Assetto Corsa Rally

Fans of rally games are having a tough time right now. Apart from retro arcade titles such as Old School Rally or #DriveRally, games like DiRT Rally 2.0 and art of rally are years behind. EA Sports WRC (2023) was the last game from Codemasters and Electronic Arts. Despite still holding the licence, the two companies released a joint statement confirming that they would no longer be developing new WRC rally games. Following this, Nacon secured the WRC licence (FIA World Rally Championship) and announced that they would release new rally games from 2027 onwards. This rally-free gap is now being filled by Assetto Corsa Rally, which was fittingly unveiled during the SimRacing Expo in Dortmund and launched in Early Access on 13 November 2025. This means that the Italian racing game developers can focus entirely on creating the most realistic racing simulation possible, with almost no current competition, although iRacing with Rallycross and the long-standing, popular Richard Burns Rally with the RallySimFans mod remain popular in this area.

Assetto Corsa Rally is developed by Supernova Games Studios, which is part of the Italian Digital Bros Group (also the owner of 505 Games). The team is international and comprises industry veterans with a passion for sim-racing and motorsport. Although this is the studio's first game, they can rely on technical support from Kunos Simulazioni, the team behind the other Assetto Corsa games. This gives the team access to the Assetto Corsa physics engine, which has been refined to address the challenges of rally driving. "Kunos supervised and supported the accuracy of the driving model, ensuring the new entry lives up to the high standards of realism and simulation that define the Assetto Corsa brand," said the publisher. However, the engine behind the game is an extensively customised and optimised version of Unreal Engine 5, designed to meet the specific performance and visual fidelity requirements of racing simulations.

The game is a rally simulation, not an arcade title. It features a sophisticated physics simulation, offering realistic dynamic traction and differentiated handling for front-, rear- and all-wheel drive vehicles, as well as customisable suspensions. The virtual chassis of the vehicles reacts to bumps, gravel and asphalt on the track. Each race takes place in a dynamic environment where day-night cycles and changing weather conditions directly impact driving behaviour. Temperature, humidity, surface type and water all progressively affect grip and vehicle response. The driving experience is intense and challenging. Driving mistakes are consistently punished by a detailed damage model that includes visual deformation and influences real-time handling and vehicle performance, while precise throttle control is rewarded. Compared to DiRT Rally 2.0 and EA Sports WRC in particular, this game is even more of a rally simulation.

The simulation and driving experience are outstanding, but the Early Access version has fairly limited content. In particular, the track selection is very small, but all of the tracks so far have been laser scanned for the first time in the rally sim genre, which allows for precise reproduction of real-world terrain, surface irregularities and surrounding environments. The results look really good and are highly detailed, even if the stages seem a bit static in places. Every vehicle has also been recreated using laser scans and official CAD data to ensure high accuracy. The same care has been taken with the audio. The developers made recordings of real rally cars - from acceleration and braking to drifting - both inside and outside the cockpit. Co-driver pace notes were recorded with professional co-drivers using their real voices.

But let's get back to the content features. The first Early Access release included 33 km of laser-scanned roads, four Special Stages and 18 variants across Wales (gravel) and Alsace (tarmac), as well as ten vehicles. There were also five basic game modes: Assetto Corsa Rally Events with online leaderboards, Free Practice, Rally Weekend, Single Rally Stage and Time Attack with online leaderboards. The first release also supported triple monitors and direct input racing wheels and peripherals. The first major Early Access update (version 0.2) was released shortly before Christmas in 2025. This update introduced snowy and iced surfaces, as well as a new scenario set in Livigno, Italy, which depicts the 'Ghiacciodromo Livigno' ice circuit in the Italian Alps. Players can expect new, extremely slippery track conditions (low grip), and of course, studded tyres. The 1973 Alpine A110 rally car was also introduced. Furthermore, improvements were made to the physics engine for gravel and tarmac surfaces, the audio and the force feedback, as well as the overall steering wheel support. "We will keep improving the codebase until all steering wheel and sim-racing peripherals are fully supported and functioning," wrote the developers.

The final release will feature over 120 km of laser-scanned stages, ten Special Stages with more than 35 variants across five international rallies, and more than 30 rally cars from past and present eras. It will also include features such as a full career mode, VR support and a rally school. Online multiplayer is also on the cards.

"Feeling the lack of a modern rally simulator, we've built a team and developed a technology to create one ourselves, with the support of drivers, engineers, collectors, mechanics, and industry experts. A special thanks goes to Kunos Simulazioni, whose partnership was crucial in maintaining the signature feel of the series - especially in terms of the driving model - in this new chapter. Today marks an exciting new beginning for Supernova and Assetto Corsa Rally, and we can't wait to share the journey with you." - That's what Mauro Notarberardino, Supernova Studio Director, says ahead of the Early Access launch.

Assetto Corsa Rally is being developed by Supernova Games Studios in a technical partnership with Kunos Simulazioni. The publisher is 505 Games. All three companies belong to the Italian Digital Bros Group.

"A rally version of Assetto Corsa, when?! It has been one of the most frequent questions I've received over these years. And I can finally provide an answer. A proper rally simulation requires a dedicated approach that can leverage the unique aspects of this motorsports discipline. Racing primarily against the chronometer, rather than against dozens of real-time processed AI opponents, frees up noticeable CPU resources, and this allows developers to push the boundaries of physics, as well as mechanical behaviour and tire models, across different surfaces that Assetto Corsa Rally will feature and simulate. The result is a dedicated and genuine rally simulation, powered by the Assetto Corsa physics engine, that can fully exploit its potential without compromise. Combining this advanced engine with some of the best real rally stages reproduced using laser-scan technology, the most iconic rally cars, adding up on the passion and competence of the Supernova dev-team, will allow to deliver an ultimate experience that fans have been anticipating for decades." Marco Massarutto, Co-Founder of Kunos Simulazioni and the Assetto Corsa franchise and Executive Manager for Kunos Simulazion

Assetto Corsa Rally was released on 13 November 2025 via Early Access, priced at €29.99. The developers aim to have the full 1.0 release ready within 18 months of the start of Early Access.

Conclusion

Assetto Corsa Rally is the best rally simulation in years - and it's already this good in Early Access!

Features

• Excellent, challenging driving experience
• Detailed recreations of tracks and vehicles
• Authentic rally simulation