Assetto Corsa’s next chapter is shaping up to be more than just a graphics bump. The upcoming Evo update isn’t a sequel, but a major overhaul of the original sim that targets one of its most stubborn pain points: VR performance on PC.
For years, Assetto Corsa has had a loyal fanbase despite rough edges in virtual reality. Now, the developers are promising deeper optimizations and a more modern rendering approach that could make the sim far more playable on headsets.
Performance upgrades for VR users
One of the biggest complaints about Assetto Corsa in VR has been its dated engine. Even with mods and community tweaks, the experience has often felt clunky or unstable, especially during long sessions or on demanding tracks.
Evo is expected to bring a new graphics backend that better supports modern hardware, with a specific focus on reducing latency and improving frame pacing in VR. This isn’t a patch, it’s a structural shift that should finally bring the game closer to other VR sims in terms of stability and clarity.
Whether this will match the level of polish in newer titles like Automobilista 2 or iRacing remains to be seen. But for many VR racers who still prefer Assetto’s driving model, this is a long-overdue improvement.
Physics and visuals are getting a boost
Beyond VR tweaks, Evo also includes upgrades to the physics engine and visual systems. While details are still limited, the goal seems to be preserving Assetto’s driving feel while modernizing how it’s delivered.
That likely means smoother transitions, better collision handling, and more accurate surface modeling — improvements that would impact all players, not just VR users. Visuals are also getting a pass, but don’t expect a full next-gen graphical leap. Think refinement, not reinvention.
These kinds of upgrades often raise compatibility questions. The team hasn’t confirmed how mods or custom content will carry over, but given the size of Assetto’s community, it’s a major point to watch.
What it means for the sim racing scene
Evo’s timing is interesting. With Assetto Corsa 2 still on the horizon, this update keeps the original game alive and relevant, especially for the modding scene and VR crowd who’ve stuck with it over the years.
It also signals that Kunos isn’t ready to let go of what made the original game so enduring. Rather than forcing everyone to wait for a sequel, they’re offering a more immediate quality-of-life upgrade to a platform that still has serious traction. For now, Evo looks like a bridge — not a reboot, but a way to bring Assetto Corsa forward without leaving behind the community that built it up.
Virtual Reality Explorer & Game Reviewer
Always the first to plug in. VRSCOUT dives head-first into the most immersive VR worlds, analyzing mechanics, comfort, innovation, and that elusive “presence” factor. If he says it’s worth it, it probably is.
