The long-awaited update of Assetto Corsa Evo 0.3 has been released, in which users have received the desired multiplayer mode, many improvements to the interface, graphics and physics.

With the release of the third AC Evo in early access, there is a lot of new content and changes that we propose to consider in this article.

New cars

AC EVO is a racing simulator, so it’s quite natural that the developers will pay attention first to adding new sports cars.

In version 0.3 you will see 9 new cars:

• Ferrari F2004
• Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evo II
• Caterham Seven Academy Racer
• BMW M4 GT3 Evo
• Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport
• Lamborghini Huracán Supertrofeo EVO2
• BMW M3 E30 Evo II
• Audi RS 6 Avant
• Dallara Stradale

There are also 2 new tracks: Red Bull Ring and Spa-Francorchamps. These are legendary tracks where Formula 1 races take place. Both racing tracks are transferred to the game using laser scanning technology, which allowed them to be conveyed as in reality.

Long-awaited multiplayer

Multiplayer expected many, because in races, especially such as Assetto Corsa, always interesting to compete with real rivals, despite the presence of AI-racers.

The multiplayer mode would have been added in the beta version of the update, but since then, having gone the way to a full release, many shortcomings were fixed and work was done on improving this game mode.

• Various optimizations have been made to reduce the risk of mistiming, spamming and crashes.
• Fixed bugs with rival sound.
• Now only unique servers are displayed in the server list, and selected filters and sorting are saved.
• The network code has been updated: security checks and messages during configuration have been improved.
• Extended software timeout, added additional server logs.
• Fixed a crash on the configuration page when changing multiplayer game settings.
• Fixed a rare crash when trying to connect to sessions in multi-user mode.
• Client and server updates have been implemented, improving the overall stability of operation.

Although this is only the beginning of the development of a multiplayer game, it already has good potential and is playable. In the future, the creators plan to develop the multiplayer and add new features, including rental of paid servers, expansion of slots and adding new functions.

Optimization

Adjustments and improvements have been made to improve the game’s performance. Improved CPU/GPU optimization, content loading, multi-user interface.

Work has also been done to improve the performance of the video card by reducing the loss of video memory. Now the known braking in some moments of the game should disappear.

Improvements have been made including caching and preloading of all game resources.

Artificial Intelligence Enhancement

Playing with AI rivals in AC Evo is not as interesting as with real players, but thanks to the introduction of improvements they are now much smarter and manoeuvrable.

• Artificial intelligence now controls the car better when braking, entering turns and overtaking.
• Pre-launch speed-up for AI-controlled cars introduced.
• When leaving the pit lane in heavy traffic control became more stable.
• Reduced number of contacts with players due to increased AI attention.
• To prevent congestion on the first meters of the race, collisions between AI cars are temporarily disabled.
• Increased safety zone when approaching the player’s car or entering a turn.

Audible

The picture plays an essential role for immersion in the game process, but the sound accompaniment complements the picture. In the 0.3 update, developers decided to make some changes to make cars sound a little better.

• The behavior of the limiter, ignition, as well as damage and dust sounds have become more realistic.
• Electric vehicles now correctly reproduce the noise of power on and off.
• Fixed errors related to exhaust sound, downtime and limiter.
• Added sound effects to start engine for all cars.
• Improved audio profiles of the models Honda NSX, Lancia Delta and Porsche 964.
• The logic, filtering of distances and sounds of back exhaust have been improved.
• New versions of the sound have been introduced along with updated default volume levels.

Changes in interface and gameplay

Changes from this area affect improvements to the user interface, controls and some gamepad features of the game, such as end-of-session replays and others.

• Tags and metadata have been added to the replay system, and it is now possible to view an entry at the end of the session.
• The HUD has new widgets: a stop stop limiter, warnings about wrong route and feedback force indicator.
• Improved filtering and sorting in lobby servers, results are now correctly saved.
• The paint shop has been optimized and the parts categories have also been introduced.
• The pause menu displays extended session information, and the pit-lane menu now shows weather.
• There is a new Assisted mode for the gamepad assistant steering control.
• Fixed glitches and errors of the interface in sections such as career, leaderboards, training and painting workshop.
• For HUD, triple screen support has been implemented, layouts and notifications have been improved.
• Added a separate page in MFD where you can change the parameters «on the fly».
• Fixed bugs with hot keys electronics, program inputs and work of janitors.
• Improved interaction between HUD and MFD: the hidden interface no longer interferes with control.
• Fixed localization errors and problems with fonts.
• Soft FFB lock is disabled until future updates.
• Last selected cameras - both on-board and first person view cameras, along with HUD layouts are saved.
• The corrections concerned the visual effects of dirt and tyre damage.
• Improved Logitech Trueforce sound.

Physics

Driving behaviour and other physics features have been significantly improved. Below is a list of what has been improved in AC Evo 0.3.

• The entire model range has undergone a major overhaul: changed damping, which improved overall road performance.
• The new version of the tyres shows a more predictable grip on the Eco and Road combinations, as well as a more confident heating behavior in the Performance options.
• The behavior of slipping and sliding has become more natural - the machine is easier to return to a stable state.
• The transmission of small vibrations has been improved: the roughness of the coating and the impacts on the edge are now better felt.
• For the Porsche Cup models, the inconsistent ABS operation has been eliminated.
• In the BMW M4 GT3, they updated the suspension and brought the car to the Evo specification.
• Fixed errors in geometry, hybrid systems, ignition and speed limiters on different machines.
• The Porsche 964 X88 now has a fixed speed limiter.
• The Caterham Academy has introduced strict fuel limits and a new basic configuration.
• The default settings are updated for the Mazda MX5 Cup.

Manageability

The handling of many cars on the track is older by times better due to adjusting settings and behavior of a large number of vehicles in the game.

• For a number of cars - BMW M3 E30, Mercedes 190E Evo II, Ferrari 296 GTB, Lancia Delta, Lotus Emira, Lotus Exige V6, Audi RS 3, Audi RS 6, BMW M2 CS Racing, Toyota GR86, VW Golf 8 GTI - adjusted gear ratios, power and steering angle.
• The Lamborghini Huracán ST Evo2 has changed the limits of available settings.
• The Porsche Cup variants have unique tuning and electronics limitations.
• The FFB (Force Feedback) gain values have been updated for all machines, and new options have also been added: overload feel, bumps, glide and ABS operation.
• Vibrations at low speeds become more realistic.
• For Dallara, the default feedback gain has been increased.

Improved graphics

Among the whole list of changes it would be unacceptable not to mention graphics, because it qualitatively changes the overall perception of the game.

• Dynamic Global Illumination 2.0 has been implemented, which significantly improved the overall image quality.
• Reworked night lighting: more realistic shadows, mirror reflections, crowd, grass and post-processing effects.
• Optimized use of resources: video memory, processor and graphics processor, which increased the stability of work.
• Improved performance in VR and three-screen mode - reduced problems with shadows and sudden appearance of objects.

Updated lighting scripts and LEDs in cars:

Chevrolet Camaro

Lamborghini Huracán STO

Toyota GR86

Porsche 992 GT3 Cup

Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS

BMW M4 GT3 Evo, BMW M2 CS, BMW M4 CSL

Audi RS 3, Audi RS 6

The following models have been corrected and improved:

Ferrari 296 GTB reworked splitter,

Caterham Academy has a new bar,

The BMW M4 GT3 Evo has its geometry corrected.

Tree the update of the Assetto Corsa Evo was very voluminous and brought a lot of new possibilities in the game. It’s already available for download on Steam for anyone who purchased the game in early access. Looking forward to the next news about patch 0.4 from Team Kunos!