Top Gear has reported that AI can make a Schumacher in Assetto Corsa look like actual TV footage. The article raises the question of whether this points to the future of racing visuals. The simulation game launched on December 19, 2014, and continues to enjoy an impressive 93% positive rating from 77,160 Steam users.
Unfortunately, Top Gear only provided a headline and summary about the project. We don’t have details on the specific AI tool used, the workflow, or which version of Schumacher is featured. We’ll update this piece once we learn more about the methodology.
This claim deserves some attention. Assetto Corsa is celebrated for its physics and driving experience rather than its graphics. The fact that a game from 2014 can be mistaken for broadcast footage suggests the AI is handling the visuals while the simulation provides the car movement, track layout, and camera angles.
This division is important for the sim racing community. Assetto Corsa’s modding scene has created an extensive library of cars, tracks, and replay tools. If AI can enhance this output, the aging sim could serve as a cost-effective source for realistic motorsport videos.
Content from Assetto Corsa is already making its way into other engines and genres. Explosion recently shared a video featuring two GTRs in Burnout Paradise. Additionally, Assetto Corsa EVO’s Free Roam mode is set to launch on December 9 with Update 0.10, giving players another way to capture driving footage.
The original game still attracts players. It currently has 5,960 concurrent users on Steam and is available for $19.99. Its Metacritic score stands at 85, and publisher 505 Games categorizes it within both racing and simulation genres.
| Release date | December 19, 2014 |
| Steam reviews | 93% positive (77,160 reviews) |
| Metacritic score | 85 |
| Current Steam players | 5,960 |
| Steam price | $19.99 |
Community Pulse
Our sentiment tracker shows a “mostly negative” response across 10 indicators, but the sample size is limited. The three entries we received are identical Steam reviews where the author describes the game as “boring as hell” and notes that the “settings r complicating.” This single complaint stands in contrast to the game’s 93% positive rating from 77,160 reviews. It does highlight a common issue with sims: the learning curve can be steep.
What To Watch
- Full details from Top Gear’s report: We’re waiting to learn about the AI tool, the workflow, and how much manual editing was involved. This will help determine if others can replicate the results.
- Assetto Corsa EVO Update 0.10: Free Roam is coming on December 9 and might inspire even more community-generated videos.
- Player counts after the buzz: The current baseline is 5,960 concurrent players on Steam, making it easy to track any increase in player numbers.
Marcus Webb
Marcus Webb covers esports, competitive gaming, and community stories for Explosion.com. A former semi-professional Counter-Strike player, Marcus transitioned to journalism 5 years ago and has since covered major tournaments including The International, League of Legends Worlds, and the Valorant Champions Tour. He brings a player's perspective to competitive gaming coverage and is known for his data-driven analysis of player performance and meta shifts.
