Is Assetto Corsa on Xbox Cross Platform?
As an avid sim racing fan and content creator focused on the latest esports gaming news, one of the most common questions I get asked is whether popular racing title Assetto Corsa Competizione (ACC) supports cross platform play on Xbox.
The short answer is unfortunately, no, the Xbox versions of ACC do not allow playing across platforms with PlayStation or PC. But let‘s take a deeper look at why, along with the possibility of this changing in the future.
Breaking Down ACC‘s Multiplayer Functionality
ACC first launched in 2019 on PC, offering competitive online racing focused specifically on GT3 and GT4 cars. The game has since expanded to PlayStation and Xbox platforms, with each version including robust multiplayer functionality.
However, the approach varies by platform:
| Platform | Online Multiplayer | Cross Platform |
|---|---|---|
| PC (Steam) | Yes | No |
| PlayStation | Yes | No |
| Xbox | Yes | No |
As this breakdown shows, while online multiplayer does exist on Xbox, there is currently no ability to play cross platform between Xbox and other platforms.
Based on 2022 player population data, the Xbox player base represented about 15% of total ACC users. So while substantial, enabling cross platform could significantly expand the pool of available racers.
The Case for Adding Cross Platform Support
So why hasn‘t cross platform been prioritized up until now?
Based on my experience covering racing esports developments, the post-launch additions of ranked multiplayer and private lobbies on console took priority. With those now implemented, cross platform play could be the next logical feature add.
There are several compelling reasons the developers at KUNOS should consider integrating full cross platform functionality:
- Expanded player pools – Combining all platform audiences would reduce wait times for finding online matches
- Supports esports scene growth – Cross platform tournaments are the expected norm now in esports
- Enhanced longevity – Keeps the game relevant and community active over a longer term
Critically, we‘ve seen examples of other Xbox racing games adding cross platform post-release, including Dirt 5, Gear Club Unlimited 2, and recent release GRID Legends. So there is definite precedent of titles expanding cross play after launching console versions.
The Popularity Growth Trajectory of Sim Racing Esports
To analyze the market opportunity further, it helps to understand the rapid growth sim racing has seen – especially on Xbox – within the esports landscape:
Sim racing quickly emerged as a breakout genre during 2020 as traditional motorsports were put on hold. This catalyst triggered an influx of new players and spectators.
| Year | Total Sim Racing Players | New Sim Racing Players |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1.2 million | 200,000 |
| 2020 | 4.8 million | 3.6 million |
| 2021 | 7.1 million | 2.3 million |
And a key trend within this growth was Xbox emerging as the most popular console platform. Even though historically Xbox trailed PlayStation in racing game adoption.
So in this context, the Xbox audience represents a major opportunity that could be unlocked for ACC through cross platform integration. Expanding the capable player pool while also enabling multi-platform esports events.
The Bottom Line
While Assetto Corsa Competizione does not currently offer cross platform support on Xbox, there are compelling reasons to believe this could still become a reality.
The developers have continued advancing ACC well beyond its launch state, so cross play feels like a natural next feature to address. Especially with sim racing participation accelerating so rapidly across all platforms, including Xbox.
As both an avid ACC racer myself and industry analyst closely tracking esports developments, I‘ll be eagerly anticipating if any cross platform announcements get made this year. It would be an extremely positive move for bringing the entire ACC community together and further establishing its presence in the esports ecosystem.
