Assetto Corsa 2 became Assetto Corsa EVO: what changes

For years people talked about “Assetto Corsa 2”, the follow-up to the Kunos Simulazioni simulator released in 2014. That follow-up exists, but it is not called that: the final name is Assetto Corsa EVO, and it arrived in early access on PC in January 2025. Here is what changes compared with the two Assetto Corsa titles you already know.

Contents

• From Assetto Corsa 2 to Assetto Corsa EVO
• How it differs from Competizione
• What you need to drive it well
• Frequently asked questions
• In short

From Assetto Corsa 2 to Assetto Corsa EVO

The name “Assetto Corsa 2” circulated for a long time because that is how the project was referred to in the financial documents of Digital Bros, the publisher. When the game was unveiled, a different name was chosen. If you are searching for “Assetto Corsa 2”, you are looking for Assetto Corsa EVO: it is the same game.

It is worth remembering that early access means exactly that: a game you buy while it is still being built, with content and features arriving over time. It is a legitimate choice, but one to make knowingly — and it is always worth checking how far along it is before deciding.

How it differs from Competizione

The most common confusion is between the three titles. In short:

• Assetto Corsa (2014) — the most open of the three. A huge car list, unlimited modding, still the reference today for drift and community-made content. Dated graphics, unmatched freedom.
• Assetto Corsa Competizione — specialised: GT3 and GT4 only, the GT World Challenge, meticulous physics and weather. If you race GTs on circuit, it is still the best choice.
• Assetto Corsa EVO — the heir to the first game, not to Competizione: it returns to a varied car list and an open approach, on a new engine.

What you need to drive it well

Whichever of the three you drive, hardware matters more than the version. A force feedback wheel is the jump that changes everything; the rest depends on what you race. If you care about the road and drift side — where the original Assetto Corsa and its heir are at their best — a proper handbrake is not an accessory but your main control, and a sequential shifter gets the paddles out of the way where they do not belong.

Frequently asked questions

Are Assetto Corsa 2 and Assetto Corsa EVO the same game?

Yes. “Assetto Corsa 2” was how the project was referred to before the official reveal; the commercial title is Assetto Corsa EVO.

Does Assetto Corsa EVO replace Assetto Corsa Competizione?

No. Competizione is specialised in GT3 and GT4 and in the GT World Challenge, and for that kind of racing it remains a solid choice. EVO is the heir to the first Assetto Corsa, the open, generalist one.

Is it worth buying a game in early access?

It depends what you want. In early access you pay for a game that is still being built: content and features arrive over time. If you want something complete straight away, it is better to wait; if you enjoy following development, it is a way to do that.

Do you need a handbrake to play Assetto Corsa?

Not for circuit racing, where you would barely touch it. You very much need one for drift, rally and hillclimb: in those disciplines it is the control that decides the line, and paddles are no substitute.

In short

If you were waiting for “Assetto Corsa 2”, the game you want is called Assetto Corsa EVO. It retires neither the original Assetto Corsa, still the king of modding, nor Competizione, still the reference for GT racing. They are three different tools — and the real step up in driving still comes from the hardware.