Assetto Corsa Rally v0.3 patch notes: Better controller compatibility and improved grip model expected

• Assetto Corsa Rally’s v0.3 update expected by the end of February
• Two new cars, two new Rallye Monte Carlo stages
• Dynamic wintry weather
• Better gamepad integration

Assetto Corsa Rally’s v0.3 update is imminent, with a full changelog released today by co-developers Supernova Games Studios and Kunos Simulazioni.

Already confirmed for inclusion in the game’s latest Early Access build are the Group 4 Lancia Fulvia Coupe HF 1600 and Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo, with two classic Rallye Monte Carlo stages, Sisteron and Col de Turini (formerly labelled as La Bollène-Vésubie), also making the cut.

Perhaps most importantly, however, is the introduction of dynamic wintry weather, allowing players to tackle these French tests in typically changeable Monte conditions. For example, players should expect dry asphalt at lower elevations and icier conditions on the ascent of the famous Col de Turini. 

Monte-specific studded and winter tyres will also arrive in the update, giving players a real quandary over compound choice when temperatures fall. As an aside, changeable wintry conditions will only be available on the two new Monte stages initially.

Other changes with Assetto Corsa Rally v0.3

As well as the above content, there will be several other improvements with Assetto Corsa Rally’s v0.3 update.

For gamepad users, the devs have enabled more steering filter options and given the option to remove dead zones. Those experiencing wireless Xbox gamepad connection issues should also see improvement, with greater strides taken to ensure compatibility with a broader range of steering wheels, shifters and handbrakes.

Overall grip modelling has also received some attention across all road surfaces (asphalt, gravel, snow, and ice), with hopes high that incidences of sketchy sealed-surface braking have been fixed.

Disappointingly, the sim’s thermal tyre model is still disabled, meaning overheating rubber will not affect grip. Meanwhile, multiple visual, audio, and physics bugs will be addressed.

The full changelog for the update, which is expected by the end of this week, is available below.

Assetto Corsa Rally v0.3 changelog

NEW CONTENT

• Added Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo,
• Added Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1.6 HF Gr. 4
• Added Rally “Monte Carlo” with two special stages: Col de Turini (18km) and Sisteron (13km). Weather conditions are fully dynamic within the same race,
• added 4 new ACR Events groups and a total of 40 new ACR Events,

STAGES AND CIRCUITS

• Added Rally “Monte Carlo”: Col de Turini, Sisteron, Service Park,

CARS

• Added Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo,
• Added Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1.6 HF Gr. 4,
• Added Montecarlo tires (regular & studded variants),
• Improved anti-aliasing on car materials,
• Added support for daytime running lights,
• Added tarmac dust type on cars,
• Fixed flipped right-side badges on Alpine A110,
• Adjusted graphical wheel offsets on several wheel setups,
• Improved textures on Mini Cooper license plate,
• Fixed auxiliary lights on Mini Cooper,
• Reduced fog effect on interior windows,
• Fixed corrupt dirt and damage effects on rear of Hyundai i20,
• Added animations on latches on Citroen Xsara, Peugeot 208 and Fiat 131,

INPUT

• Added gamepad steer filter options and removed default steer dead zone (now the user can set it to 0). When relaunching the game for the first time, all values will be reset.,
• Added soft lock option for steering wheels,
• Added auto-binding for every known steering wheel related device (handbrakes, gear shifters, etc.),
• Fixed Xbox wireless gamepad detection,

PHYSICS

• More realistic steering ratio for Lancia Rally 037,
• Review of combined grip model for all surfaces,
• Review of pneumatic trail model and thus FFB for all surfaces,
• Introduced a specific per-car setup option for FFB strength,
• Adjusted surfaces grip,
• Tire thermal evolution is currently disable as we work on an evolution of the system,
• Added Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 and Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1.6 HF Gr. 4,
• Added Winter Tarmac Tires, normal and studded.,
• Adjusted and improved the default setups of some cars,

AUDIO

• Added engine/exhaust sounds for Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo,
• Added engine/exhaust sounds for Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1.6 HF Gr. 4,
• Rally Monte Carlo environmental audio setup,
• Firework audio first implementation,
• Tweaks to asphalt slides to get more feedback early,
• Engine damage improvements,
• Spatial improvements to exhausts in 3rd person view,
• Asphalt/snow surface blend,
• Increased off load exhaust volume on Delta,
• Added a couple more randomised events for service area,
• Mix improvements for all driving camera positions,

GAMEPLAY AND UI

• Added camera yaw and roll customization,

ONLINE

• Fixed hitches caused by authentication recovery while playing,
• Migrated backend cluster to a new, more stable server service,

VFX, LIGHTING AND ART DIRECTION

• Added new Sky setup with Rally Monte Carlo geographic coordinates,
• Added custom lighting setup for Rally Monte Carlo,
• Improving visual quality of raindrops on windshield,
• Fixed over-exposure issue with triple monitor,
• Reduced stuttering during gameplay