NEWS Let the guessing game begin

[assettocorsamods]

When we thought that a period of calm will follow after the last update, well.. Kunos is back at it (us?) again. A mysterious message appeared on the FB today:

What does it mean ? When visiting the official website, there is not much info either. Just a counter to know exactly how much longer the wait is. Kunos made sort of a habit to surprise their user base with big announcements (Laser-scanned Nordschleife, Ferrari license, Lamborghini license, Porsche license, etc) and in one of the last interviews Marco seemed to point to their intention to keep this trend going. Which is not really an easy task after all the "big hits" they've done previously.

For a short moment, the announcement created a little confusion, since at about the same time there was also an announcement regarding the launch of Assetto Corsa Ultimate Edition. But that refers strictly to the console users, and it's meant to identify the final chapter of AC in the PS4/XBX realm (we know already that due to the verification process of these platforms, consoles were always behind the releases made for the PC version of Assetto Corsa).

Assetto Corsa Ultimate Edition, to be launched on April the 20th for PlayStation®4 and Xbox One™ consoles, is the most complete package ever conceived for the critically acclaimed and ground breaking racing simulator.

Users will benefit from the combination of pure driving realism and pin-point accuracy together with every car and track to ever be released for the game, featuring, besides the latest and updated version of Assetto Corsa, the Prestige pack, the three Porsche Packs, the Red, the ReadyToRace and the Japanese Packs, plus the Ferrari 70th Anniversary DLCs.

178 tailored to perfection cars are available to choose from, including special editions, reproduced in collaboration with the most prestigious automotive manufacturers, each one authentic and unique in both characteristics and handling - designed upon manufacturer's real-life track data and telemetry. Including cars from Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, Audi, Lamborghini, McLaren, Praga, Corvette, Maserati, Lotus and more.

Using laser scanning technology to deliver the highest level of accuracy possible, Assetto Corsa Ultimate Edition boasts 33 track configurations from sixteen circuits (including the legendary Spa Francorchamps, Nürburgring-Nordschleife, Laguna Seca and many others), alongside an advanced physics engine built using practical knowledge acquired from the elite of motorsport, including features and aspects of real cars never seen on any other racing simulator, such as tyre flat spots, heat cycles, including graining and blistering.

Players will enjoy a full suite of race modes in Single player or be able to compete with friends in online multiplayer challenges, even customizing the driving experience by adjusting the handling and race set-up of each and every car in the game, to match their personal racing style.


So, with that out of the way, what else could it be ? Rumors started a little while back, after a user spotted the registration of a specific (and suggestive) domain name :

First rumor had it that it's simply the name of AC2, but that would not score high on all marketing chapters. And then, it seems too soon for such a big announcement. Kunos knows that people have high hopes for it: weather system, day/night cycle, endurance racing, etc.

Another hypothesis is that it refers to an official ranking/competition system, similar to what iRacing has. To push this forward, it could be pointed also that RSR announced some time back that they will be shutting down their timing servers in March.. one is free to assume that the RSR team will join efforts with Kunos to create and support something official ?

And finally, something that is actually quite credible, judging by the momentum this has nowadays: an official e-Sports platform/competition/partnership ! That would not be a bad solution maybe, since it could assure long term funding for AC development. Then again, it would bring the "risk" of going the iRacing subscription-based format route ?

We'll find out in a week's time which (if any) of the above applies, but until then, what are your guesses ?

(PS: the funny ones are taken: a new guitar for Stefano @Leonardo Ratafia , or a "Pause" button @brunUK) ​

 

[Pixelchaser]

i think it`ll resemble the old FVA product whilst incorporating possibilities of a competition through it, be it esports. pricing. probably free. and generally an experiment for the future of their development.

 

[luchian]

It doesn't sound very clever for me if they would do that. Kunos seemed like a team looking towards future, anything "recycled" or half-made would give'em a bad image, imo. I for one would be disappointed.

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[Pixelchaser]

FVA proceeded AC as not only a proof of concept of an interim product between titles. but in the form of a simple competition. same is happening again for probably the same reasons. its what they do and they have done it before.

 

[luchian]

Maybe, but things changed a LOT for Kunos since then. And even so, a hotlapping system is not something to build up tons of hype over . Imagine announcing this on the 21st.. a huge shitstorm opportunity . It has to be something linked to AC2 directly.. or bigger.

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[Pixelchaser]

whats bigger than ac2 ? btw it can be both things too, especially if damage limitation is involved as you may suggest it might be.

 

[luchian]

AC2 is not that unrealistic. I remember there was an image on the new year's eve with a screen looking like Spa at night..

 

[Pixelchaser]

i like the idea of it being something they use to take data from to build ac2. like establishing the new performance standard. establishing some concepts in online racing hubs more akin to services offered by other sims. testing in general future stuff. because this is their opportunity, and its my theory FVA was exactly that too. yeah it was a hotlap sim, and it lead to ac being a hotlap sim for a very long time whilst maintaining online wasn't worth it (I'm sure you can remember those days of only 1% of users ever going online and how it ment we need not extensive multiplayer. yeah that's how they pursued it because of their data. so imo it could just be data update time via a world wide online competition...

if they have extended their aspirations in the market, they fall flat without experience, especially where an independent group wishes to continue to do this independently. whislst not growing their studio like others do. and for that they need to know where they are going which means data data data. they cant have just decided all the correct courses by this time if we are to be enamoured by ac2 and its evolution.

 

[luchian]

Well, they are not independent anymore. For more than a year now, they have been aquired by Digital Bros. That is what allowed them to hire more people extending the team and maybe their aspirations .

 

[Pixelchaser]

kunos made sure to retain control. and maintain their exact working methods that led them to get to where they did. and that's unheard of within this industry. they protected themselves , their title, and their future like nobody else did. so telling me they are bound by another groups thoughts and aspirations is completely wrong. they are and they think independently to the norm™ atleast that's what ive read from all of it. anyway i hope its ac2 but announced a year too early . that`ll keep the forumites busy. you can bet your bottom dollar on that, and they are asking for exactly that.

 

[luchian]

No, actually what I was saying is that they CAN dream even bigger now. Don't take my word for it, see one of the 2 threads of Dec-31st, iirc.

..and to add a plot twist: what if they will announce a rally sim ? (remember you heard it here first).

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[Pixelchaser]

well if the caveat that suggests its not Ac2 doesn't come, then I can only presume its Ac2. but I still think its something else and I do like the idea of an esports rally competition.

can you link those dec posts.id try look but I'm very ill at present with this crazy flu that's sweeping over europe. (hard to do anything at the moment)

 

[luchian]

They're here. Just go up one level on the News Timeline, and see end of the year post and the bonus pack.

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[Les Neilson]

https://www.assettocorsa.net/competizione/news/

 

[Pixelchaser]

the end of an era and the start of a new one. fair well to convenient modding possibilities. <waves>, maybe theyd release tools for ACC at the end of development though.

 

[MLT]

the end of an era and the start of a new one. fair well to convenient modding possibilities. <waves>, maybe theyd release tools for ACC at the end of development though.

It just reduces my desire to mod. I hope they do release well developed tools!

 

[Pixelchaser]

one thing is for sure, regardless of its name, its not a spiritual successor to AC afaiac.

and ive not seen the word simulation mentioned once, just game game game.

the guessing game is long from being over, and anyway I already know its the end of an era for myself, there wont be modding by intention on this ACC is my feeling. but its likely there will be modding eventually, just not officially. just like theres modding for anything else. modding of the extremely hard variety.... gone are the days of modding sims, slowly but surely.

 

[luchian]

I don't see any fatality in the news, on the contrary. It os definitely not AC2 (..at least in the way we know it) but it makes the perfect tool for transition.

The bottom line is: same physics on new engine. And not any engine, but one of the big out there. Once the integration is done, focus can shift towards solid features, like everything needed for true endurance or ranking to help clean the public multiplayer races, maybe to the iRacing level.

From this towards AC2 (..in 2-3 years) sounds like an easy move to me.

And no, I don't think modding will be supported officially. It sounds too complicated due to the licenses involved. It will have to wait for AC2 (..while existing underground).

However, AC1 will still be there. After the excitment of ACC is gone, I think it will still be a lot of fun to mod. @MLT this should not kill your motivation. It should in fact make you hurry . Until the summer there is nothing in you way.

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[Just Kauser]

Well then I can calm down on my rain mod continue working!

 

[MLT]

It should in fact make you hurry . Until the summer there is nothing in you way.

I'm actually hurrying, I'm finishing off the beta version of Quebrada de Ocharaza, for a very soon release.
Thanks for cheering me up.