Feburary is a busy month for gamers this year, but one release that should not go ignored by racers is the next-gen update for Assetto Corsa Competizione, better known as ACC.
While the game may be approaching four years old, Kunos Simulazioni and 505 Games have developed it into one of the best sim racing titles around. At least on PC.
Does the next-gen upgrade lift the console version? Let's find out!
Feel the power
ACC is a GT3 & GT4 sim, but it's also one of the most accessible and engaging racing titles out there.
Kunos has created the best simulation around of GT cars, along with amazing representations of their liveries and the tracks they race on.
We were invited to Red Bull Racing to try out the new console update on an Xbox Series X, and the immediate improvement was noticeable.
And I don't just mean the usual next-gen goodies of better graphics and load times. The game felt more alive than it had ever done on the Xbox One. It felt indistinguishable from the PC version of the game, which is a remarkable feat.
With some help from Red Bull's esports coach Nathan Tague we were soon setting PBs around Imola in the BMW M4. Even as we pushed the boundaries a little hard!
The great thing about ACC is that it's more accessible than the majority of sims out there. On PS5 with the DualSense controller you can set some very good lap times, and really feel the car.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWWhiIUg6gU
The integration of haptic feedback lets you feel the bumps in the road and when the steering goes light. The adaptive triggers provide you with a tactile sense on the throttle and brake.
While ACC is best experienced on a wheel, the fact that you can still have a superb experience on controller is a major selling point for console players.
Graphics
As mentioned, you do get quite the graphical uplift with the next-gen version of ACC.
The game brings a capped frame rate of 60 fps, up from 30 on the old-gen consoles, and 4K resolution for players.
The result is a beautiful game, especially when the sun is setting and the clouds come rolling in. Both visually and technically, the gap between console and PC has been almost completely closed.
Assetto Corsa Competizione on PS5 & Xbox Series X|S
Those who already have ACC on console will get a free upgrade. But for those without it, the Day One Edition is available today and represents great value.
Available for £34.99, you get the next-gen version of the game along with the 2020 GT World Challenge Pack DLC that includes the Imola circuit along with the Ferrari 488 GT3 EVO 2020 and Mercedes-AMG GT4 EVO 2020.
This is a bargain for players, and gets must-buy status from us!