I’m a sim racer and amateur racer with a passion for Motorsport, good racecraft and the technical and setup aspect of sim racing.
In the sim racing world, Assetto Corsa and Assetto Corsa Competizione are two titles that are close to the heart of every sim racing enthusiast. Developed by Kunos Simulazioni, both of these titles offer an unmatched realistic driving experience that couldn’t be replicated anywhere else, and believe us, many games tried and failed.
In 2014, Assetto Corsa was released and it changed the course of sim driving forever. It offered a variety of cars and a diverse environment where sim racers can get a real-life driving experience. At this time, racing games were all about arcade racing, and only a handful of titles such as iRacing and rFactor and a few others were available that offered the thrill of a realistic driving experience.
Later in 2018, the second game in the franchise, the Assetto Corsa Competizione was released which strictly focused on offering GT-style racing and featured GT3/GT4 cars. Ever since its release, Assetto Corsa and Assetto Corsa Competizione are often compared by freshies to find out which one is better.
Let us make one thing clear, Assetto Corsa and Assetto Corsa Competizione may be quite similar at their core but, they are offering different styles of racing. We’ll elaborate further below.
Assetto Corsa Vs. Assetto Corsa Competizione
Assetto Corsa and Assetto Corsa Competizione, both crafted by Kunos Simulazioni, offer very distinct journeys in the realm of driving simulators.
Assetto Corsa Competizione (ACC) strictly offers GT class racing and you’d only be able to drive GT3/GT4 cars along with a few new car additions that the developers like to add from time to time.
Since ACC mirrors the intensity of the Blancpain GT series and the renowned Spa 24hrs, the driving experience is quite intense and you’d have to follow the rules and regulations of the track. In terms of realism, the Assetto Corsa Competizione goes above and beyond.
On the other hand, Assetto Corsa (AC) isn’t limited to a single discipline of driving. Here, you can drive your favourite cars on a variety of tracks from all over the world. Whether you want to compete in drag racing, try your luck in GT racing, or want a piece of F1 racing, you’ll get a taste of every genre in this title alone, unlike Assetto Corsa Competizione where you’re only stuck with the GT racing series.
The Big Differences
Assetto Corsa and Assetto Corsa Competizione, both have their pros and cons and since they’re built on different engines, there’s a huge difference in the visuals, physics, and overall feel of the game.
There’s a misconception in the community that since Assetto Corsa Competizione is the latest instalment in the franchise, it is better than Assetto Corsa. That is simply not the case here and frankly speaking, newer is not always better, (We’re looking at you Cyberpunk 2077).
Now let’s look at the main differences between the two games.
Engine
Assetto Corsa was developed using an in-house engine by the developers and there was a huge emphasis on offering tons of customization options to cater to the needs of sim racers while offering realism. From HUD layout to FOV to FFB, there are a ton of customization options, and when you throw in the 3rd-party modes, you can find modes for everything to create the most immersive racing experience.
On the other hand, ACC was developed using Unreal Engine 4 which offered stellar graphics and attention to detail that was previously missing. Everything from the feel of the track to the sound of the tyres sliding off the curve feels smoother and greatly enhances the realistic driving experience. In terms of graphics, ACC is undoubtedly superior to its predecessor.
Physics
In terms of physics, driving a similar vehicle in both games would feel almost similar but since you’re only restricted to GT3/GT4 cars in Assetto Corsa Competizione, you’d surely feel a difference in the driving experience when you’re using the same car in the original Assetto Corsa.
Overall, it would be hard to distinguish your driving experience since Assetto Corsa Competizione has mastered the GT racing style while Assetto Corsa offers diverse genres where each car feels different.
Both these games have their strong and weak points in terms of physics and we feel that it would be inappropriate to favour one over the other since they’re made to cater to different audiences hence, the difference in physics cannot be judged on a single factor.
Mods
A major difference between the two titles is that Assetto Corsa has a huge community and supports 3rd-party mods where the sky is the limit. From realistic graphics mode with real-time ray tracing to a dynamic weather system, players heavily rely on modes to further enhance their in-game experience, something that is not available for Assetto Corsa Competizione unfortunately.
Check out Assetto Corsa mods which we covered in a different article.
Sound Mechanics
There’s a major difference between the sound coming out of the vehicle. In Assetto Corsa, the cars feel louder and any bumps or movement in the car chassis isn’t noticeable. In Assetto Corsa Competizione, you can hear the bearings, feel the bumps, and notice the tyres sliding off the track which greatly contributes to the immersive experience.
Graphics
There’s a 5 year difference between the release of the two games and since the Assetto Corsa Competizione is built on Unreal Engine 4, it is a no-brainer that ACC features superb graphics with striking details.
Assetto Corsa isn’t too bad either but since there’s a lack of attention to the details, it looks a little rough around the edges. But, to enhance the graphics, you can always try a 3rd-party mod and give a much-needed facelift to the graphics of the game.
From Photorealistic mode to Custom Shaders Pack to Weather and Light enchantment mode, there are a plethora of options at your disposal that you can use to make the game look aesthetically appealing.
Tracks and Cars
AC offers a broad range of cars and tracks, with the final official Kunos car count reaching 178, plus many community-developed additions. However, this wide range doesn’t match the detail level seen in ACC. Since the Assetto Corsa supports 3rd-party modes, you have plenty of options in terms of tracks and cars and it is a luxury for Assetto Corsa players only.
ACC, with its focus on the GT series, features a limited but highly detailed set of cars and tracks, using laser-scanned models for tracks to provide accurate representations. Sadly, there’s no support for 3rd-party mods here as this is a licensed game and you have to stick with the rules. But, since the developers offer DLCs from time to time, you do get new cars and tracks to test your driving skills.
For instance, ACC is getting Nordschleife this year and we couldn’t be more excited.
Multiplayer
AC’s multiplayer experience is diverse, offering a range of driving experiences from racing to cruising. It’s more casual, allowing players to join and leave easily without any hassle or facing penalties. For LAN parties (for the rare moments they’re still held), Assetto Corsa offers a fun and competitive experience.
ACC, on the other hand, offers a completely different racing experience as it mirrors the real-life Blancpain GT series experience with more serious competition servers and longer sessions, requiring a greater time commitment but offering a more immersive professional racing experience.
With real-time race monitoring and a rule book that you have to follow, ACC offers an extremely competitive racing environment. If you’re rocking a sim racing cockpit and have all the gear, you wouldn’t want to miss out on competing against the finest drivers of our realm.
For “newbies” that aren’t well-versed in competitive racing, we’d recommend sharpening your skills in Assetto Corsa before moving to Assetto Corsa Competizione because the latter can be quite unforgiving if you need to work on your driving technique.
Adjustability
AC allows extensive customization of car dynamics, including the ability to modify sound and physics parameters directly. You can make your own liveries or download them from the mod pack. Similarly, HUD can be updated as well which can have a nice impact on your FOV.
As for ACC, the adjustability and car customization options are quite limited to ensure a realistic racing experience. You won’t be able to update many things on your car but, what you can do is create liveries, adjust the dynamic weather, and play with the HUD to find your sweet spot.
Assetto Corsa and Assetto Corsa Competizione: Which one should you buy?
In summary, while both Assetto Corsa and Assetto Corsa Competizione offer immersive sim racing experiences, they cater to different preferences. Assetto Corsa is known for its variety and modding capability, whereas Assetto Corsa Competizione focuses on delivering a high-quality GT racing experience.
For freshies that want a fun and engaging sim racing experience, the Assetto Corsa with its hoards of modes is recommended. And if you’re inclined towards fast-paced and competitive racing in a professional environment, the Assetto Corsa Competizione is the way to go.
The best practice here is to get your hands on both titles and enjoy the entire ecosystem. Assetto Corsa is up for grabs for just $8.19 while Assetto Corsa Competizione will set you back $29.99 on Steam.
Topic: Assetto Corsa