Along with its open-world elements, one of Assetto Corsa EVO’s most intriguing aspects is its new career mode.
The original Assetto Corsa’s career mode was basic, featuring a linear list of time trials and races against AI opponents with no sense of progression. Assetto Corsa EVO will rectify this with a more comprehensive career mode.
Making the career mode in Assetto Corsa EVO more engaging is a key priority for Kunos Simulazioni.
Speaking at the recent ADAC SimRacing Expo 2024, the Italian studio’s co-founder and executive manager Marco Massarutto envisions Assetto Corsa EVO’s career mode as “the RPG of the petrolheads,” with an in-game economy system for buying and tuning cars.
Kunos Simulazioni: “We want to expand the game possibly forever”
“Assetto Corsa EVO has been designed from scratch with a different structure that will allow us to support the game for many, many years. We want to expand the game possibly forever,” Massarutto explained during a presentation at the ADAC SimRacing Expo 2024.
“When we started to design EVO, we recognised that the formula of choose a car, choose a track, hot lap, race, setup, is great for a lot of people, but possibly in 2024 – 25 will not be enough anymore,” he added, alluding to the original Assetto Corsa’s simple structure.
“We want to create not just a career but something that actually is the RPG of the petrolheads.”
“All of us are car enthusiasts: we love cars, we love driving. Some of them like to collect diecast models or real cars. They want to drive on track, on road. They want to tune and customise their cars. Evo will allow all of these things…possibly.”
Assetto Corsa EVO will have an in-game economy but no microtransactions
Game director Davide Brivio expanded on the concept for Assetto Corsa EVO’s career mode, explaining how it will offer a better sense of progression than the original.
“We love to manage our cars like our side job. We thought that’s something in common with all sim racers: they all love cars and it’s probably a good idea to stop making scripted places in the game where we try to make career modes that are not like our best point,” he said.
“What if we wrap the entire experience with progress?”
For the first time in the franchise, Assetto Corsa EVO will feature an in-game economy. This will allow you to earn “virtual credits” to “buy the cars you want,” “collect experience,” and progress with “total freedom.”
Seemingly like Gran Turismo 7 and Forza Motorsport, Assetto Corsa EVO’s career mode will see you start with a limited budget before choosing your first car.
Mercifully, Brivio confirmed that Assetto Corsa EVO’s career mode will not have microtransactions to progress faster: credits can only be earned in-game.
The appearance of your in-game driver can also be altered. Not just clothing, but even the look of the human replica avatar.
Rented cars won’t be customiseable
Away from the career mode, cars can be rented for free if you want to play Assetto Corsa EVO as a sandbox like the original. However, it’s not clear if every vehicle in the car list will be unlocked from the start to rent.
Rented cars also won’t have customisation options – you can only buy upgrades for cars you own, as Brivio believes that “owning a car is all about making it your car.”
More specific details are being kept under wraps for now, but it sounds like Assetto Corsa EVO’s career mode will be more expansive than previous games in the sim racing franchise, with an economy and progression system similar to some more accessible existing racing franchises.
What do you want to see in Assetto Corsa EVO’s career mode? Let us know in the comments below.
Assetto Corsa EVO career mode at a glance
Yes, Assetto Corsa EVO will have a single-player career, and it will include:
- In-game economy
- Car purchases and rentals
- No micro-transactions
- Driver avatar customisation
- Car customisation
- ‘Roleplay’ progression system
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Pretty bold claim. Is it a true RPG though without the things that make it an RPG?
You need to have other characters that we can interact, help, and build relationships with. Those other characters need to have personalities, and cars that match (for example: a character whose car is built for nothing else but straight line speed, with custom aero and and an engine swap).
You need to have quests that range from but not limited to: beating others in a race, beating a course record, helping others fix/build their cars.
You should also have some sort of a skill tree in which you get to improve as a driver, mechanic, and as a person in general.
Can Assetto Corsa EVO do this? Yes, maybe, if the devs have played other RPGs like The Witcher or Persona and can implement the RPG aspects from those games.
If not, being an “RPG for car enthusiasts” would be nothing but a bold claim.
I suppose we shall find out soon if it can hold up to the claim!