We're about to lose the dedicated server backbone that makes Assetto Corsa & Assetto Corsa Competizione stand strong
Alternatively Titled: ALL OF YOUR DEDICATED SERVERS ARE BELONG TO US
Recently, Kunos Simulazioni shared their decision to not distribute a dedicated server program for the Assetto Corsa EVO community to run on their own hardware. They shared that they are providing free public multiplayer servers for everyone to race in, and leagues and private groups can rent and configure a "dedicated server" for about 1 EUR per driver slot per month. Sounds fine, right?
As someone who has probably put too much time and energy into building for the current ACC multiplayer server ecosystem, and who has chatted at length with league organizers to understand their server needs, I don't like this decision and here is why.
Providing free public multiplayer servers
Here's what's wrong with this whole premise: the problem they are claiming to solve is not a problem that actually exists. We have a massive surplus of free and available servers. Do you know why? Because Kunos distributed a dedicated server for us to run; and many of us run it! As long as there are people playing AC and ACC, they'll have the freedom to run their own server, on their own hardware, and play online. Kunos made the decision to offer that freedom in the past to their players, and now they're making a decision to restrict it. They're spinning it like they're giving us something we never had, when in reality they're taking away our privilege to run races independently.
SimGrid / Coach Dave Academy has had an active role in creating the new racecontrol.gg service that locks down LMU servers from players, leagues, and developers. With AC EVO they seem to only be involved, at the time of writing, with the UI development for the Daily Racing portal that provides these free public multiplayer servers.
You can rent a "dedicated server" in the custom server portal
Don't you dare call that a dedicated server! A dedicated server is a distributed server executable that players are able to use on their own compute to create a game server dedicated to their purpose. For sure, one consequence of a true dedicated server system is that it's a bit chaotic, messy, and uncontrollable. But, it is also the secret sauce behind why Assetto Corsa and Assetto Corsa Competizione communities have been able to create pure racing magic and fun! An exclusive deal with SIATI and SimGrid to run race servers is the opposite of what you get with true dedicated servers. Kunos has traded the chaos and magic for tighter executive control, better predictability, and a way to recover revenue that the prior system couldn't extract out of leagues and players. The meetings where they come up with this stuff must be a real blast...
Now, I need to clarify. I have zero complaints about Kunos creating a curated and official way for players to rent and run servers. I think that's great, actually! I would simply prefer to not be locked-in, so that if they make a mess of it (which I think is very possible) our community can build solutions that actually work. A dedicated server system and curated official system aren't mutually exclusive. We could have both, but it seems like they don't want that.
1 EUR per slot per month
Allow me to walk you through one of the most expensive ways you can run an ACC server, to show how it is still half (or less) what they propose to charge on AC EVO. A small AWS virtual cloud server can run the ACC dedicated server with 30-40+ players easily, and it costs about 12-20 EUR a month depending on the region. By the way, you can reduce that cost by nearly 100% with the freedom you have to turn it off when you're not racing! Kunos is proposing that this same 40 slot server is going to cost 40 EUR a month via SIATI's user interface? That is community murder.
Most leagues run their always-on servers suitable for a 20-40 driver race at under 10-12 EUR per month. No doubt some leagues will be able to cover the costs on AC EVO, but they'll be paying a serious premium for it, with nowhere else to turn.
Choose wisely
Kunos' decision isn't going to be reversed on this, it seems like a done deal. They know a few people might be upset about it, but they have conviction in portraying it like they're doing what's best for their players and their business. They're deluded and wrong, but they're sticking to it. I predict the vibrancy and character that makes both AC and ACC so engaging online is going to be muted in AC EVO. A lifeless walled-garden is what gets created when a development company pursues maximum value and abandons the soul that made their game thrive. What was unique, edgy, and cool about Assetto Corsa and Assetto Corsa Competizione stood in stark contrast against iRacing, and even Le Mans Ultimate. By trying to blend in with the popular kids, they're going to look like dorks.
I don't even know if sim racers care about this loss or truly grasp the benefits we enjoy on open dedicated servers, so do contact me and let me know your thoughts. I'll be choosing to continue investing my time where true dedicated servers are embraced and supported. Unfortunately, that means the newest generation of games aren't looking viable. See you on a free (as in freedom, not as in beer) server very soon. Be kind, race well, and have fun!
The draft of this blog was posted on the r/assettocorsaevo subreddit, where it received about 300 upvotes and over 100 comments. This post includes corrections that were pointed out via reddit comments to clarify the relationship between Kunos, SIATI, and SimGrid/CDA that were not explicit or clear in the Kunos 0.3 release video.
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