Racing enthusiasts are a massive part of the gaming community, with several titles in the genre launched yearly. They can be divided into numerous categories, like arcade titles, where the physics and mechanics are less similar to reality, and sim racing, where the objective is to replicate real racing physics as close to reality as possible.

You can find numerous sim racers, like Need for Speed Shift or Forza Motorsport, but one franchise truly steals the spotlight in this niche: Assetto Corsa. The original Assetto Corsa and Competizione are still two of the most-played racing games ever and have gathered a huge community, constantly creating new content through mods and other extra features.

More challenging than playing the game without any assist is to choose which of the two games is the best for you. But don’t worry. We will be your co-pilots and help with this task.

In this article, you’ll find a direct comparison between AC and ACC to ensure you make the right decision when picking your next racing sim. Make sure to look at all categories to see which one best suits what you’re looking for.

• Release Date: December, 2014

• Developer: Kunos Simulazioni

• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, and iOS

Assetto Corsa is the first game from the sim racing games franchise and a true game-changer for the entire gaming industry. Whether because of its car dynamics, custom race tracks, or any of the numerous highlights of this game, it quickly became a reference in this niche.

As expected from a simulator, the game tries to replicate real physics and car mechanics, with many options to customize and create the perfect car for your style. The game also lets you enable a lot of assistance options, like disabling fuel loads and many others, pleasing even the more casual players.

Another reason why AC is one of the people’s favorite racing games is thanks to the community. The game is almost ten years old, and the community is constantly creating mods and adding new content to the game, including new cars, maps, and game modes.

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• Release Date: September, 2018

• Developer: Kunos Simulazioni

• Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Microsoft Windows

AC’s younger brother is the game many sim racers have been waiting for. It took all the realistic features of the original game that we all love and brought them to a whole new level. Everything looks stunning and as close to reality as possible, from the graphics to the tracks and cars.

AC Competizione applies physics to everything you do, making it an even better simulation experience. You can tune aspects like the G forces of your vehicles and various categories of customization.

One of the main differences between this and the original title is the content volume. Since it’s a newer title, the content volume isn’t even close to being as big as in the original. But if you just want to compete in online multiplayer and enjoy the finer details in cars and trucks, this game will definitely please you.

Get Assetto Corsa Competizione Steam CD key on RoyalCDKeys.

Now it’s time to directly compare both games to see which one fits what you’re looking for. Make sure to take a look at all the items listed below to better understand what each experience looks like.
Even though both games are from the same franchise, they can attract different audiences. Here are the main aspects you should consider when comparing Assetto Corsa and Assetto Corsa Competizione:

Game Engine

This might not look important, but the engine can be one of the key differences between the game performance and the system requirements for running the title. Not only that, but it also impacts in-game features, like car handling and other mechanics.

Both AC and ACC are powered by Unreal Engine 4, one of the leading options on the market and responsible for some of the most famous titles of the last few years. The franchise has always been a reference because of its physics engine, and Unreal is partly responsible for that success.

Assetto Corsa 2 is rumored to use a custom game engine created especially for the title, so it is right to expect a massive change in the physics and overall feel when you play the game. But Kunos Simulazioni ensures it will be better than ever and with revolutionary mechanics.

Since AC and ACC use the same engine, this category has no actual winner. Competizione is better because it’s newer and features the latest industry technologies that weren’t available when the original game launched. 

Mods

There’s no doubt of who wins in this category. The original Assetto Corsa has one of the biggest modding communities in the entire gaming community, and the game is constantly evolving thanks to these players.

This is very important because these mods affect every other aspect of the game, from the track combo to the car list available. These creators extend the game's total content, and you can easily find more than a thousand vehicles to download and use in the game.

Mods go far beyond just cars and tracks. You can find entire maps to download and shader packages to help your game look better than most titles released in 2023.

They have a vital role in increasing replayability and are surely one of the best parts of the original game. The biggest difference here is that Competizione doesn’t feature mod support like its older brother, being a much more limited game. 

If you consider the original content of each game, the newest one has a clear advantage, as expected. But the mods add such a great variety of tracks, cars, and features that the original becomes a better option.

Car List and Tracks

Assetto Corsa and Competizione are epic games on the car list and feature over 20 different circuits to race against other people. If we’re considering only the original game, it still has little advantage, featuring more cars and tracks you can explore. 

But when we think about the original game's modding possibility, it becomes unbeatable. You can have over a thousand different cars to use, and you can also achieve vastly more tracks, including famous circuits like Monaco, dedicated drift tracks, and entire open-world maps to explore.

Both games don’t allow the player to freely explore maps or open-world cities, but thanks to the mods, you can download customized maps that will enable free cruising through different landscapes and regions. If you like playing community content and want the biggest car list, the original AC is your go-to option. On the other hand, if you plan on sticking with the original content, Competizione can also be a great choice.

Graphics

As expected from a four-year-old game, AC Competizione has better graphics in general, whether it comes to cars, track design, or anything else. We know these are essential aspects of simulators since we want to see every car detail and its effects.

If graphics are important to you, Competizione will serve you better. This doesn’t mean that the original AC doesn’t have good graphics. As we mentioned, the official game already has incredible visuals. Still, with the help of mods, it can become better-looking than some of the most recent titles on the market, like Gran Turismo 7 and Forza Motorsport 8.

You can find shaders and texture packs that transform AC into a completely different experience. If you don’t mind going through the steps of installing these mods, you can achieve a graphics experience much closer to real life than Competizione. On the other hand, if you want the best graphics experience without passing through these multiple steps, the latest one definitely suits you better.

Race Types

As previously mentioned, although both games are from the same franchise, they have vastly different goals. In Competizione, the top-tier physics and aerodynamics come with the cost of a much more limited game. ACC presents only GT class racing, directly reflected in the vehicles you’ll use during your campaign. 

For example, if you plan on making drift or drag races, you better stick with the first title. In Competizione, you’ll compete in the GT World Challenge series, the only category available. As we mentioned, this game has a much more focused experience that wants to deliver the best it can for this specific type of race. 

This also reflects on the vehicles available, which is the reason why Competizione has a little over 30 options when not considering the DLC content. If you like GT racing, this game will give you a great time with the most realistic experience possible in this category. On the other hand, if you want to experience different race types, the original is undoubtedly a better option. This is why the AC gets the first place in this category.

Multiplayer

Both games share very similar multiplayer options, but thanks to the distinct focus of both titles, they can be completely different. Competizione is what you're looking for if you plan on playing competitively and trying to rank at the top. 

The gameplay is way more focused on this aspect than the original, and you’ll see most of the multiplayer gamers using professional setups with steering wheel and other equipment. On the other hand, thanks to the mods, the multiplayer of Assetto Corsa became much more of a sandbox experience, with maps created by the community for the players to have fun while hanging out with friends. One of the biggest examples is the “No Hesi” maps, whose objective is to drive as fast as possible on a highway without crashing the car.

The multiplayer experience of Competizione was developed for players who want to compete with each other, while the original title focuses on more sandbox gameplay. But the sandbox experience still features the technical elements, where you can apply physics and customize suspension damping, tires, and many other details. 

There’s no winner in this category, and the best title will depend on what experience you’re looking for. Go for the original if you want to have fun with your friends while testing different game modes. Competizione is a better pick if you want to compete against other players.

Even though AC and ACC are two games from the same franchise, they take completely different approaches to the sim racing genre. One features many more options for cars, racing modes, and tracks. At the same time, the other tries to deliver the most realistic experience regarding GT racing, with infinite possibilities for tuning. Competizione also focuses on a complex multiplayer experience where everything is projected for a competitive scenario.

Considering all the aspects listed above, the original Assetto Corsa is undoubtedly a better option for racing gamers looking for a new experience. It features a wide variety of content and numerous options that will please all kinds of people, whether you’re looking for GT, street, or drift racing.

One important aspect when choosing the next game you’ll play is to know where you can purchase your game keys for the best price. There are several options available, going from the official store of each platform to online marketplaces.

Among all the options available, RoyalCDKeys is the best one for your gameplay and wallet. We offer keys for over a thousand titles, including racing games and many other genres. This way, you will surely find what you’re looking for, whether playing on a PC or console.

Moreover, all keys sold come with 24-hour support, ensuring you won’t have any problems during the redeeming process. Visit our homepage and check out the best racing games for a special price.

Racing simulators are one of the most popular genres in the gaming industry, with numerous titles having become references in the industry, whether in physics creation or engine sound recording. One of the most famous franchises is Assetto Corsa, with two titles that are still some of the most played by both casual and professional players.

Both Assetto Corsa Competizione and the original title feature a huge volume of content that will keep the players entertained for hours. Even though AC takes advantage when directly comparing the games, Competizione is still an incredible title worth adding to your library.

Now, it’s time to grab your steering wheel and pick your favorite car to dominate the tracks. Don’t forget to look at all the options to adapt the games to your play style.