Installation and Setup

The journey to a modernized Assetto Corsa begins with a clean installation of the base game. It is highly recommended to acquire the Ultimate Edition as it includes all official DLCs (Dream Packs, Porsche Packs, etc.) that are often mandatory requirements for the most popular community mods and online racing servers. Once purchased, simply initiate the download through your Steam library, ensuring you have at least 30GB of free space on an SSD or M.2 for optimal loading times.  

IMPORTANT:
Modding will take up additional storage space. 
Be sure to install on a drive with ample space for modding capability!

After the initial installation is complete, it is crucial to launch the game at least once through the standard Steam launcher before moving on to any modifications. This first run allows Assetto Corsa to generate necessary configuration files and local folders in your "Documents" directory, which are vital for the external tools you’ll be installing next. Once the main menu loads and you've confirmed your basic controls work, you can close the game and prepare for the true transformation of your sim-racing experience.

Steam Store Page: Assetto Corsa
Loaded Store: Assetto Corsa Ultimate

Assetto Corsa Content Manager (CM) is the essential powerhouse that completely replaces the original, outdated game launcher. It is more than just a menu; it is a comprehensive management tool that significantly streamlines your experience by offering faster loading times, an intuitive user interface, and advanced control over every aspect of the simulation. From managing your car and track library to advanced server browsing and detailed driving statistics, CM turns a decade-old game into a modern racing platform. 

Once installed CM becomes your primary gateway to the game, allowing you to install complex mods, such as new vehicles or tracks by simply dragging and dropping compressed files directly into the window. While a free "Lite" version is available, the "Full" version is highly recommended to unlock advanced features like custom championships and full support for the shaders and weather systems you'll be adding next. 

Installation

Download 

• Visit the official Content Manager website, https://assettocorsa.club/content-manager.html, and download the latest version .zip file. 

Extract

• Once downloaded, locate the ZIP file and extract Content Manager.exe to your main Assetto Corsa installation folder 

• Usually C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\assettocorsa

Initial Setup

• Run Content Manager.exe for the first time. 

• A setup window will appear. It should automatically find your Assetto Corsa root folder

  • If it doesn't, click "Change" and point it to the location where AssettoCorsa.exe is stored. 

• Enter your Steam ID if prompted to link your profile.

Install Plugins

• At the bottom of the setup window, you’ll see a list of "Plugins" (like 7-Zip or ffmpeg).

• Click the Install button next to each one. 

• These are small, essential tools that allow Content Manager to properly handle compressed mod files and record video. 

• Once finished, click OK, and you are ready to use the new launcher.

Pro Tip: 

• Right-click Content Manager.exe and select "Pin to Taskbar" to create a new Start Menu Shortcut for CM.

Unlock Full Version

To access advanced features like custom championships and pre-release builds, you can upgrade to the Full Version of Content Manager:

Visit the Website: 

1. • Go to the official Content Manager site and scroll down to the "Support Us" section.Choose itch.io

   • Select the itch.io icon. A popup will appear allowing you to "Buy Now" for a minimum of $2 USD (or more if you'd like to tip the dev).

Complete Payment: 

1. • Enter your email address and complete the one-time payment. 

   • This is not a subscription; it is a perpetual license for the app.

Get Your Key: 

1. • You will receive an email from itch.io with your unique App Key. 

   • You can also find it by logging into your itch.io account under "My Purchases."

Activate:

• Open Content Manager and navigate to Settings > Content Manager > General. 

• Find the "App Key" field, paste your key, and the app will instantly unlock all features.

Custom Shaders Patch (CSP) is the engine that breathes new life into Assetto Corsa, effectively bridging the gap between a 2014 title and a modern sim-racing masterpiece. It introduces advanced rendering techniques like dynamic lighting, volumetric clouds, and highly detailed reflections that were never part of the original game engine. By rewriting how light interacts with surfaces, from the glow of headlights on the asphalt to the realistic glint on a car's livery, CSP creates a cohesive photorealistic environment that feels alive.

Beyond pure aesthetics, these shaders introduce critical features like Rain FX and Grass FX, adding layers of immersion and physical depth to every track. It isn't just about making the game look "better"; it’s about modernizing the entire visual experience to meet 2026 standards. CSP also optimizes performance, ensuring that even with these high-fidelity upgrades, your frame rates remain stable during intense wheel-to-wheel racing.

Installation

Patreon Link

Join the Patreon

• Visit Ilja Jusupov’s Patreon and subscribe to any membership tier (even the minimum amount works). 

• This is a recurring monthly subscription, but you can cancel after one month and keep the version you downloaded.

Download the Build

• Once subscribed, look for the most recent post titled "lights-patch-v[version]-preview". 

• Download the attached .zip file. Despite being called "lights-patch," this is the full Custom Shaders Patch preview.

Drag and Drop

• Open your Content Manager application. 

• Drag the downloaded .zip file from your folder and drop it anywhere into the Content Manager window.

Confirm Installation

•  Click the green "hamburger" icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner of Content Manager. 

• You will see the new CSP version listed there. 

• Click Install and wait for the progress bar to finish.

Verify

• Go to Settings > Custom Shaders Patch > About & Updates. 

• Under Shaders Patch Version:  You should now see the specific preview version highlighted in the list as the active build.

Pure is the definitive atmospheric overhaul that completes the modernization of Assetto Corsa, transforming the sky and lighting into a truly cinematic experience. As demonstrated in the image, Pure replaces static, dated backgrounds with high-fidelity 16K skydomes and dynamic volumetric clouds that react naturally to the setting sun. By utilizing a sophisticated LUA-based lighting engine, it accurately simulates how light scatters through the atmosphere, casting realistic long shadows across the track and creating the vibrant, "golden hour" glow seen reflecting off the Ferraris and Porsches on the circuit.

This mod does more than just look good; it provides a physically accurate foundation for every other visual element in the game. Whether you are racing through a dense morning fog or a high-contrast sunset, Pure ensures that every surface, from the grit of the asphalt to the carbon fiber of the bodywork, is illuminated with perfect technical precision. It is the final, essential layer that moves Assetto Corsa beyond the realm of a "game" and into a breathtakingly realistic simulation of the natural world.

Installation

Patreon Link

Installing Pure is more involved than a simple drag-and-drop, as it requires specific scripts to be placed in your game's root folder to function correctly. 

Join the Patreon

• Visit Peter Boese’s Patreon and subscribe to any membership tier

• This is a recurring monthly subscription, but you can cancel after one month and keep the version you downloaded.

Download the Build

• Download the latest version of Pure (e.g., v3.21). 

• Like the CSP preview, you can pay once, download the files, and keep them even if you cancel your subscription.

Manual Installation: 

DO NOT USE CONTENT MANAGER TO INSTALL PURE
USE MANUAL INSTALL METHOD BELOW

• Open the root folder for Assetto Corsa

  • steamapps/common/assettocorsa

• Extract the downloaded .zip file

• Open the folder where the files are now extracted to 

• Move th four main folders (apps, content, extension, and system) directly into your Assetto Corsa root folder

  • steamapps/common/assettocorsa

• Select "Replace files in destination" if prompted.

Activate in Content Manager: 

• Open Content Manager 

• Navigate to Settings > Custom Shaders Patch > Weather FX. 

• In the "Weather style" dropdown menu, select Pure LCS

Set the Controller

• Go to the Drive tab. 

• Under the Weather section, set the controller to: Pure LCS 

• This will allow the mod to take full control of the time and sky conditions. 

The Exilitay Graphics Pack is the final, transformative layer that defines the specific visual "flavor" of your sim-racing experience. While CSP and Pure provide the engine and environment, a high-quality Post-Processing Filter (PP Filter) like Exilitay Realism acts as the cinematic lens through which you see the world. It balances color saturation, contrast, and bloom to mimic the characteristics of high-end automotive photography and modern broadcast cameras. It’s what gives the lighting its punchy, photorealistic depth and makes every frame, from a rainy night at Spa to a sunny afternoon at Monza, look like a professional render.

Installation

Patreon Link

Join the Patreon

• Visit Exilitay Patreon and subscribe to to download the latest Graphics Pack.

•  Ensure you have joined the Discord to access specific filter showcases and community presets.

• This is a recurring monthly subscription, but you can cancel after one month and keep the version you downloaded.

Download the Build

• Download the latest version of Exilitay Graphics Pack

• Download the latest version of Exilitay Realism 

• Like the CSP preview, you can pay once, download the files, and keep them even if you cancel your subscription.

Manual Installation: 

• Open the root folder for Assetto Corsa

  • steamapps/common/assettocorsa

• Extract the downloaded Exilitay Graphics Pack .zip file

• Open the folder where the files are now extracted to 

• Open Folder: 2 ~ Exilitay Realism Vx.xx

  • Move Folders "System" & "Extension" to the root folder for Assetto Corsa

• Open Folder: 3 ~ Video Settings

  • Three are three options to choose from, Available options are: 

    • Exilitay Ultra Video Settings

    • Exilitay High Video Settings

    • Exilitay Medium Video Settings

  • Recommend starting with High and adjusting based upon system performance 

  • To Enable, simply double click the setting you choose 

  • Select: Open, and a browser window will appear 

  • Allow the browser access to Content Manager 

  • When content manager loads select : Apply and Save

• Open Folder: 4 ~ CSP Settings

  • Three are three options to choose from, Available options are: 

    • Exilitay Ultra CSP Settings

    • Exilitay High CSP Settings

    • Exilitay Medium CSP Settings

  • Recommend: Choose the same level as in the previous step  

  • To Enable, simply double click the setting you choose 

  • Select: Open, and a browser window will appear 

  • Allow the browser access to Content Manager 

  • When content manager loads select : Apply and Save

• Extract the latest Exilitay Realism pack

• Open the folder where the files are now extracted to 

• Move Folders "System" & "Extension" to the root folder for Assetto Corsa

  • Steam/steamapps/common/assettocorsa

• Select "Replace files in destination" if prompted to ensure all custom scripts and presets are correctly placed.

Activate in Content Manager: 

• Open Content Manager 

• Video Settings: Go to Settings > Assetto Corsa > Video. 

• Under the "Post-processing" dropdown, select Exilitay Realism v1.09 (or the latest version).

• Set your video resolution and refresh rate for your monitor, ie: 3440x1440, 100 Hz

Final Polish (Exilitay FX): 

• Once in the game, open the Pure PP Config app from the sidebar. 

• Locate the Color  Tab

• Select Exilitay_Punch

• Locate the the "ExilitayX" or "spice" Tab: 

• This allows you to toggle advanced HDR effects and "Plug-And-Play" realism settings directly without needing external tools like ReShade.

Requirements: 

• Nvidia 40 Series or greater 

• Latest Version of Content Manager (0.8.2790 or greater) 

• Latest Preview version of CSP (3.0 build 338 or greater) 

How to Enable

• Load Content Manager 

• Go to Settings > Custom Shaders Patch > Graphics > Adjustments 

• Set Upscaling to : Active 

• Set Method to: NVidia DLSS 

• Select DLSS Preset: M

• Set Quality %: To Desired Level