In a move that has stirred debate within the sim racing community, several prominent developers have officially discontinued support for the Turning Setup AI, a tool that has long assisted drivers in optimizing their car setups. The removal comes as part of a broader shift in development philosophy aimed at promoting realism, manual tuning, and driver engagement.
The Turning Setup AI, introduced several years ago, quickly became a staple for casual and intermediate sim racers who wanted a more accessible way to configure vehicle setups. By analyzing driving data, track conditions, and vehicle behavior, the AI provided automated suggestions for tire pressures, suspension settings, aero balance, and gear ratios. This functionality helped reduce the steep learning curve often associated with high-level sim racing and made competitive performance more attainable for newer players.
However, with recent updates to major titles like RaceLab Pro, DriveFactor 2, and SimTrack Evolution, developers have confirmed that the Turning Setup AI will no longer be maintained or available in future releases. The decision, according to official patch notes and developer blogs, is rooted in a desire to “return to the sport’s purist roots” and encourage deeper user engagement with car tuning.
Speaking on behalf of Apex Dynamics, the studio behind SimTrack Evolution, lead developer Marcus Veldt explained the rationale during a recent livestream Q&A:
“We believe part of the sim racing experience is learning how to feel the car and translate that into meaningful setup adjustments. While the Turning Setup AI was incredibly useful, it also reduced the incentive to explore the mechanical depth we’ve spent years building into the simulation.”
Veldt went on to clarify that new setup tutorials, telemetry tools, and community-created templates would be provided to help ease the transition. “We’re not abandoning our players,” he said. “We’re just evolving the tools they use.”
The reaction from the community has been mixed. Hardcore sim racers and league competitors have generally welcomed the change, viewing it as a step toward greater authenticity and a return to the roots of motorsport simulation. Many argue that the AI’s removal will help level the playing field and differentiate skilled tuners from those relying on automation.
On the other hand, casual players and newcomers feel left behind. “Not everyone has the time to study suspension geometry or spend hours fine-tuning setups for every track,” said Reddit user SimTechSam. “The AI wasn’t perfect, but it gave people like me a starting point. Now we’re back to guessing.”
Some sim racing influencers have also weighed in. YouTuber TrackTitanTom, with over 100k subscribers, posted a video titled “Why Removing Setup AI Might Kill Sim Racing for Beginners”, warning that the decision could shrink the player base and intimidate newcomers.
Developers have promised more robust onboarding tools, interactive setup guides, and improved UI for manual tuning in upcoming patches. While these features are still in development, they may help bridge the gap left by the AI’s removal.
In the meantime, third-party apps and community forums are likely to see increased traffic as players seek guidance on how to create competitive setups. The shift represents a clear philosophical pivot for the genre: one that prioritizes skill mastery over accessibility.
Whether this move ultimately strengthens or fragments the sim racing community remains to be seen. What’s certain, however, is that the road ahead will now demand more hands-on involvement—one gear ratio at a time.
Leave a Reply