Assetto Corsa EVO free roam soon and F1 Sim Racing’s decline - Traxion Control Podcast

Tom and Ross discuss the most important news in sim racing and video games over the past seven days, which this time includes significant Assetto Corsa EVO and F1 Sim Racing topics. For the former, free-roam is set for an initial rollout soon, confirmed for its next early access update. Meanwhile, for the latter, the end could be nigh (in its current form, anyway) for the sport’s virtual pinnacle.  The duo also discusses Project Motor Racing and Rennsport’s recent updates, the next two Assetto Corsa release windows, the Genesis Magma Racing Esports Series on Le Mans Ultimate, and the recent SimRacing Expo announcements. Traxion Merch: https://shop.traxion.gg/ SimRacing Expo Frankfurt news and info: https://traxion.gg/sre/ SimRacing Expo Frankfurt tickets: https://bit.ly/SREFTraxion26 Signed up for the Genesis Magma Racing Esports Series: https://traxion.gg/gmr-hub/ Assetto Corsa EVO and Rally set for early access exit in first half of 2027: https://traxion.gg/assetto-corsa-evo-and-rally-set-for-early-access-exit-in-first-half-of-2027/ Free roam arrives in next Assetto Corsa EVO update: https://traxion.gg/free-roam-arrives-in-next-assetto-corsa-evo-update/ F1 teams withdraw from official sim racing competition, future in doubt https://traxion.gg/f1-teams-withdraw-from-official-sim-racing-competition-future-in-doubt/ F1 sim racing has become a sad missed opportunity: https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/f1-sim-racing-has-become-a-sad-missed-opportunity/ Rensport update introduces sharper AI, lighting and force feedback alongside fresh DLC: https://traxion.gg/rensport-update-introduces-sharper-ai-lighting-and-force-feedback/ New Project Motor Racing update adds Lamborghini Temerario alongside graphics and physics tweaks: https://traxion.gg/new-project-motor-racing-update-adds-lamborghini-temerario-alongside-graphics-and-physics-tweaks/ Tokyo Xtreme Racer news: https://traxion.gg/free-tokyo-xtreme-racer-dlc-cars-available-now-for-a-limited-period/ https://traxion.gg/paid-dlc-confirmed-for-tokyo-xtreme-racer/ https://traxion.gg/tokyo-xtreme-racer-developer-statement-casts-doubt-on-xbox-and-switch-ports/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The SimRacing Expo Frankfurt 2026 is set to be the largest SimRacing Expo ever. In this episode, John and Tom are joined by Danny Giusa and Luke Crane of the event’s organisers, South West Vision. Together, they discuss what to expect from this year’s event, whether you’re visiting in person or watching along from home. For the first time ever, the SimRacing Expo will have a world premiere day on Friday, with no less than 12 unveils, all broadcast live on its stage. This will be among the ~70+ exhibitors, where visitors can test the latest equipment and software in person, plus meet sim racing communities and content creators. Traxion Merch: https://shop.traxion.gg/ SimRacing Expo Frankfurt news and info: https://traxion.gg/sre/ SimRacing Expo Frankfurt tickets: https://bit.ly/SREFTraxion26 Sign up for the Traxion email newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join our Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit the website for daily news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on the Traxion Control Podcast, Tom and John discuss the free car added to Automobilista 2, its F1 licensing woes, Assetto Corsa Rally’s community message about livery mods and engine changes, Le Mans Ultimate’s career and netcode and what’s next for Project Motor Racing. As ever, the duo also run through some community comments and questions, and let us know your thoughts in the comments! Key netcode patch released for Le Mans Ultimate: https://traxion.gg/key-netcode-patch-released-for-le-mans-ultimate/ Project Motor Racing V8 Power Pack out now, adds nine cars and Road Atlanta: https://traxion.gg/project-motor-racing-v8-power-pack-out-now-adds-nine-cars-and-road-atlanta/ Automobilista 2 to add Panoz Esperante GTR-1 in next free update: https://traxion.gg/automobilista-2-to-add-panoz-esperante-gtr-1-in-next-free-update/ Why Assetto Corsa Rally’s V0.6 update was more important than first thought: https://traxion.gg/why-assetto-corsa-rallys-v0-6-update-was-more-important-than-first-thought/ Traxion Merch: https://shop.traxion.gg/ SimRacing Expo Frankfurt news and info: https://traxion.gg/sre/ SimRacing Expo Frankfurt tickets: https://bit.ly/SREFTraxion26 Sign up for the Traxion email newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join our Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit the website for daily news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We now finally have Traxion merchandise! To browse our collection of T-shirts, mugs, magnets and more, simply head over to: https://shop.traxion.gg/ Use code TRAXION10 at checkout for an early-bird 10% discount! Gran Turismo 7 seemingly has a longer shelf-life than expected, with a two-part Spec IV update on the way later this year. There are 12 cars and two tracks, but more importantly, some key quality-of-life and feature additions, with John Munro and Thomas Harrison-Lord break down. They also cover the interesting new Assetto Corsa Rally update, due this week, and dive back into the iRacing Career mode debate sparked by a recent Traxion YouTube video. For the non-sim racing fans, Hot Wheels Infinite Rush has also been tested. As ever, let us know your thoughts in the comments! Gran Turismo 7 Spec IV update details: https://traxion.gg/gran-turismo-7s-new-spec-iv-update-heralds-return-of-the-autumn-ring-and-12-new-cars/ Assetto Corsa Rally update details: https://traxion.gg/assetto-corsa-rallys-v0-6-update-to-introduce-photo-mode-private-lobbies-and-custom-liveries/ iRacing Career mode video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhAJbr1Tj4g&t=275s Hot Wheels Infinite Rush review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eg_8WQo3EXk&t=443s Sign up for the Traxion email newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join our Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit the website for daily news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We now finally have Traxion merchandise! To browse our collection of T-shirts, mugs, magnets and more, simply head over to: shop.traxion.gg And don't forget to use code TRAXION10 at checkout for an early bird 10% discount! Last week, Tom and Tom travelled to Germany for Gamescom 2026, and the racing game industry was firing on all cylinders! In this episode, they discuss their initial thoughts on CLUTCH, Maverick Games upcoming open-world driving game debutant. Plus, opinions on ‘the brand that can’t be ignored’ Moza, with its latest showcase of flashy future products, and a Crazy Taxi preview that split opinions.  Oh, and while the GamesTom crew were in Germany, John was at home crashing his way through some Assetto Corsa EVO races, and iRacing dropped some interesting updates regarding it’s upcoming career mode.  Maverick Games wants to “try and win Game of the Year” - https://traxion.gg/maverick-games-wants-to-try-and-win-game-of-the-year-with-clutch/ Watch our full hands-on Moza video from Gamescom - https://youtu.be/FdY4Ayj-SsY?si=M4dKkSRVy07WxLz- Assetto Corsa EVO 0.9 Tested - https://youtu.be/wlzYUKf6VOA?si=G4DLh4XydlnQl5J0 Assetto Corsa EVO stream - https://www.youtube.com/live/lpdShBppc7Y?si=nqV1UqzjpB6JA3-6 New iRacing content - https://traxion.gg/iracing-confirms-aston-martin-valkyrie-hypercar-and-two-caterhams-for-season-4/ iRacing Career Mode update - https://traxion.gg/all-iracing-content-will-be-available-in-career-mode-at-zero-extra-cost/ Niels Heusinkveld interview - https://youtu.be/yXPDFRkF66A?si=ntkBGTuA2-F2fO8p Sign up for the Traxion email newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join our Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit the website for daily news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email [email protected] with your questions for the team! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We now finally have Traxion merchandise! To browse our collection of T-shirts, mugs, magnets and more, simply head over to: shop.traxion.gg And don't forget to use code TRAXION10 at checkout for an early bird 10% discount! Off the back of our comprehensive Automobilista retrospective, our guest on this week's Traxion Control Podcast is the game's Physics Lead, Niels Heusinkveld. Naturally, we discuss all things Automobilista, including how Heusinkveld first connected with Reiza Studios' Renato Simioni, and the highs and lows of developing a racing sim with a small but passionate team. We also hear about the origins of Heusinkveld Engineering, which Niels co-created with Svend van der Vlugt, and how his sim racing journey began, and his continued passion for tweaking virtual car handling. As always, let us know your thoughts on today's episode in the comments section or via email: Details below! Automobilista retrospective article: https://traxion.gg/automobilista-10-years-on-a-physics-masterclass/ Automobilista retrospective video: https://youtu.be/_PJJCy5qZm8?si=GFc36y9o5kiBtR3X Sign up for the Traxion email newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join our Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit the website for daily news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/⁠⁠⁠ Email [email protected] with your questions for the team! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Traxion.GG website has been awash with Gran Turismo 7 news this week, and to dissect it all, the three so-called 'amigos' are back for this episode of the Traxion Control Podcast. Join Tom, Tom and John as they discuss, on top of the mountain of GT7 news, a new motorbike-based project from Moza, a significant sales milestone for Le Mans Ultimate and your reactions to the Saudi takeover of Electronic Arts. As always, let us know your thoughts on todays episode, in the comments section or via email: Details below! All the GT7 News - https://traxion.gg/category/games/gran-turismo-7/ Moza's MotoGP Sim - https://traxion.gg/moza-racings-motogp-sim-equipment-set-for-gamescom-unveil/ Le Mans Ultimate Sales Milestone - https://traxion.gg/le-mans-ultimate-surpasses-half-a-million-sales/ Nacon's Next Move - https://traxion.gg/nacon-teases-test-drive-wrc-and-endurance-motorsport-series-updates-in-upcoming-showcase/ Trak Racer at SRE Charlotte 2026 - https://youtu.be/NPoFey7jub8?si=fnfHOWZfOHHKHCed Sign up for the Traxion email newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join our Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit the website for daily news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/⁠⁠ Email [email protected] with your questions for the team! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Corsair announced it was acquiring Trak Racer's assets as part of a 50 million dollar buyout, you would be forgiven for thinking it was the biggest gaming purchasing of the week. Now, multiply that figure by 1000...... Nope, you still haven't reached the figures involved in another buyout this week... We already knew EA was being taken over by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, but the 55 Billion dollar deal is finally done. Join new double-barrel buddies Tom Harrison-Lord and John Danvers-Munro as they discuss these two seismic takeovers, and ponder both Hyundai's virtual "e-shifts", and an indie driving game that could well be the surprise success of the year. Corsair Purchases Trak Racer - https://traxion.gg/trak-racer-purchased-by-fanatecs-owners-corsair/ Saudi Arabia PIF Purchases Electronic Arts - https://traxion.gg/eas-saudi-arabian-55bn-takeover-is-now-complete/ Four new cars coming to GT7 - https://traxion.gg/four-niche-cars-for-gran-turismo-7s-next-update/ over the hill release date announced - https://traxion.gg/over-the-hill-releases-october-consoles-2027/ Hands-On with Project Motor Racing V2.1 - https://www.youtube.com/live/6RfI7A68ZV4?si=SHgQen-S-QIQePUQ Sign up for the Traxion email newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join our Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/discord⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit the website for daily news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/⁠ Email [email protected] with your questions for the team! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, an interview episode, as we once again discuss Project Motor Racing. As discussed on recent episodes and on our website and newsletter, Ian Bell is no longer the CEO of the Straight4 Studios development team. That role is now held by Kevin Boland, moving from Chief Development Officer to the Chief Executive Role. So here, we asked about the change, and the recent Chief Creative Officer, Aris Vasilakos, joined in too. I wanted to know about Ian Bell’s impact, and then also what the near-future plans are for PMR, although more detailed questions about finer game performance are perhaps for another time. They clearly had a lot to get off their chests! Sign up for the Traxion email newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/newsletter/⁠⁠⁠ Join our Discord: ⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/discord⁠⁠⁠ Visit the website for daily news: ⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Le Mans Ultimate has arguably been Julys hot topic in sim racing, for both good and bad reasons. Motorsport Games changed its decision to place its new Joker feature behind a subscription paywall following community backlash, but with the V1.4 update and two new US tracks to play with, will all be forgiven and forgotten? Other major news this week includes a CEO swap at Straight4 Studios (with the polarizing Ian Bell making way for former chief development officer Kevin Boland), and a massive move in the hardware space, as MOZA Racing becomes the official hardware partner and supplier for the Gran Turismo World Series, in place of Fanatec. John Munro, Tom Bunten and Ross McGregor discuss it all, and as always, be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments section, or via our Discord server. Related Stories: LMU removes Joker paywall - https://traxion.gg/le-mans-ultimate-removes-joker-paywall-in-response-to-backlash/ LMU 1.4 update notes - https://traxion.gg/latest-le-mans-ultimate-update-to-improve-hypercar-cold-tyre-performance-patch-notes-released/ Garage 56 NASCAR "closer than ever" - https://traxion.gg/garage-56-nascar-in-le-mans-ultimate-closer-than-ever/ Latest Project Motor Racing news - https://traxion.gg/category/games/project-motor-racing/ NASCAR 26 new information - https://traxion.gg/nascar-26-game-launches-18th-september-with-ai-dnfs-dynamic-track-surface/ NASCAR 26 editions explained - https://traxion.gg/nascar-26-standard-and-gold-edition-explained/ Moza and Gran Turismo partnership - https://traxion.gg/gran-turismo-world-series-partners-with-moza-racing/ Sign up for the Traxion email newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join our Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/discord⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit the website for daily news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://traxion.gg/⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices