Nordschleife ACC Update Delays AC2 Release

Nordschleife Assetto Corsa Competizione.jpg
In a move that should not come as a surprise, the heavily-requested addition of the Nordschleife to Assetto Corsa Competizione means the original Assetto Corsa‘s follow-up will be delayed.

Image credit: Kunos Simulazioni

The small team of 23 people at Kunos Simulazioni have been hard at work over the past year. Assetto Corsa 2 was slated for a 2024 release. But they have been juggling developing that with creating content for Assetto Corsa Competizione.

Therefore we can imagine the effort that they have undertaken since the news that they were able to add the Nordschleife to ACC. After five years of players begging for them to add the 25-kilometre layout, they finally could and are doing so in time for next Spring.


That is unfortunately to the detriment of Assetto Corsa 2. It was initially set for launch in Q2 of 2024, but with the ACC Nordschleife confirmation, the early access release has been pushed back to next Summer. This is according to Digital Bros, the parent company of Kunos Simulazioni.

Assetto Corsa 2 Delayed

In an official financial report, they declare that that the Assetto Corsa sequel release will be postponed. This is due to the work being done to get the Season 2024 GT World Challenge pack for ACC released on both PC and console.

Of course, this will be disappointing to many who do not care for the GT3-focused ACC. With the original Assetto Corsa having more variety of cars, AC2 is expected to be more like the initial game. Plus, whilst ACC was made on Unreal Engine 4, the original AC was created on a custom in-house game engine. AC2 will also have its engine built from the ground up.


Because of the Nordschleife update to ACC, the developers are focusing on that, which means AC2 will not make the initial release window. It may be unfortunate for those with no interest in Competizione. But the playerbase for the GT3-focused sim is still very strong.

Plus, that playerbase will likely grow with the heavily-requested Nordschleife finally being added. But why did it take this long to add one of the most popular tracks in the world?

Nordschleife to ACC Finally​

ACC released in 2018, and ever since it launched, many players have pestered the Kunos devs to add the Nordschleife. It may have been in the original Assetto Corsa, but its inclusion in ACC for so many years seemed impossible. This was due to one simple fact.

The title is the official game of the real world GT World Challenge racing championships. Therefore all content has to be in keeping with series that are part of the SRO Motorsports Group. This includes not only the various regional GTWC championships but also British GT and the Intercontinental GT Challenge.


For the longest time, the Nürburgring 24 hours was not under the control of SRO. It did not appear on any SRO championship’s schedules. But that all changed in early July.

During the SRO Motorsports Annual Press Conference, it was announced that the event would become part of the 2024 Intercontinental GT Challenge calendar. This meant that for the first time in ACC‘s history, the Nordschleife could finally be added to the game. But was it not too late?

Surely with Assetto Corsa 2 set for launch early next year, was it really worth all that time developing it just for the new title to be released shortly afterwards? Many players assumed that was the case.

Misha Charoudin new Instagram post Nordschleife ACC.jpg

In a new post, Charoudin discusses the ACC version of Nordschleife that he tested. Image credit: mgcharoudin on Instagram
That was until Nordschleife specialist Misha Charoudin made a post on Instagram during his trip to Kunos’ HQ. It showed an obscured glimpse of what seemed to be the Nordschleife on ACC. Then the Nürburgring social media team posted the official teaser before quickly deleting it. The official announcement then followed just days later.

The prayers of ACC players had finally been answered.

GT2 Also On Their Way

In Charoudin’s latest post on Instagram, the initially obscured monitors from the previous post are now completely visible. A few eagle-eyed ACC players spotted Charoudin was driving a Porsche, but apparently not any current Porsche in the game.

One of those was Jardier, pointing out that the interior airvents did not match any of the 911 GT3 models, the 718 Cayman GT4 or the 992 GT3 Cup car. With GT2 cars having been confirmed to be coming to ACC in mid-2022, it did not take long before the mysterious new Porsche was identified as being the 911 GT2 RS Clubsport that races in the GT2 European Series.

GT2 cars SRO.png

The GT2 cars coming to ACC will be amongst this selection. Image credit: SRO Motorsports Group
This means that the previously-promised GT2 cars will arrive alongside the Nordschleife in Spring 2024. It was announced to be released for this year, but adding the Nordschleife with them understandably has delayed their arrival.

Expect the ACC Season 2024 GT World Challenge pack with the Nordschleife and GT2 cars in Spring next year. Then Assetto Corsa 2 early access will begin at some point during the Summer. It is a good time to be an Assetto Corsa fan!

Want to discuss Assetto Corsa 2 and anything around the upcoming title? Feel free to head to our forums to become part of the conversation!

Are you disappointed that Assetto Corsa 2 is delayed or excited to drive the Nordschleife on ACC? Tell us on Twitter at @OverTake_gg or in the comments down below!
About author
Luca Munro
Biggest sim racing esports fan in the world.

Comments

I am bit worried that AC2 will be running on unreal engine 5.

The fact that they are working on next ACC dlc pack and also have early access for AC2 in the works for summer 2024 suggests to me from work flow that they are probably staying with unreal engine.
If it turns out to be unreal engine 5 than modding will be no go imo.

Also is it really only 24 employees? They must be out sourcing 3d models and tracks than?
 
Premium
I am bit worried that AC2 will be running on unreal engine 5.

The fact that they are working on next ACC dlc pack and also have early access for AC2 in the works for summer 2024 suggests to me from work flow that they are probably staying with unreal engine.
If it turns out to be unreal engine 5 than modding will be no go imo.

Also is it really only 24 employees? They must be out sourcing 3d models and tracks than?
In this article is confirmation that AC2 will be on its own custom engine. Marco Massarutto confirmed as such in an interview.
 
lol delaying a game release for nords
I guess they can't really release the track before the 2024 season, as its an SRO Official game. I will buy the lot, but have never been particularly fond of Nords regardless of the sim. GT2 cars will be nice but I don't play all the cars I have, but would welcome more tracks (other than Nords).
 
No problem, ACC has priority!

We need weather-model update so that on one part of the Nordschleife it can rain, while other part is still dry! rFactor 2 can do this too, which is amazing.
 
They can delay it further if they include VIR, Sebring, Road Atlanta. There is no point to AC2. Sim racing titles, equipment and events have hit a saturation point. Nothing new under the sun.
 
Take all the time you need guys! Looking forward to sinking hundreds of hours in Nordschelife with ACC physics. AC2 can wait!
Exactly this.

As long as the perfection is financially viable I wish Kunos Simulazioni can spend all the time to perfect the simulator during early access.
 
I am bit worried that AC2 will be running on unreal engine 5.

The fact that they are working on next ACC dlc pack and also have early access for AC2 in the works for summer 2024 suggests to me from work flow that they are probably staying with unreal engine.
If it turns out to be unreal engine 5 than modding will be no go imo.

Also is it really only 24 employees? They must be out sourcing 3d models and tracks than?
I was thinking the same, such a close release window. Spring for the Nords and 2024 season pack, usually a couple of hotfixes follow in the coming weeks, then a month or so silence, then BAM. AC 2 early access launch.

But then I remembered how was the early access for the original AC. 2 cars 1 track, practice mode, have fun, that's all you get for a while. And if you think about it, ACC didn't get any physics updates since the major one in April (ver.1.9), and no major changes to the game engine, or program side of things. All the people working on physics and programming are probably busy with AC 2 now, the people making content, the 3D artists and sound guys are probably the only people who are working on ACC at this point. And if AC 2 will have a lenghty early access period, they aren't really needed with the AC 2 project at this time anyway.

Also there could be content overlaps, so doing something once for both projects, rather than doing it twice to save time is an option too. Probably a must for a team this size. And I also doubt the physics will be done from scratch, it's most likely an evolution of the Competizione physics, just expanded for different tyre compounds, not just Pirelli race slicks and wets.
 
lol delaying a game release for nords
The Nurb is simply the most beautiful circuit in the world, I'm not a big fan of ACC but I understand the joy of true driving enthusiasts who ride on ACC.
Besides, it makes me want to go back there anyway...
 
I never ruled it out in my head, but did not really expect it to come. What a fantastic way to say farewell to the development cycle of ACC! The Nord at night, in thunderstorm, in VR. It does not get any better. Maybe with the apocalyptic riders in your rear mirror in hot purusuit, but okay - no riders, most likely...
Shall nobody ever say again Kunos does not listen to its customers.
Great news! Unexpected, but most welcomed.
 

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Luca Munroe
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