Assetto Corsa VR: in 2025 it’s still one of the best sim racing experiences in virtual reality

Last Update on November 2, 2025

When people talk about Best VR sim racing in 2025, you’ll hear iRacing, Assetto Corsa Competizione, maybe Automobilista 2. But the “old” Assetto Corsa keeps showing up in all the lists. There’s a simple reason: the physics are still good, the content library is massive, it runs well on today’s PCs, and, most important for us, it’s a game that works extremely well in VR.

Why play Assetto Corsa in 2025?

Yes, the game is old on paper. No, it’s not outdated.

1. Physics still hold up: you feel weight transfer, braking, loss of grip — it’s still a real sim.
2. Legendary tracks and cars: Nürburgring, Spa, Italian classics, and tons of community cars.
3. Light engine: way lighter than ACC or iRacing → this matters a lot for VR FPS.
4. Huge modding community: new cars, new tracks, filters, and graphic upgrades every month.
5. Modern launchers (Content Manager + CSP) keep it feeling fresh.

So even in 2025 you’re not “going back to an old game”, you’re playing a mature sim that has been improved by the community for 10 years.

What VR actually changes in Assetto Corsa

1. The cockpit becomes your real driving position

Assetto Corsa has very good cockpit models. In VR you are at the right height and distance, you can look into the mirrors, look for the apex, check the car next to you. That alone makes you drive more naturally.

2. Track reading is more natural

In VR, you don’t just see the track, you feel it: elevation, chicanes, kerbs. AC has great laser-scanned tracks, so you really notice it in VR.

3. Driving becomes physical

Because you turn your head, because you lean slightly, because you scan for opponents, you end up driving like in a real car. Mistakes are more obvious: “I didn’t look far enough → I missed the apex.”

4. Sound helps a lot

Assetto Corsa doesn’t have the most Hollywood-style sound design in the world, but in stereo/spatial VR you can clearly hear the engine behind you, the car coming up on the left, the tires screeching. That helps you know when you’re at the limit. The spatialized audio lets you fully feel the environment: the roar of the engine resonates inside the cockpit, the tire squeal on the track warns you of an imminent loss of control, and the sounds of nearby cars add to the intensity of the race.

Why Assetto Corsa is so good for VR (vs other sims)?

• Lighter than ACC / iRacing → easier to keep 90 FPS in the headset.
• More tunable → you can lower crowds, reflections, PP, without killing the fun.
• Much more moddable → you can do cruising, touges, RP, drift, fun runs… VR makes those modes way more immersive.
• Great PCVR compatibility thanks to SteamVR / OpenVR.

So if someone says “I want to try sim racing in VR, what game should I start with?” → Assetto Corsa is a very good first VR sim.

What are the Best VR headsets for Assetto Corsa (2025)?

Pimax Crystal (Light / Super)

For those who want the best possible readability of the dashboard, gauges, mirrors, and really want to take full advantage of what this sim can do, the Pimax Crystal Super or the Pimax Crystal Light give you the most “serious simracing” combo with a cockpit. However, they do require a powerful PC.

Get a Discount

With our code oVRdoz08 you can get an 8% discount on the Pimax Crystal Light, and with oVRdoz03 you get a 3% discount on the Pimax Crystal Super

Meta Quest 3 / 3S / 2 (PCVR)

Most common setup in 2025. The game runs on the PC, the image goes to the Quest via Link, Air Link or Virtual Desktop. AC is light → you can get a sharp image even over Wi-Fi if your network is good.

Pico 4 / Pico 4 Ultra

Good alternative in EU/UK, same logic as Quest: stream from PC to headset.

Valve Index / Vive Pro 2

Valve Index and the HTC Vive are still perfectly fine because AC runs very well in PCVR and these headsets are comfortable.

👉 If you’ve never launched the game in VR before, read this first: How to play Assetto Corsa in VR (step-by-step)

PC requirements for a smooth AC VR experience

Level	Goal	Suggested PC
Entry VR	Discover AC in VR with Quest/Pico	Recent i5 / Ryzen 5, 16 GB RAM, RTX 3060
Comfortable	Stable 90Hz, sharp cockpit	i7 / Ryzen 7, 32 GB RAM, RTX 4070 / 4070 Ti
High-end sim / Pimax	Highest clarity, mods, CSP	i7-14700K or Ryzen 7 7800X3D, 32 GB, RTX 4080 / 4090

Rule of thumb: in VR for sim racing, stable framerate > max graphics. That’s what prevents motion sickness.

How to Launch Assetto Corsa in VR: 2 ways

1. Classic SteamVR method
   • Start your headset
   • Start SteamVR
   • Launch Assetto Corsa → Play in VR / OpenVR
     → works, but fewer options.
2. Content Manager + CSP (recommended)
   • Open Content Manager
   • Select OpenVR / SteamVR / OpenXR
   • Enable Custom Shaders Patch
   • Launch the session
     → this is what most AC VR players use in 2025 because you can save VR presets.

You can check our Guide for complete step-by-step (Steam options, “-vr”, troubleshooting)

Recommended VR settings for Assetto Corsa (2025 base)

SteamVR (per application):

• Resolution: 100–120% depending on GPU
• Reprojection: auto
• Refresh rate: 90 Hz if you can hold it, else 80 / 72 Hz

Meta / Oculus app (for Quest):

• High bitrate (Air Link)
• 90 Hz
• Dynamic encoder on

In Content Manager / AC:

• Pixel density: 1.0 → 1.2 max
• Shadows: medium
• Reflections: low
• Crowd: off
• Post-process: low

For Pimax:

• Set FOV to Normal
• 75/90 Hz
• Set the resolution in PiTool first, then in SteamVR (to avoid double scaling)

These settings are not to make the game “prettier” on screenshots — they are to make the image sharp inside the headset.

Content, cars and mods that work great in VR

One of the reasons AC is still alive is content. VR makes those modes even better:

• Official cars + community cars → lots of interiors to discover in VR
• Laser-scanned tracks → you actually feel the bumps in VR
• Touge / mountain / night runs → much more immersive in VR
• Drift → being able to look through the side window helps a lot
• Cruising / traffic mods → VR makes it relaxing

In VR, even “just doing laps” on Nordschleife or Shutoko feels new again.

Assetto Corsa vs Assetto Corsa Competizione in VR

• Assetto Corsa (this page): best choice to start VR sim racing, lighter, tons of cars and tracks, works great with Quest/Pico/Pimax.
• Assetto Corsa Competizione (ACC): better GT3/GT4 simulation, but VR is heavier (Unreal Engine), needs stronger GPU and more tweaking (DLSS/FSR, ini edits). It can look very good, but it’s less plug-and-play.

So if someone asks you “I want to try VR with my wheel, where do I start?” → answer: start with Assetto Corsa, not ACC.

FAQ – Assetto Corsa VR