Should You Get Assetto Corsa Ultimate Edition in 2023? An Enthusiast‘s In-Depth Guide
The short answer: Absolutely, yes! As a passionate sim racer myself, I cannot recommend Assetto Corsa Ultimate Edition enough to fellow driving enthusiasts in 2023. With all DLCs included, spanning hundreds of cars and tracks, plus expanded mod support – it provides an unparalleled simulation experience.
Keep reading as I share extensive insights from my 100+ hours spent in Assetto Corsa, as well as research from top gaming sites. By the end, you‘ll have all the information needed to determine if the Ultimate Edition is worthwhile for you.
Overview: What‘s Included in the Ultimate Edition
Let‘s start with exactly what you get when you purchase the Assetto Corsa Ultimate Edition:
| Content | Details |
|---|---|
| Base Game | 100+ cars, 20+ track configs |
| DLC Car Packs | Prestige pack (10 cars), Porsche packs 1-3 (35 cars), Ferrari pack (10 cars), Japanese pack (11 cars), Red pack (10 cars), Ready to Race pack (15 cars) |
| DLC Track Packs | Dream packs 1-3 (15 tracks), Tripl3pack (3 tracks) |
| Total Cars | Over 200 cars when all DLC included |
| Total Track Configs | Over 100 track configurations when DLC included |
That‘s a massive amount of content – all for $25-30 when on sale! Now let‘s dive deeper into why it‘s so highly recommended for sim racing fans…
1. Hundreds of Cars Let You Experience Incredible Variety
One of the best parts of Assetto Corsa Ultimate is the sheer diversity of vehicles. Race in GT3 beasts from BMW, Mercedes, McLaren. Hoon 1970‘s drift classics like the Toyota AE86. Drive open wheel F1 cars at 320 kph. Or test your skills in vintage Grand Prix racers from the 60‘s.
Plus you get icons like:
- Modern hypercars – Ferrari LaFerrari, McLaren P1, Porsche 918
- JDM tuner favorites – Nissan GT-R, Mazda RX7, Toyota Supra
- Classic racers – 60‘s/70‘s F1, Formula Ford, 60‘s GT40
- Rally legends – Lancia Stratos, Subaru Impreza WRC
- Many more!
With 200+ vehicles from numerous eras and classes, the driving excitement is endless. I‘ve spent hours tuning and learning all the unique handling characteristics.
No other sim matches this sheer breadth of vehicle content!
2. Laser Scanned Tracks Offer Unmatched Realism
In addition to tons of cars, Assetto Corsa Ultimate brings 100+ track configurations too. The key is these are laser scanned recreations of the actual race circuits themselves:
- Famed F1 and endurance tracks like Spa, Monza, Le Mans, Interlagos
- Historic circuits – Imola, Monaco, Bathurst, Goodwood
- Classic US tracks – Laguna Seca, Watkins Glen, Road Atlanta
- Grade 2 circuits perfect for GT3 cars too
Racing these ultra realistic scanned tracks with proper camber, curbing, etc is a driving revelation compared to made-up circuits. Especially combined with detailed car physics and telemetry.
After experiencing circuits like Bathurst or the Nordschleife here, other arcade racers feel lifeless!
3. Required for the Most Popular Mods
Another major benefit of owning all DLCs is compatibility with the top mods:
| Mod | Requires DLC |
|---|---|
| Shutoko Revival | Dream Pack 1 |
| LA Canyons | Dream Pack 3 |
| Touring Car Legends | Japanese Car Pack |
| VRC Formula NA | Ready to Race Pack |
Many of the most popular cars and tracks are locked out unless you own the associated DLC. Shutoko Revival even recreates real-life Tokyo highways and Wangan with incredible accuracy – but requires Dream Pack 1.
With 200+ included cars and tracks, think of DLCs as the gateway to exponentially more content via mods!
4. Actively Supported with Ongoing Updates
Now onto the best part – despite releasing originally in 2014, Assetto Corsa Ultimate receives regular meaningful updates! Recent patches included:
- Upgraded visuals and effects
- New replay system
- Enhanced physics and tire modelling
- Expanded video and graphics options
- Major AI improvements
Plus support for new hardware like Direct Drive wheels. It‘s clear developers KUNOS Simulazioni still love and actively develop this simulator.
Compare this to titles like GRID Legends or Need for Speed Heat from 2022 – already abandoned and unsupported. With Assetto Corsa Ultimate you buy into an thriving platform.
I‘m still discovering new content and updates years later – a hallmark of great value for money.
5. Passionate Community of Millions of Racers
Lastly a key benefit of Assetto Corsa‘s immense success is the vibrant community behind it:
- 2+ million copies sold and over 95% positive reviews
- 400k+ members across the various Discord servers
- Race weekly tournaments hosted by communities
- Share livery designs and photos
- Learn from faster drivers
With AC having dominated the hardcore racing scene for years now, you join a genuinely passionate playerbase – helping newcomers and veterans alike. I‘ve made real friends racing and chatting endlessly about cars here!
If you love autos, this is your tribe. And you want Ultimate Edition to experience it all.
Final Verdict: Highly Recommended for Automotive Fans
Hopefully I‘ve showcased why Assetto Corsa Ultimate Edition deserves your consideration in 2023. For $25-30 when on sale, no other title matches its sheer breadth of content – spanning 200+ cars and 100+ track configs, all laser scanned.
This is combined with one of the deepest vehicle physics and handling models around, hugely active player communities, plus ongoing support and updates years later.
If you have even a passing passion for cars and racing, Assetto Corsa Ultimate Edition is absolutely worth buying. See you out on the track!
