Assetto Corsa EVO’s open-world is 1,600km2 of lidar-scanned Germany surrounding the Nürburgring

Is Assetto Corsa EVO open-world, or free-roam, or open-world within a simulation? Those arguments can wait for another time.

Right now, Nürburgring content creator Misha Charoudin has been granted the exclusive explainer by publisher 505 Games of the 1,600km²  area. As expected, this is now confirmed as being the Eifel region surrounding the venerated Nürburgring venue.

This includes the area’s buildings and road network, such as the giant Nürburgring welcome centre and the Nürburg Castle. Those who have visited the area will also know it contains some of the finest driving roads in Europe.

In a unique move, you will be able to ‘interact’ with real-world local businesses to rent a track car (presumably using in-game currency).

Rent4Ring and RSRNürburg are used as examples, which is a legitimate Nürburgring hire car company. In this instance, Volkswagen Golf Mk8 GTI Clubsports and the Hyundai i30N are used, with specific livery designs.

Developed Kunos Simulazioni is also allowing companies in the region to apply for representation within the final came, by filling in its website contact form.

Car upgrades

Charoudin also at one point plugs his own company, Vulcan Alpha, which produces aftermarket carbon fibre aerodynamic devices, such as rear wings.

“You’ll be able to unlock all different kinds of upgrades for your own car by completing various challenges in the open world of EVO,” he explains, as the in-game user interface is seen at the Vulcan Alpha HQ for the first time.

“Imagine a scenario where you want to have an upgrade for your car, but you do not have enough in-game credits, maybe an owner of a business will be able to offer a discount (or even a free product) if you’re going to bring him a tiramisu form Ventisette?”

This is a real-world restaurant that has been modelled in EVO. Funny, as Charoudin was a recent guest on the Traxion Podcast, and replied to one of our posts about ACE with a cryptic ‘Tiramisu pick up time trial’ comment. Aha!

It’s not clear how traffic will work in this area, and it is assumed it will be absent of pedestrians, but the game’s dynamic time of day and weather systems will be in place – presumably missing snow.

Open-world map not in January

While Assetto Corsa EVO will be released in early access on 16th January 2025, the freeroam map is tentatively pencilled in for a ‘summer’ 2025 launch.

The area will not be its full size then, either, with the development team explaining that it will “progressively expand.”