The news of yesterday will speak, and not a little, fans of racing game. Kunos Simulations has announced the arrival of Assetto Corsa, the title that redefined the driving simulation on PC, for the next-gen consoles, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The announcement was in the air, not forgetting the special of a few months ago when all the evidence pointed to a possible console version of AC which is now reality.
Yesterday was in fact made public the distribution agreement with Digital Bros and 505 Games in the Italian and world, a quantum leap only logical from a commercial perspective view of the console installed base in terms of next-gen, which will bring Assetto Corsa in the homes of all users who until now have been able to try it at home the PC gamer. The two build have been announced for 2016 but since there are still many questions about how this will happen, we interviewed Mark Massarutto for more clarification on what you have to wait for the virtual pilots of Sony and Microsoft for 2016.
Eurogamer: Marco, after the launch platform of Project Cars, many of us set ourselves the question whether it was possible to do the same thing with Assetto Corsa and within less than a month here is the answer. They were working on the conversion for some time?
Marco Massarutto: The first tests, carried out as a pure technical evaluation, we had them executed in late 2013 when Sony, after seeing Assetto Corsa, sent us a devkit proposing to "play" a little '. And we have done, checking if a porting was technically feasible but leaving it in the field of hypotheses. After some time Digital Bros. has proposed to make a porting of Assetto Corsa on PS4 and Xbox One. It was a very thoughtful and complex evaluation. In the middle of last year we created a team parallel with new elements that have direct experience in the field of console and that after the release of the release candidate on PC last fall, focused on porting at full capacity, while the rest of the group continued working sull'engine general.
Eurogamer: In terms of content, what can we expect from the console versions of Assetto Corsa?
Marco Massarutto: Nothing less than the PC version, in fact, are expected to launch more content, which of course will be shared on all three platforms. The goal is to get to the publication of the console with 100 unique models of cars, all detailed in detail, both from the aesthetic point of view because of the dynamic behavior. The interface instead will be completely revised, maintaining the functionality and integrating new ones, but with graphics and patterns significantly different, to marry well with the new platforms.
Eurogamer: The career mode will have more options?
Marco Massarutto: For the career we are collecting comments and suggestions from the public and we believe that it can be significantly revised for the better: in this we will be facilitated by the fact of having a large number of content already in the launch, which will create a more elaborate career and defined. In this and other respects, the synergy between PC and console will bring benefits to both platforms.
Eurogamer: What reception do you expect for Assetto Corsa from the public console, notoriously alien culture simulation?
Marco Massarutto: I am convinced that the public console is considered foreign to the culture simulation because it really is still waiting for a simulator that has a typical depth of productions PC and then will be thrilled to know that Assetto Corsa will arrive on consoles.If, as you suggest, find him unprepared (but I do not think), we are ready to change his mind!
Eurogamer: There are substantial differences between the build PS4 and Xbox One? It is reasonable to think of a downgrade chart compared to the PC version?
Marco Massarutto: The cars are already subject of a PC optimization processes very driven, so in terms of details and materials, there will be differences. Also on console we will use Yebis to the effects of post-processing, and graphics on the various versions should be broadly in line: The results seen so far gives us hope that if ever there were to be a downgrade, will still be content.
Eurogamer: Assetto Corsa model is driving his undeniable strength: the feelings will be identical to the PC?
Marco Massarutto: This is one of the aspects that have made the success of critics and audiences of Assetto Corsa, so it is the first thing we made sure to report faithfully on the console, and is the aspect that will have priority in the budget performance available. In fact, the developer version of Assetto Corsa console already has the same feelings, dynamism and force feedback of the PC version.
Eurogamer: When only Thrustmaster has marketed a steering wheel officially supported for PS4. This limitation is affecting the development or your relationship with the manufacturers of devices will lead to a widening of the catalog Flying supported for both platforms thanks to Assetto Corsa?
Marco Massarutto: Other manufacturers are working in this direction, we are in good terms both with Thrustmaster, as with Fanatec and we are working with them for some time already in the way, and recently also with Logitech. At launch, Assetto Corsa on PS4 / XB1 will be perfectly compatible with a large number of devices driving although in reality, it is thanks to the work already done on the PC version. However I can already confirm support for all steering wheels Thrustmaster, Fanatec and Logitech that are (or will be) compatible with PS4 and XB1 when launching the game.
Eurogamer: You have already defined the architecture of the multiplayer for the console versions? It would be nice to have on PS4 and Xbox One infrastructure efficiency client / server on this PC.
Marco Massarutto: This topic is still the subject of internal assessments, because at the moment we are working to expand the functionality of multiplayer in the PC version. So it is too early to answer this question.
Eurogamer: The date of 2016 is a bit 'as a vague term development: what time of year we can expect the build console Assetto Corsa?
Marco Massarutto: The ballet dates jumping continuously is something that we have seen often in the past and which we have also been protagonists. The architecture of the video game has become extremely complex and often a last minute problems in a sector generates others in different areas. We are aware of, so a release date will be revealed when we are reasonably assured of its reliability.
Eurogamer: Before closing, a question a bit 'naughty. Some thought that your licenses more prestigious as Ferrari and Lamborghini were due to the exclusivity of Assetto Corsa PC, because on consoles would not be possible to do the same for a self-employed basis. And now?
Marco Massarutto: By opening the console market, increase the chances of return on investment because the potential audience is expanding exponentially, and this explains the acquisition of a license "heavy" as a Lamborghini game already on the market. But it also means having to bet on the community, reinvesting a significant portion of their profits, and not everyone is willing to do so. The confirmation of licenses of the first order also the console version of Assetto Corsa I prove more than words our determination to meet the needs of our audience, while also offering the audience the best console Assetto Corsa that we are capable, and consolidating in the meantime the good things we did continuing the process of improvement and development on PC.
For pilots virtual console then the wait is started: if you want to turn your console in the heart of a driver's seat of a high level, keep an eye on the news coming from boys Kunos Simulations which we will report on Eurogamer.it , in particular with regard to the issue of flying supported for the new console.
As we have explained at the time of the review of the T300 GTE Ferrari , Thrustmaster had so far lacked support exclusively by Sony but the words of Marco Massarutto seem to be an indirect confirmation of how this special relationship is intended to result in the arrival of Fanatec and probably Logitech (the G29 is well more than a rumor) in the peripherals market guide for PS4 and Xbox One. An occurrence that we hope strongly to occur as soon as possible to put console users in the state to enjoy the best of this wonderful simulator.
