As I fire up my trusty Assetto Corsa rig, I can’t help but feel a twinge of anxiety. The upcoming release of Assetto Corsa EVO has me questioning the future of the modding community that has kept this sim racing gem alive and thriving for nearly a decade.

I’ve spent countless hours tweaking my setup, experimenting with mods like Pure, cruising through the LA Canyons, and pushing my virtual cars to the limit on the Pacific Coast Highway. But nothing quite compares to the thrill of weaving through traffic on the neon-lit highways of the Shutoko Revival Project. These community-created additions have transformed Assetto Corsa from a great racing sim into an unparalleled driving experience. But as KUNOS Simulazioni gears up for their next big release, I can’t shake the feeling that this golden age of modding might be coming to an end.

The Modding Dilemma: Innovation vs. Control

KUNOS finds itself in a precarious position. On one hand, the modding community has been the lifeblood of Assetto Corsa, keeping the game relevant and exciting years after its initial release. On the other, the company needs to protect its intellectual property and ensure the success of its new product.

The Power of Mods

The impact of mods on Assetto Corsa can’t be overstated:

• Visual Enhancements: Mods like Pure have pushed the game’s graphics beyond what many thought possible.
• Track Variety: Community-created tracks like LA Canyons and Santa Monica Mountains have expanded the game’s horizons.
• Car Selection and Driving Experiences: Projects like the Shutoko Revival Project have not only added depth to the vehicle roster but created entire new driving experiences.

The Shutoko Revival Project, in particular, stands out as a testament to the incredible potential of community-driven content. Its recreation of Tokyo’s Metropolitan Expressway offers a vast, open-world driving experience that has become a cornerstone of the Assetto Corsa modding community. With its detailed environment, active multiplayer servers, and constant updates, it exemplifies why the modding scene is so vital to Assetto Corsa’s longevity.

These mods have not only extended the game’s lifespan but have also contributed to its commercial success. As Marco Massarutto, co-founder of KUNOS, stated, they want to work with modders “in a more creative way in the future.” But what does this really mean for projects like Shutoko Revival and others?

The rFactor 2 Cautionary Tale

The sim racing community is still reeling from the rFactor 2 debacle. In March 2021, Motorsport Games entered into a binding term sheet to acquire Studio397 and the rFactor 2 platform for $16 million. This acquisition was completed in May 2021. While initially promising “business as usual,” Motorsport Games took several controversial actions that alienated a significant portion of the player base:

1. Subscription Model Changes: Motorsport Games introduced a new pricing structure that many players felt was less favorable than the previous model.
2. Content Restrictions: They began limiting access to certain mods and community-created content, moving towards a more controlled ecosystem.
3. Focus Shift: There was a perceived shift in focus from community-driven development to a more commercialized approach, with emphasis on official content and partnerships.
4. Integration with Other Products: Motorsport Games used the rFactor 2 physics engine in combination with the Unreal graphics engine for their NASCAR 21: Ignition game, which was poorly received due to numerous issues.
5. Automated Matchmaking Changes: The introduction of rFactor 2’s own automated matchmaking system led to the closure of popular third-party services like LowFuelMotorsport‘s rF2 servers, which had used community mods.

These actions not only affected rFactor 2 directly but also had implications for other Motorsport Games projects. The company later canceled planned games for the British Touring Car Championship and IndyCar Series in 2023, further eroding trust in the sim racing community. Now, they face a full-on existential crisis that is hard to view as anything other than effect following cause.

It’s a path that KUNOS would do well to avoid with Assetto Corsa EVO, but the temptation to control and monetize mods must be strong. The rFactor 2 situation serves as a stark reminder of how quickly a beloved sim racing platform can change under new ownership or major shifts in underlying business paradigm, potentially at the cost of the very community that helped build its success.

The Balancing Act: Commercial Success vs. Community Goodwill

KUNOS is walking a tightrope. They need to make Assetto Corsa EVO a commercial success without alienating the dedicated community that has supported them for years. It’s like trying to upgrade your sim rig without losing the perfect force feedback settings you’ve spent months fine-tuning.

“We want to prevent abuses and the use of stolen content from other games.” – Marco Massarutto

This statement suggests that KUNOS is looking to implement some form of quality control or curation for mods in EVO. While this could lead to higher overall quality, it also raises concerns about restrictions and potential monetization. How would this affect massive, community-driven projects like the Shutoko Revival Project?

The LFM Factor: A Double-Edged Sword

The recent expansion of Low Fuel Motorsport (LFM) into the original Assetto Corsa adds another layer of complexity to this situation. In December 2023, LFM launched support for Assetto Corsa, bringing its popular competitive racing format to the game. This move was met with overwhelming enthusiasm from the community, with nearly 80% of surveyed players supporting the addition.

LFM’s Assetto Corsa integration offers:

• A structured competitive racing system
• Matchmaking and skill-based divisions
• Support for both official content and popular mods

The success of LFM in Assetto Corsa could be seen as a double-edged sword for KUNOS:

1. Proof of Concept: It demonstrates the strong demand for organized competitive play in Assetto Corsa, potentially informing KUNOS’s decisions for EVO.
2. Community Expectations: Players may now expect similar or better features in EVO, raising the bar for what’s considered acceptable.
3. Potential Competition: If EVO’s multiplayer features fall short, players might stick with the original Assetto Corsa and LFM, potentially impacting EVO’s adoption.
4. Mod Dependency: LFM’s success in AC relies heavily on mod support, which could influence KUNOS’s stance on modding in EVO.

This situation bears some similarity to the rFactor 2 scenario, where third-party services like LFM initially filled a gap in the game’s offerings. However, when Motorsport Games introduced their own competitive system, it led to the decline and eventual shutdown of LFM’s rFactor 2 service.

The success of LFM in Assetto Corsa could either inspire KUNOS to embrace a similar community-driven approach in EVO or push them towards a more controlled, proprietary system. The way KUNOS navigates this will be crucial in maintaining the goodwill of their dedicated modding community while still achieving their commercial goals with EVO.

The Potential Future of Assetto Corsa Modding

Based on the information available, here’s what we might expect:

1. Curated Mod Marketplace: KUNOS could create an official platform for approved mods, potentially with revenue sharing for creators. This could benefit high-quality projects but might limit the scope of more ambitious mods.
2. Limited Mod Support: EVO might offer modding capabilities, but with more restrictions than the original game. This could potentially impact the development of large-scale mods like Shutoko Revival.
3. Gradual Transition: Support for the original Assetto Corsa could be phased out over time, encouraging players to move to EVO. This raises questions about the long-term viability of existing mods.
4. Collaboration with Top Modders: KUNOS might partner with well-known modders to create official content for EVO. While this could lead to high-quality content, it might also limit the independence of modding teams.

The Sim Racing Community’s Role

As members of the sim racing community, we have a part to play in shaping the future of Assetto Corsa modding. We need to:

• Communicate Our Concerns: Let KUNOS know the importance of mod support in a constructive manner, highlighting success stories like the Shutoko Revival Project.
• Support Ethical Modding: Avoid using or promoting mods that use stolen content, ensuring projects like Shutoko Revival continue to set a positive example.
• Prepare for Change: Be open to new modding paradigms that balance creativity with commercial interests, while advocating for the preservation of community-driven innovation.

Conclusion: Cautious Optimism

As I wrap up another session in my modded Assetto Corsa, weaving through the intricate highways of the Shutoko Revival Project, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension about the future. The upcoming release of Assetto Corsa EVO represents both an opportunity and a challenge for the modding community.

While the specter of the rFactor 2 situation looms large, KUNOS seems to be taking a more measured approach. Their acknowledgment of the modding community’s importance is encouraging, but the devil will be in the details of implementation. The fate of projects like Shutoko Revival, which have become integral to many players’ Assetto Corsa experience, hangs in the balance.

For now, I’ll continue to enjoy my Pure-enhanced drives through the LA Canyons and late-night races on the Shutoko Revival Project‘s Tokyo highways, savoring every moment of this modding golden age. And when EVO arrives, I’ll be there, ready to see what new adventures – and hopefully, new mods – await.

What are your thoughts on the future of Assetto Corsa modding? How do you think projects like the Shutoko Revival Project will fare in the new era? Share your opinions and let’s keep this important conversation going in the sim racing community.