Assetto Corsa EVO Debuts on PC VR Headsets in Early Access: Here’s Why You Might Consider Holding Off

Yesterday marked a significant day for racing enthusiasts as Assetto Corsa EVO hit the tracks of Steam’s Early Access. Decked out for both flat screens and VR headsets on PC, this latest installment from the franchise is receiving a mixed bag of reviews. While the thrill of getting behind the wheel in VR is undoubtedly enticing, some users are recommending a bit of patience as they wait for updates that promise smoother gameplay.

Developed by KUNOS Simulazioni, the minds behind 2014’s Assetto Corsa and 2018’s Assetto Corsa Competizione, this long-awaited sequel brings a host of features right out of the gate—even in its early stage. Players can currently enjoy five tracks, test-drive 20 different vehicles, and dive into single-player mode, all with SteamVR headset support and even triple-screen options for the avid racer.

KUNOS Simulazioni has assured fans that there’s more on the horizon, including 100 cars, 25 tracks, an open-world map, and both career and multiplayer modes set to roll out in future updates. However, despite these promises, VR adopters are voicing their discontent with the game’s current state.

Feedback is rolling in fast, with over 2,700 reviews contributing to a ‘Mixed’ rating on Steam. While some users highlight the absence of certain features, the bulk of complaints zero in on VR performance issues. It seems the optimization just isn’t up to par yet, leaving the VR variant hard to enjoy.

Steam user Poloman skips the performance chatter, stating that "VR is currently unplayable," with wildly different frame rates when switching from flatscreen to VR. Mattios echoes this frustration, noting that even with a beefy RTX 4090 and i9 13900k, the game stumbles when it comes to consistent VR performance—troubles that don’t plague the flatscreen experience.

Dan’s review paints a similar picture, citing poor VR performance on a Radeon setup and visual hiccups during gameplay, specifically while running a Quest 3 with Link on minimal settings. They advise holding off on purchase until improvement patches are live.

Such hiccups aren’t entirely unexpected for KUNOS Simulazioni’s games, as their previous installments also trickled out content through Early Access. VR has always been a cherished component of the series, dating back to early Rift headset support in 2013 and its expansion in 2017 with OpenVR compatibility. Just a month post-launch, Assetto Corsa Competizione was VR-enabled, showcasing the developers’ commitment to this immersive experience.

With assurances that the complete version will debut in less than a year from now, fans remain hopeful for substantial optimizations that justify the current $32 price tag. KUNOS Simulazioni has laid down the tracks; now it’s time to perfect the drive.