hallmark of a racing game, seem to me like a mix of Forza 2 and GT4 – yes, 4. PCARS is a nice game, but frankly, I prefer the boring A.I. and not-quite-there-either physics of GT6. PCARS 2 has the potential to turn things around in every aspect, but considering the Simply Mad team is made of guys who have been around, many from Codemasters, things really should have been way better in PCARS 1 to start with. Especially when they made all this noise of freedom to make their own racer the way they wanted.
Now I’m not really sold on AC either. The physics are very good and the bots are decent enough, but the game is still rather boring to me. Even more wash rinse repeat than GT6. Not only that, but the features of this game are very buggy in places to frustrating levels, so this had better be a much improved port to PS4(K) or I’m giving it a pass too. Still, I wish both AC and PCARS sell enough that both developers make some profit from them.
Relating PCars physics to GT4 pretty much completely invalidates your entire opinion but I’m a glutton for punishment. Praytell what are these frustrating buggy features in AC?
“Relating PCars physics to GT4 pretty much completely invalidates your entire opinion”
Oh, do tell how PCARS handling feel just like it does in AC, RaceRoom, Live For Speed… I’d be interested in your input.
As for the buggy features, wheel implementation and saving of settings, race creation… haven’t raced it since August but those were my two pet peeves. I could only create races in one method, otherwise races wouldn’t launch, and I can’t tell you exactly what the deal is. I’m sure that the PS4(K) version wil be polished up and graphically delicious, but I’m not sure it’ll be enough to have me plunking down coin. No Man’s Sky on the other hand… vavoom!
I don’t need to relate AC’S physics to any other game. You are the one making the claims, it’s up to you to back them up. I’ll assume from your non-answer that you’re just going to avoid backing up any of your nonsense claims as usual.
Wheel implementation and saving of settings? I have no idea what that means. Pretty much every wheel ever made works with the game on pc and you can save unlimited numbers of profile to set your wheel and pedals up for every possible type of car.
Will all of the past dlc’s be included on the console version?
Yes.
Thanks for answering!
This is big news! Definitely excited for all of the future content! Especially the Mazdas and Japanese pack