Summer 2025. That was the promise. In December 2024, Kunos announced that Assetto Corsa EVO would get an open world around the Nürburgring, available in Early Access “from Summer 2025” (assettocorsa.gg).
That summer came. And went. So did the next one.
But now it finally seems to be happening. Kunos has confirmed that the first iteration of the Eifel Free Roam Mode ships with update 0.10 (Traxion). Time to line up what we know. And what it means for your rig (spoiler: less than the hype suggests).
The Eifel, all 1,600 square kilometers of it
Kunos’ plan is big. Really big. The open world is the Eifel, the region around the Nordschleife, and it’s meant to eventually cover 1,600 square kilometers. All laser-scanned and built with terrain technology Kunos developed in-house.
According to the original announcement, you’ll be able to visit local businesses, rent cars and upgrade your car with aftermarket parts. That sounds more like Test Drive Unlimited than a classic sim. And that’s exactly why some people are getting nervous.
But notice the word “eventually.” Kunos itself says the area will expand step by step. Update 0.10 brings the “first iteration.” So don’t expect the whole map right away, just a first piece.
What’s coming in update 0.10?
The confirmed facts are still thin. Free roam arrives with 0.10, and based on what Kunos has shown, OverTake reports new traffic vehicles: an RV, a cement truck and a wheat harvester. Yes, a harvester. Getting stuck behind one of those on a narrow Eifel road might be the most realistic driving experience Kunos ever builds.
A release date for 0.10? There isn’t one. And I’m not going to guess. Kunos is already more than a year past its own window for this feature, so I’ll believe a date when the download starts.
Where does the game stand now?
EVO has been in Early Access on Steam since early 2025 and grows through numbered updates. A few key steps:
- 0.3 brought the first multiplayer and a big overhaul of physics and audio (assettocorsa.gg).
- 0.7 brought the SDK, the Editor Tool and a new particle system for smoke, dust and spray (assettocorsa.gg). That opens the door to mods.
- 0.9 landed on August 26 and is all about competition. Special Events with worldwide leaderboards for hotlaps and hotstints, mandatory pit stops online, a new tyre model for racing slicks, a force feedback reliability pass, renderer optimisation and three new cars (according to the Steam page).
Look at that list. Physics, tyres, force feedback, pit stops. Anyone worried that EVO turns into an arcade game because an open world is coming should read it carefully. Kunos is still building a sim first.
Do you need new hardware?
Honest answer: nobody knows. Kunos hasn’t published separate system requirements for free roam. An open world with traffic usually asks more of your PC than a closed circuit, but how much more is anyone’s guess. Check the requirements on Steam right before you buy anything, and don’t buy a graphics card based on a YouTube thumbnail.
What is predictable: free driving means longer sessions. Laps through the Eifel instead of a ten-minute hotlap. That’s when you notice every weak spot in your seating position.
- Comfort. The Playseat Sensation Pro is fully adjustable with ActiFit support. Mind the 120 kg maximum load and the floor space it takes.
- Room to grow. The Sim-Lab GT1 Evo has integrated Vario screen support for single or triple screens. Want to see those Eifel roads on triples later? Then you’ve got the base covered.
But don’t buy anything specifically for free roam before it’s here. Your current rig will run 0.10 just fine. Probably.
Wait or jump in now?
Already driving EVO? Then you’ll simply get free roam with the next update. Still on the fence about buying in? Wait for 0.10 and the first real impressions. The game is still in Early Access, the map arrives in pieces, and this feature has shown that Kunos’ plans slip.
I’m looking forward to it, though. A harvester on the Nürburgring. Who saw that coming.
