Assetto Corsa Competizione (Xbox Series S/X) review

For dedicated racing enthusiasts only, Assetto Corsa Competizione’s recent update improves the quality of the simulation. Now, doing poorly in the Blancpain GT Series squarely rests on your incompetence.

2019’s Assetto Corsa Competizione took a gamble by scaling down the scope of the franchise. Instead of offering a comprehensive simulation, the follow-up focused on Group GT3 and GT4 cars with competitions that favored endurance races. But the motorsporting didn’t port to console particularly well, showcasing some lackluster performance. On the Xbox One, the framerate sporadically dipped below the 30FPS threshold, making racing on rainswept tracks particularly punishing.

For PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X owners, developer Kunos Simulazioni has released a free update (also available for $39.99 for new owners) that boosts performance, permitting Competizione to compete with peers like Project Cars 3. The good news is that the title now runs at 4k/60FPS, offering the fidelity and fluidity expected for a now-gen racer. While the Xbox Series X iteration still contains a few cosmetic blemishes, those with a luxurious hardware won’t have to put up with too many technical sacrifices.

The Wheel Deal

The developer touts that any steering wheel with Windows DirectInput is compatible with the title and tests seems to confirm these claims. We tried the game out with a Thrustmaster TMX Force Feedback and a Logitech G920 and both functioned satisfactorily. The developers suggest resetting the bindings and setting minimum force to 0%, which establishes a reference point for further tweaking. Within ten minutes we were able to fine-tune the ten available options and remap buttons, providing a proper level of force feedback, responsive steering, and manageable controls. Pleasingly, you can create and save presets, providing a bit of distinction for the game’s armada of 25+ licensed automobiles. Probably the best part of wheel use is the 1:1 arm movement when using an inside-the-car camera view.

But what if you don’t have the space, money, or motivation to purchase a racing wheel? Well, Competizione is competent with a controller. Yes, it took some patience to get accustomed to using the top bumpers on a standard Xbox Wireless controller as shifters. And the relatively short throw of an analog stick isn’t comparable to the 12-bit input and 270-900 degrees of rotation offered by the Thrustmaster. But turn on optional assists such as stability control and leave the wipers and headlights on automatic and you should be able to make it through Spa’s chicane without forfeiting your position. Well maybe.

Not for Novices

One of the main issues with 2014’s Assetto Corsa was the lack of fleshed out career mode. Racing against generic AI rivals become rather tedious. Here, the developers begin to mend that imperfection, with a comprehensive campaign hosted by Lamborghini lead driver Mirko Bortolotti. While the former Blancpain GT Series champion won’t provide exhaustive training, you can’t fault him for letting you loose in a Huracán Super Trofeo as soon as you enter the Youngster Programme. That’s definitely a thrill, but it might be too much machine for players who haven’t poured hours into racing simulations. Even a decade of arcade racing is scant preparation for sims like Assetto Corsa.

But if you are a racing fanatic, there’s a lot to enjoy about Competizione’s competitions. When I played the original Assetto Corsa, I was disappointed by its penalty system and AI favoritism. A bit of tire on the curb or some mild bumper slapping resulted in a reprimand for you, but the computer-driven rivals were held to a laxer standard. Likewise, a nudge could send you careening into the gravel, but applying a similar amount of physical contact had little effect. More than once I was frustrated enough to quit the game, requiring a few days to cool off.

Competizione’s AI competitors are far more sporting. You can adjust their proficiency and aggressive levels across a fairly wide spectrum of intensities. During races, they maneuver more like actual drivers instead of bots. They skillfully evade rivals who are spinning out and overtake rivals realistically. Smartly, you’re given a spotter who lets you know when an opponent is getting ready to pass, which also helps keep races mannerly.

Conclusion

Built on the Unreal Engine, Competizione’s cars and laser-scanned tracks are undeniably attractive, save for a bit of odd flickering on some of the car models. The game now offers a stable framerate, even when heavy rains are falling and you’re approaching a sharp turn along with a procession of nearby opponents. With the game’s replicated 24-hour races (which can be time-compressed, of course), expect to witness a day-night cycle or variable weather conditions. I always appreciate a racer that tempts me with a tire change as thunderheads fill the sky. But the true triumph is the title’s sonic output. Expect to hear the wail of an exotic V10, the clammer of low-slung Audi taking a tight corner, or track announcers in the distance.

Make no mistake, Assetto Corsa Competizione is intended for hardcore racing enthusiasts. Even when the settings are at their easiest, tackling the game’s circuits with a 600+ horsepower, petrol-swelling beast is not easy task. But if you’re dedicated enough to own at least a mid-range racing wheel and are looking for a new simulation to invest weeks into, Competizione is a serious contender.

Assetto Corsa Competizione was played on Xbox Series X
with review code provided by the publisher