Review: Assetto Corsa Evo (Early Access 0.1)

Developer – Kunos Simulazioni Publisher – 505 Games Platforms –   PC (Reviewed) Review copy given by Publisher NOTE: The following game is being reviewed in an Early Access State, the game may change after the release of this review, this review reflects the game at the time of publishing. Assetto Corsa Evo has finally sped into Steam’s Early Access after months of anticipation and teaser showcases. As the third driving simulator from the Italian developers at Kunos Simulazioni, AC Evo follows in the tire tracks of their original release, Assetto Corsa (2014), and its successor, Assetto Corsa Competizione (2018). Before we shift gears into a deeper discussion about AC Evo, let’s address some disclaimers and establish our credentials. My gameplay experience is powered by a Ryzen 7 5800X processor, an RTX 3080 GPU, and 32GB of DDR4 RAM running at 3600MHz. My simulator setup includes a Simagic Alpha Mini wheelbase, Fanatec Clubsport Pedals, a Thrustmaster TH8A Shifter, and a homemade wooden DIY cockpit, creating an immersive and highly responsive driving experience. Given that my setup is located away from my monitor, I play exclusively in VR using an Oculus Rift S, though I have also experimented with gameplay outside of VR. While I am not a professional race car driver nor would I consider myself a top-tier sim racer, I bring substantial experience to the table. With over 700 hours in the original Assetto Corsa and hundreds more in iRacing and other simulators, I have developed a solid understanding of what to look for and how to evaluate the overall experience. At launch, Assetto Corsa Evo features 20 unique vehicles and 5 tracks, which can be enjoyed either in solo practice sessions or in customizable races against AI-controlled opponents. Returning to the series is the detailed showroom mode, allowing players to closely inspect their vehicles and admire the incredible craftsmanship the Kunos Simulazioni team has put into these stunning models. According to the roadmap displayed upon launching the sim, future updates will introduce multiplayer, a story-driven mode, and the highly anticipated free-roam feature, promising even more depth and variety for players. The vehicles released with version 0.1 are as follows: • Abarth 695 Biposto • Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm • Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce • Alpine A110 S • Alpine A290_β concept • Audi RS3 Sportback • BMW M2 CS Racing • BMW M4 CSL • Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 • Ferrari 296 GTB • Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo • Ford Escort RS Cosworth • Honda S2000 • Hyundai i30 N • Lotus Emira V6 • Mazda MX-5 Cup (ND) • Mercedes-AMG GT2 • Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992) • Toyota GR86 • Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk8 Clubsport Most vehicles listed above have different packages available to drive the Toyota GR86 has Premium Standard (Red Leather package), Trueno Performance, and a Hakone Edition Performance Package variant. Each spec of the cars gives you unique looks and handling making the experience for each trim package unique and a slightly newer and different experience. Another large detail that was a modded feature on the original Assetto Corsa has made its way as a native feature to AC Evo and that is a fully interactive infotainment center for the vehicles allowing you to change driving modes, cluster styles, as well as fully interactive lights for modes and assist. These small details add so much more life to the vehicles, making you feel like there are no limitations to how you choose to drive and interact. Of course, what is a racing game without race tracks? There are only 5 tracks with this initial release, but don’t let that number fool you. These tracks are highly detailed and laser-scanned. The quality absolutely overwhelms the quantity here. Many more tracks will continue to come with all the future updates, as well as multiple different layouts for those tracks. Listed below are the 5 tracks you can experience with this early access release. • Imola  • Brands Hatch • Laguna Seca • Mount Panorama, Bathurst • Suzuka This time kunos has built AC Evo from the ground up using there own new game engine, straying away from the once-used unreal engine. The Kunos engine may be in the infant stage but the visuals that have been already accomplished are nothing short but spectacular. Not only are the vehicles stunning, but each track’s atmosphere is so immersive and high quality you really get the sense of where you are. Now that you’re familiar with some of the features Assetto Corsa Evo has to offer, let’s dive into the details of my experience and evaluate whether it’s worth your investment. Like any game, AC Evo has its share of strengths and weaknesses, and in its current state, there’s a fair balance of both. The force feedback in this game feels so smooth and responsive, putting together all they have learned from both previous Assetto games giving you the ultimate feeling when driving. This is already one of the ultimate experiences on a wheel (Direct drive in my case) you can feel every dip in the road, the corner rumble strips, the grass, wet roads, etc. That being said, it isn’t perfect still, i found sIme of the FWD driving felt abit numba bitll, but i have hiIh hopes that will evolve with time. As mentioned the vehicles are detailed and absolutely stunning visually, but i felt that some of the sounds sounds were lacking and honestly didn’t feel like they were meant for the vehicles, like the ford escort cosworth sounds kinda flat and almost weak, yet the Camaro sounds aggressive and strong like a big American v8 should be. The tracks are a significant boost from previous years, you can tell alot of time and care has gone into ensuring the closest experience to the real track as possible. The weather interacting with the tracks is a huge feature that plans to add so much more to your driving experience, but with the current version I felt it was abit inconsistent with the wet patches. The new tire physics are a major

Astro Bot is getting a new Speedrun level, it’s been revealed

2024 Game of The Year, Astro Bot has become one of PlayStation 5’s best games and it already received a couple of updates. For the Holidays it received ‘Winter Wonder‘, a level that will have you search for new bots and gifts. Before that, they released Speedrun Levels to give players a challenge.  During the PlayStation Tournaments XP, Team Asobi and PlayStation unveiled a brand-new Astro Bot Speedrun level. This level was featured in the finals of the tournament, giving us a closer look at what might come next and possibly leaving us all feeling frustrated. The video shared by Genki_JPN on X (Twitter), did not reveal any new cameo bots. However, there are still bots that leaked and have not arrived in the game yet. In the previous updates, we received Helldivers II, Stellar Blade, and Spider-Man bots among others.  PlayStation revealed a brand new Astro Bot Speedrun level in the finals of the PlayStation Tournaments XP! #PS5 pic.twitter.com/7SGog9UjoY — Genki✨ (@Genki_JPN) January 18, 2025 At Rectify Gaming we gave Astro Bot an outstanding review with its stunning visual design, engaging audio, and charming narrative making it a pure bliss to play.  When Team Asobi announced the first set of Speedrun Levels for Astro Bot they did say it was a “first wave” meaning there are more planned to ship. It’s unclear when they will come to the game. What Astro Bot did miss were characters of iconic Square Enix franchises like Sora, Cloud, Sephiroth, and any other characters from Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts. Team Asobi reached out to Square Enix and they refused to be featured and there were no other comments on that decision.  Tournament Exclusive? It’s important to note that the level shown in the video may be “Tournament Exclusive,” as some users on the Astro Bot subreddit have claimed. Looking at the video it looks more challenging than the other speedrun levels that are available in the game now.  Thanks, VGC for pointing this out.

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown has sold 6 million units

Bandai Namco, the developer and publisher, announced that Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown has sold over 6 million copies since its release in 2019. This milestone was reached just before the game’s 6th anniversary. It was also announced that the Ace Combat franchise has sold over 20 million units to date. Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown came to the Nintendo Switch last year which most likely helped the sales rise.  Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is also available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.  To celebrate the sales milestone and Ace Combat 7’s anniversary, Bandai Namco released new digital wallpapers which can be downloaded here. Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown – Top Gun: Maverick Edition is also on sale for 80% off on the PlayStation Store.  In our review, we scored Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown an 8 out of 10. 

Sonic 3 reached over $420 million at the worldwide box office

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 from Paramount Pictures and SEGA has reached a new milestone. As of this weekend, Sonic 3 has reached over $420 million at the worldwide box office. The film has officially surpassed Sonic the Hedgehog 2 which was at $405 million after it was in theaters.  There was no doubt Sonic 3 would perform the best in the trilogy due to the marketing leading up to it and the excitement surrounding Keanu Reeves as Shadow. During the weekend of January 18, 2025, it scored another $23.8M globally.  Sonic 3 starred Ben Schwartz as Sonic, Idris Elba as Knuckles, Jim Carry as Doctor Eggman, and Gerald Robotnick, and Colleen O’Shaughnessey as Tails.  Paramount Pictures already confirmed Sonic the Hedgehog 4 planning has already begun with work on the movie starting this year. Sonic 4 is expected to hit theaters in Spring 2027. Those who watched the most recent movie have an idea of which character(s) will be making appearances.  SEGA was serious when they announced that 2024 is the year of Shadow, with the release of Sonic X Shadow Generations, the Sonic 3 DLC featuring Keanu Reeves, and other guest appearances from the iconic hedgehog. The latest film was the cherry on top.  In other movie-related news, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is expected to hit theaters on December 5, 2025. Filming already started as of October 2024 and after how popular the first one was, it has the chance to overtake Sonic 3 at the worldwide box office. Did you watch Sonic 3? Source: Exhibitor Relations

Conan the Barbarian comes to Mortal Kombat 1 on January 21

Mortal Kombat 1 is getting another DLC character in the Khaos Reigns Expansion pack. Conan the Barbarian will join the fight as a brand-new guest fighter in Mortal Kombat 1, NetherRealm Studios announced.  Featuring the likeness of actor Arnold Schwarzenegger in the role of the title character, Conan the Barbarian comes to the Mortal Kombat 1 roster on January 21st. Those who own the Khaos Reigns Expansion will get early access then on January 28, Conan will be available to purchase for everyone.  The new trailer highlights Conan’s formidable moveset, centered around his Atlantean sword. The skilled sword-wielder can execute complex maneuvers with this powerful weapon, including intricate sword spinning and his signature overhead chop, allowing him to defeat opponents with sheer strength. One of Conan’s Fatalities is showcased, along with a tease of the fighter’s Animality—a brutal finishing move that transforms the character into a powerful bull to eliminate defeated opponents. Born on a battlefield, Conan has become one of the most formidable warriors the world has ever seen through relentless toil and kombat. Sold into slavery after his parents are slain and village destroyed by the malevolent warlord Thulsa Doom, he is eventually freed by his master and embarks on a quest for vengeance, his journey culminating in the defeat of Doom, liberating thousands from his sorcerous grip. In Mortal Kombat 1, Conan stands ready to defend Earthrealm against the vile beings that mean to conquer it. In other Mortal Kombat 1 news, it will be a featured game at EVO 2025 for the first time along with other fighting games such as Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6. It was also rumored that Mortal Kombat 1 future DLC has been cancelled meaning there will not be a Kombat Pack 3 nor a second story expansion. This would be due to how Khaos Reigns is selling poorly and Warner Bros. Games is not happy with the game’s performance.  The Khaos Reigns DLC is available to purchase digitally across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. Currently, Khaos Reigns includes a story expansion with playable fighters such as Cyrax, Sektor, Noobsaibot, Ghostface, Conan the Barbarian, and lastly, T-1000 Terminator with a release date to be determined.  What other fighters would you like to see join Mortal Kombat?

Marvel Snap has been banned in the U.S. as part of TikTok ban

The TikTok ban in the United States is now official, following months of concern from its creators and everyday users. What was not clear before this announcement is that other apps would also be included in the ban, such as CapCut, Lemon8, and the popular mobile game Marvel Snap. Wario64 spotted that Marvel Snap is currently unavailable to play. Marvel Snap Banned The message that appears when you try to open the app states the following: “A law banning Marvel Snap has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use Marvel Snap for now. Rest assured, we’re working to restore our service in the U.S. Please stay tuned!” Marvel Snap has been available on mobile devices, iOS and Android since October 18, 2022. It’s a digital collectible card game developed by Second Dinner and published by Nuverse. The game features a collection of different characters from the Marvel Universe. There’s no question that this game has generated tons of revenue, especially in the United States.  Will It Be Unbanned? Right now it is unclear when or if the popular Marvel card game will be revived.  In other news, the other popular Marvel game, Marvel Rivals has seen tremendous success and it’s getting an exclusive skin. The mystery skin is reported to be a Red Hulk costume for those who go see Captain America: Brave New World at Regal Cinemas.  How do you feel about Marvel Snap being banned?

Will Mario Kart 9 Be On The Nintendo Switch?

All of the talk has been about the Nintendo Switch 2 since it was officially revealed showcasing Mario Kart 9. The trailer gave us a good look at the new game and what the next-generation console will look like. The news left us with a lot of questions that need to be answered and eventually will be when April comes around for the official Nintendo Direct.  While Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has been the best-selling game on the Nintendo Switch there are questions if Mario Kart 9 will come to the Switch 2 predecessor.  Will Mario Kart 9 Release on Switch? Mario Kart 9 is unlikely to be on the Nintendo Switch, as Nintendo wants to provide a compelling reason to purchase their newest console. This has not yet been confirmed by the company. It would be unlike Nintendo to have one of its newest games that would be deemed as a console seller to be compatible with both generations.  The trailer also revealed 24-player races in the newest Mario Kart which is a first in the series. It also gave us confirmation on some of the characters that we will get to play.