Assetto Corsa Is Obsolete V1163 Is Required Fix Extra Quality ((full)) May 2026

Solving the "Assetto Corsa is Obsolete – v1163 is Required" Error: The Extra Quality Fix Guide

If you are a seasoned sim racer, you’ve likely spent hundreds of hours fine-tuning your Assetto Corsa experience. You have the dream hardware, the premium mod cars, and the laser-scanned tracks. But suddenly, your game hits a wall. You launch a session, or perhaps try to join an online server, and you are greeted by a frustrating, screen-stopping warning:

"Assetto Corsa is Obsolete – v1163 is Required."

Even worse, after ignoring the message, you jump into the cockpit only to find the dreaded "Extra Quality" glitch: flickering shadows, invisible cars, transparent cockpits, or rain effects that look like a broken pixel party.

Don’t uninstall your game. Don't reformat your PC. This guide will walk you through exactly why this error happens and the definitive fix to restore Extra Quality visuals using the mandatory v1163 build. Solving the "Assetto Corsa is Obsolete – v1163

The "Lava" Exception: What If You Don't Own The Game?

Let's be realistic. The phrase "Assetto Corsa is Obsolete v1163 is required" is infamous in the "Lava" (cracked) community. If you are using a repack from 2016, you will never get Extra Quality to work.

The harsh truth: Cracked versions pre-v1.16.3 have a different memory map. CSP hooks into the game's memory to draw Extra Quality effects. If the memory addresses don't match the official v1163 build, the fix is impossible.

The actual fix: Buy the game. Assetto Corsa Ultimate Edition often costs less than a coffee. The Ultimate Edition includes every DLC and automatically grants you the official v1163 build. Scenario A: The Server is Old

The "Obsolete" Error Fix Guide

Step 4: Server Version Mismatch (The "v1163" Specifics)

If you are trying to join a specific server and it says "v1163 is required":

• Scenario A: The Server is Old. If the server is running an old version (like actual 1.16.3), and you are on the newest Steam version, you cannot join easily. You would have to opt into the "legacy_1163" beta branch in Steam properties. However, this is rare now.
• Scenario B: The Server is New, You are "Old". If you pirated the game or haven't updated CSP in months, the server sees your client as outdated.
  • Fix: Follow Step 2 to update CSP to the latest version. Most servers display the required CSP version (e.g., "Requires CSP 0.1.79+"). If your version is lower, you get the obsolete error.

Method 1: Update through Steam

If you have purchased Assetto Corsa on Steam, you can easily update the game through the platform. Here's how:

1. Launch Steam and navigate to your Library.
2. Right-click on Assetto Corsa and select Properties.
3. Click on the Updates tab.
4. Select the Always keep this game up to date option.
5. Steam will automatically update the game to the latest version.

Step 2: The Content Manager (CM) & CSP Solution

This is the most likely solution. Most modern servers and "Extra Quality" visuals require Custom Shaders Patch (CSP). If your CSP is outdated, the game considers the core engine "obsolete" for that server. Fix: Follow Step 2 to update CSP to the latest version

1. Open Content Manager (the modding tool, not the game itself).
2. Look at the top menu bar. Click the icon that looks like a box with an arrow (Update).
3. If there is an update for Content Manager itself, install it and restart CM.
4. Once CM is updated, look for the "CSP" version indicator (usually top right or in the Drive tab).
5. Click the version number.
6. Select "Install/Update Custom Shaders Patch".
   • Ideally, install the latest "Newest" or "Nightly" version.
   • Tip: "Extra Quality" usually requires at least CSP version 0.1.79 or newer.

The Registry Key Ghost

Windows sometimes holds a stale registry entry.

• Fix: Open regedit (Run as admin). Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Kunos Simulazioni\Assetto Corsa. Delete the SteamInstallPath key. Launch the game via Steam once to re-establish the correct path.

Step-by-Step Fix: Restoring v1163 and Extra Quality

Follow this guide precisely. Do not skip steps.

How does this ruin Extra Quality?

When the game detects a version mismatch, it often falls back to a "safe mode" rendering path. This disables CSP features like:

• Grass FX (Lush, 3D grass disappears).
• Neural AI (AI behavior becomes robotic).
• Screen Space Reflection (SSR) & Extra FX (Water looks like plastic).
• Smart Shadows & Dynamic Lights (Night driving becomes pitch black or glitchy).

You are left with vanilla Kunos graphics from 2014. That is why "Extra Quality" feels obsolete.