Which Upcoming Hardcore Sim Are You Most Looking Forward to?

AssettoCorsa_Pau_gt2rs.jpg

Which Upcoming Hardcore Sim Are You Most Looking Forward to?

  • Assetto Corsa 2

    Votes: 1,003 68.4%
  • Le Mans Ultimate

    Votes: 182 12.4%
  • Rennsport

    Votes: 76 5.2%
  • GTR Revival (Working Title)

    Votes: 82 5.6%
  • PISTA Motorsport

    Votes: 21 1.4%
  • WRC 23

    Votes: 84 5.7%
  • Other (specify in comments)

    Votes: 19 1.3%

  • Total voters
    1,467
Many sim racing titles we are playing with such glee have been out for years, even a decade for some games. At this point, however, a shift might be about to occur. Many new titles are currently under development and have tried generating hype. Which one are you looking forward to most? Have your say!

Cover Image: Porsche GT2RS around Circuit de Pau-Ville on Assetto Corsa. Image credit: CrimsonSaltire

Assetto Corsa 2​

Kunos Simulazioni has been stingy with details about their upcoming sim racing title so far. Planned to first release some time in spring 2024, it is set to replace the active development of Assetto Corsa Competizione.

AssettoCorsa_Pau_gt2rs.jpg

Porsche 911 GT3R (992) at night. Image credit: Kunos Simulazioni

All we definitely know is that Assetto Corsa 2 is currently in development. Since the production of Assetto Corsa, the team has grown significantly, allowing for more programmers to divide responsibilities amongst.

Here's hoping that more information on the Italian simulator is coming soon.

Le Mans Ultimate​

More is known about the upcoming World Endurance Championship (WEC) simulator developed by American Studio 397 together with Motorsport Games. This will be the first time the current developers of rFactor 2 produce a title from start to finish.

LMU_Porsche_Monza.jpg

Proton Competition Porsche 963 action. Image credit: Le Mans Ultimate

Featuring vehicles found in the WEC series and all circuits raced in the series (not only Le Mans' Circuit de la Sarthe), this upcoming simulator will be the first dedicated software for endurance racing in a while.

Le Mans Ultimate is based on the rFactor 2 engine and is set to release towards the end of the year. If you want to talk about what it needs to be successful, check out this discussion article about what Le Mans Ultimate needs to get absolutely right.

Le Mans Ultimate is currently set to release in Q4 of 2023 according to its Steam page.

RENNSPORT​

With a focus on esports and high-level competition, the new simulator RENNSPORT is currently in closed beta. Developed by new German studio Competition Company, this sim recently completed its first ever esports competition hosted in conjunction with well-known esports organiser ESL.

rennsport_spa.jpg

Esports racers going around Spa-Francorchamps. Image credit: RENNSPORT

With a few high-class circuits already ready to race as well as options of grand touring cars to select from, RENNSPORT recently announced how its competition and rating system will work.

The release date, on which the public beta will launch, is yet to be announced.

GTR Revival (Working Title)​

Ian Bell's Straight4Studios are working on an upcoming sim racing title as well. The studio, which combines expertise in game development from titles such as GTR or Project CARS is working together with Brazilian studio Reiza on this upcoming title.

ProjectCars2_LeMans1971.jpg

Circuit de la Sarthe, 1971, as seen in Project Cars 2. Image credit: Straight4Studios

The two companies have been working together in the past, somewhat. Reiza's Automobilista 2 is using the MADNESS engine, developed by Slightly Mad Studios, which was Ian Bell's previous studio and where many key staff worked before Straight4.

The title was provisionally named "GTR Revival" in early messages by studio founder Ian Bell. It has been announced to be "the most moddable Auto platform ever".

The release date, as well as the final game title, are as yet unknown.

PISTA Motorsport​

PISTA Motorsport is the title of a new automobile simulator developed by REG Simulations together with 'Studio 56'. REG Simulations has previously developed and released karting mods for Assetto Corsa.

PISTAmotorsport_screenshot.jpg

Formula 3 Metropolitana single-seater. Image credit: REG Simulations

The game is looking to focus on the Argentinian racing scene, a region of the world which has not seen widespread digital racing releases apart from a few internationally recognised racing circuits.

The scope of the project, which seems large for a relative newcomer to the scene, can be seen in this announcement.

PISTA Motorsports' release date is yet to be announced.

WRC 23​

So far, we have only looked at circuit racing simulators. However, we shall not forget that a rally simulator is also in development.

Since Codemasters and EA have acquired the WRC licence previously owned by Kylotonn, fans of racing have eagerly awaited the new title.

dirtrally_2_focus.jpg

Ford Focus as seen in Dirt Rally 2.0. Image credit: Codemasters

The game is expected to be a spiritual successor to Dirt Rally 2.0 in combination with the World Rally Championship license, potentially providing the ultimate digital rally experience.

Fans eagerly await the announcement of WRC 23's release date.

What are you looking forward to the most?​

The simulations listed above are expected to be considerable as "hardcore" sims known to be in development. Other titles such as Forza Motorsport are on the horizon too, while some titles might've been announced with little to no information given other than license ownage.

So, out of the titles listed above, where does your mind wonder in those day-dreaming scenarios? What sim is the one you are most excited to hear news about?

Let us know in the poll and in the comments down below!
About author
Julian Strasser
Motorsports and Maker-stuff enthusiast. Part time jack-of-all-trades. Owner of tracc.eu, a sim racing-related service provider and its racing community.

Comments

As nowadays a sim need about two to eight years to become barely enjoyable, I'm more interested in what the current sims can deliver as updates than in any of these new ones. I probably won't buy a new simulator until 2016.

PS: Yearly franchises I auto disregard as a poor form of money grab.
 
The S3 for Live for Speed with the new Scirocco and the new tyre model :roflmao:


















AC2, and in an impossible imaginary world a WEC hardcore simulator and a long overdue WRC hardcore simulator, and an even more long overdue MotoGP hardcore simulator. All of them made by one of the 3 top hardcore simulator studios.
 
D
AC2 by a country mile.

FM2023 (not listed) looks mildly interesting, with planned release in October, but my guts feeling it will be a major disappointment as a sim or even simcade.

Surprised so many people are excited about released as a separate title DLC for rFactor2.
 
I voted for Assetto Corsa 2, because I simply trust Kunos to do a great job!! AC1 was fantastic and still is (though let down by the Ai). ACC improved on AC in many areas (especially the Ai), but it had limitations due to the Unreal engine (specifically VR).

With everything they've learnt from making both those titles and returning to their own developed graphics engine, I have high hopes!!

As for the others:
I'd love Le Mans Ultimate to be good, I trust the rF2 base for physics etc, but it's visuals desperately need to be better than rF2!!

Rennsport hasn't wowed me like I hoped after playing the Closed beta, but there is potential there, but I feel AC2 will be superior to it!

It would be a dream come true if GTR Revival truly was a successful return to what GTR 2 created. Unfortunately my trust in Mr Bell is not high, though the involvement of Reiza Studios could mean he's serious about delivering this time around!!

Pista Motorsport could be a nice distraction from the usual content we have in most sims, much like the excellent Brazilian content we've enjoyed from Reiza.

WRC 23 is not high on my list. Though I did enjoy Rally in the past, both with Richard Burns Rally and Dirt, but I don't really follow it these days, but a high quality Rally Sim wouldn't hurt!!
 
I voted for Assetto Corsa 2, because I simply trust Kunos to do a great job!! AC1 was fantastic and still is (though let down by the Ai). ACC improved on AC in many areas (especially the Ai), but it had limitations due to the Unreal engine (specifically VR).

This.

I mainly use AC nowadays to cruise on mountain roads (thanks to our modders) but when I want a good race, I fire ACC because the AI is miles better than AC (and any other sim for that matter imo).

Can't wait to see what Kunos do with AC2.
 
I voted for other: because it's completely unclear which sim/racegame(s) of the list has a proper VR implementation. At this moment there is a risk that the next gen sim/racegames get TAA/deferred rendering like ACC, in that case I'm not interested in the title AT ALL, no matter how good it is.

So if AC2/WRC23/LeMans all 3 get MSAA/proper VR then I would vote for all 3, if I must choose for the one that I expect the most from then it's probably AC2 simply based on their company history. This since EA had a horrible track record after taking over companies (Codemasters) but I'm really looking forward to a new rally title in VR and I understood that it's based on dirt rally 3 so it could be good. Motorsports has a bad reputation too but I think that LeMans has the most sure vr(rF2 VR is good but I'm not able to play the game because there are simply no working servers with normal content) and physics support so it could still be a winner but only of they don't make the same mistakes again and this is completely unsure because rfactor 2 is a mess.

Rennsport is a disaster based on their graphics choice, it's deferred rendering with horrible shadow pop in and mirrors, the same issues as ACC still has. So I gave up on that sim.

GTR could go anywhere the same for PITA. I will buy it if it's good in VR/MP/physics.
 
The release of AC2 is less than a year away, yet we know pretty much nothing about it from Kunos. Knowing that AC1 is still doing very well and combining that with the success of ACC, I wouldn't be at all surprised if they actually delayed AC2.
 
AC2, just based on what the predecessor was.

Pista could be interesting as well due to its theme. WRC if they get it right. LM Ultimate is to specific for my taste. And the other feel like been-there-done-that with better graphics. Which is also true for every new game if I think about it. :D

In the end I'll probably end up trying every one sooner or later. :laugh:
 
All of them, to be fair, but since we don't have heard much about AC2 or WRC23, I'm more excited for GTR Revival and Rennsport now, not that I think they will be better, just feel more interested.
 
I like softcore, where they don't let us to look at the physics. Or physics barely gets touched.
 
whatever it will be, isn't at great to have a handful of titles to be curious about? Plus, there's iRacing in the background bringing out new stuff or polishing the old stuff every three months (and adding to their by now epic AI content) to stay in the game.
 
AC2 if it is closer to AC1 than ACC, and GTR Revival if it is similar to Automobilista 2. Project Cars 2's driving never felt right to me, but I really like AMS2 right now.

Rennsport being focused on esports is a dealbreaker for me. If they include a decent singleplayer mode, or if someone makes a good career mode mod for it, I'd consider getting it.

I didn't like RFactor2, so I don't have high hopes for LeMans.

I sucked too hard at WRC Generations to play it longer than 30 minutes.

No interest at all in PISTA.
 

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Julian Strasser
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