Assetto Corsa launcher guide
Assetto Corsa ships with a basic Kunos launcher. The vast majority of active players use Content Manager instead — a free third-party launcher that adds a full server browser, drag-and-drop mod installation and Custom Shader Patch management.
Content Manager vs the default Assetto Corsa launcher
Both launchers start the same game. The difference is entirely in the front-end experience — session setup, modding and online play.
| Feature | Default Kunos launcher | Content Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Server browser for online racing | Basic list only | Full browser with filters |
| Session setup (Quick Drive) | Limited options | Complete race, practice and hotlap setup |
| Mod installation | Manual folder work | Drag-and-drop with automatic placement |
| Content library | None | Searchable database of all cars, tracks, skins |
| Custom Shader Patch support | No integration | Install and manage CSP directly |
| Weather mod support (Sol, Pure) | No | Yes, via CSP integration |
| VR configuration | Basic | Simplified settings panel |
| Replay management | Basic | Replay viewer and management tools |
| Controller / FFB settings | Basic | Detailed per-wheel configuration |
| Active development | No (game is complete) | Yes — regular updates by x4fab |
The main reasons to use Content Manager over the default launcher
Content Manager was built to fix the specific shortcomings of the default Kunos launcher. The most important gaps it fills are:
- Online racing. The default server browser is a flat list with minimal filtering. Content Manager's server browser shows player counts, car and track requirements, weather conditions and server rules — everything needed to find a relevant race without joining blindly.
- Mod installation. With the default launcher, installing a car or track mod means navigating to the correct subfolder inside the Assetto Corsa directory and placing files manually. Content Manager reduces this to a single drag-and-drop action, with automatic content-type detection and library indexing.
- Custom Shader Patch. CSP is the graphics modification used by the majority of Assetto Corsa players, but it has no install path in the default launcher. Content Manager adds a dedicated CSP panel that handles installation, version management and configuration entirely within the launcher.
- Race setup. Quick Drive in Content Manager provides a complete session configurator — car, track, AI count and skill, race length, conditions, tyre options — all without leaving the launcher or editing configuration files.
Assetto Corsa launcher — common questions
What launcher does Assetto Corsa use?
Assetto Corsa ships with a default launcher made by Kunos Simulazioni, the game's developer. The majority of active players replace this with Content Manager, a free third-party launcher made by an independent developer called x4fab. Content Manager offers a faster interface, a full online server browser, drag-and-drop mod installation and integrated Custom Shader Patch management.
What is the best launcher for Assetto Corsa?
Content Manager is the de facto standard launcher for Assetto Corsa and is used by the overwhelming majority of the active player base. It replaces the default Kunos launcher with a more capable interface — including a proper online server browser, a searchable content library and built-in Custom Shader Patch support. The free version covers everything most players need.
Do I need to uninstall the default launcher to use Content Manager?
No. Content Manager sits alongside the default Kunos launcher rather than replacing it at the system level. Both remain available — you simply run Content Manager instead of the default. You can switch back to the Kunos launcher at any time by running the default executable directly from the Assetto Corsa Steam directory.
Can you play Assetto Corsa without Content Manager?
Yes — Assetto Corsa runs perfectly without Content Manager using the default Kunos launcher. In practice, online racing and modding both become significantly harder without it: the default server browser is limited, mod installation requires manual file work and Custom Shader Patch has no built-in management path. Almost every community guide assumes Content Manager is in use.
Does Content Manager change the game itself?
No. Content Manager is a launcher — it manages how you configure and start Assetto Corsa, but it does not change the game engine, the physics or the driving model. The difference between playing with Content Manager and the default launcher is entirely in the front-end experience, not in what happens once the session starts.
Is Content Manager better than the Assetto Corsa default launcher?
For almost every use case, yes. Content Manager provides a proper online server browser, drag-and-drop mod installation, a full content library with search and tagging, integrated Custom Shader Patch management, and detailed controller and replay tools. The default Kunos launcher does not offer any of these. Content Manager is free to download and takes a few minutes to set up.
Does Assetto Corsa Competizione use the same launcher?
No. Assetto Corsa Competizione (ACC) is a separate game with its own launcher and no connection to Content Manager. Content Manager works only with the original Assetto Corsa. If you are playing ACC, you will use ACC's own launcher and Content Manager does not apply.
Switch to Content Manager in two minutes
Content Manager is free, installs as a single file and leaves the default launcher available as a fallback. The download guide covers the full process.
Download Content Manager