Assetto Corsa EVO continues its journey through Early Access, with KUNOS Simulazioni steadily expanding and refining one of the most anticipated racing simulators of recent years.
The latest major release, Early Access Update 0.9, arrived in August 2026, bringing new cars, online competition features and further improvements to the simulator's physics, handling and tyre model.
With more development still to come before the eventual 1.0 release, here's where Assetto Corsa EVO currently stands.
Three New Cars Arrive in Update 0.9
Update 0.9 expanded the Assetto Corsa EVO garage with three new additions:
Audi R8 LMS GT2
Audi R8 V10 Performance Quattro
Mazda RX-7 FD Spirit R (Type A)
The additions continue EVO's approach of combining modern racing machinery with road cars and enthusiast favourites.
The Audi R8 LMS GT2 brings another dedicated racing car to the simulator, while the road-going R8 V10 and iconic Mazda RX-7 offer two very different driving experiences.
Physics and Tyre Improvements
Assetto Corsa has always placed physics at the centre of the experience, and Update 0.9 continues to develop this area.
The update introduced an updated slick tyre model for GT racing cars, alongside improvements to differential simulation, AWD systems and throttle modelling.
KUNOS has also continued optimisation work across the simulator as it develops the foundations ahead of the eventual full release.
For sim racers using Direct Drive wheels and more advanced simulator setups, these underlying physics and force-feedback developments are particularly important, as they determine how much information from the virtual car ultimately reaches the driver.
Online Leaderboards and Special Events
Competition is also becoming a bigger part of Assetto Corsa EVO.
Update 0.9 introduced online leaderboards for Hotlap and Hotstint events, alongside new Special Events.
These additions build on the multiplayer and competitive systems introduced throughout previous Early Access updates and give players more ways to compare their performance with other drivers.
It's another step towards making EVO a more complete racing platform rather than simply a collection of cars and circuits.
Force Feedback Continues to Improve
Update 0.9 also introduced improvements to the game's input and Force Feedback systems.
One particularly useful change is improved FFB device recovery.
Supported DirectInput hardware from manufacturers including Fanatec, Logitech and Thrustmaster can now recover Force Feedback automatically following events such as an Alt-Tab, USB reconnection or wheel-base power cycle.
Updates like these may sound small compared with a new car or circuit, but they're important for anyone running a dedicated sim racing setup.
TrackIR Support Arrives
A further 0.9.1 hotfix, released on 1 September, introduced official TrackIR support.
TrackIR allows players to control their in-game viewpoint through physical head movement, offering another option for racers looking for greater immersion without necessarily moving to a full VR headset.
The hotfix also addressed several technical issues from the 0.9 release, including certain AMD GPU crashes, replay-camera problems and an audio issue affecting the Mazda RX-7 in some hardware configurations.
VR Has Already Received a Major Overhaul
Virtual reality has also been a major focus during EVO's Early Access development.
Earlier Update 0.8 introduced what KUNOS described as a comprehensive VR overhaul, alongside the addition of the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, three additional cars and expanded support for community-created content.
For racers building highly immersive home simulators, continued improvements to VR, head tracking and Force Feedback are particularly encouraging.
Free Roam Is Still Coming
One of Assetto Corsa EVO's most anticipated features is Free Roam.
KUNOS has confirmed that the feature remains in development and is still planned to arrive during the Early Access programme.
Free Roam is intended to expand EVO beyond traditional circuit driving, allowing players to experience cars in a different environment from conventional race sessions.
KUNOS says the feature is getting closer, although a final release date has not yet been announced.
Assetto Corsa EVO Is Still in Early Access
Importantly, Update 0.9 is not the end of Early Access.
KUNOS has confirmed that development will continue before Assetto Corsa EVO reaches its full 1.0 release.
That means players should expect further additions, improvements and technical changes as development progresses.
For existing players, additions made during the Early Access programme are included without requiring separate purchases.
What Does This Mean for Sim Racers?
Assetto Corsa EVO is gradually becoming a much more complete simulation platform.
The development we've seen throughout 2026 has touched almost every part of the experience – from physics and tyres to multiplayer, VR, Force Feedback, community content and the growing selection of cars and circuits.
For enthusiasts running Direct Drive wheels, load-cell pedals, dedicated cockpits, VR or motion simulation, continued development of the underlying simulation is just as important as new cars and tracks.
As racing simulators become more sophisticated, the hardware surrounding them is evolving at the same time.
Follow the Latest Sim Racing News with Sim Reality UK
At Sim Reality UK, we'll continue following the development of Assetto Corsa EVO alongside the latest developments across the wider sim racing industry.
From new racing simulators and major software updates to Direct Drive hardware, cockpits and motion simulation, we'll be covering the developments that matter to the UK simulation community.
Stay tuned to Sim Reality UK for the latest from Assetto Corsa EVO and the world of sim racing.