Assetto Corsa Rally looks the part as it heads into early access, but I’ve found its driving a numb struggle

More time in the service park might be in order

Image credit:505 Games

If you sit and look at one of Assetto Corsa Rally ’s gorgeously-rendered Alfa Romeos, Lancias, or Fiats in the car preview screens, there’s a palpable elegance and beauty to their forms.

Sadly, anyone watching me attempt to wrestle them through the Welsh woods or along tight stretches of French tarmac over the course of six hours so far would have rarely seen any elegant or beautiful driving . There are times, especially in long sweeping turns, when things start to feel as satisfying as they should. Most of the time though, Assetto Corsa Rally with a wheel feels a lot like you’re skating on ice, rather than the gravel and tarmac it currently offers.

I was surprised something so sim-focused didn’t seem to automatically adjust to my Logitech G29, instead leaving me to manually make sure the controls were set to wheel and bind all of the inputs. Not a problem in and of itself, since sorting it only took a few minutes. The real issue came when I took on my first stage.

As I accelerated from the start line, I barely felt the road beneath me. Corners came and went, I turned into them with no resistance, and sometimes the rear of the car would suddenly overtake the front. My first thought was that I’d somehow forgotten to plug in the wheel’s power supply, but everything was in order. Maybe it’s just that the default settings are tuned way too low, I wondered, delving back into the menu to ratchet up the force feedback in an effort to feel something. Dialling up the gain did help a bit, suddenly the car would sometimes kick back against me, but I was still being taken totally by surprise.

It might sound like someone trying to spare their driving blushes but, because the game offers so little in the way of feeling outside of those force feedback snaps, actually detecting that your car’s about to spin out or drift into the danger zone before it’s too late becomes a near impossible task. There’s nothing to respond to with a correction or gentle decrease in speed before you hit the point of no return, and your arm’s nearly taken off. Things feel better using a controller, with the rumble providing just enough noise that I was more comfortable chucking my car around without being as fearful of unexpected surprises, but that’s hardly ideal for a wheel-centric racing sim.

Image credit:505 Games

Developers Supernova Games Studios say in the review pace notes they handed me that the overall grip levels on both tarmac and gravel are still a work-in-progress and will be tweaked slightly for the full release. However, assuming that’s the main culprit in what I’ve outlined above, I’d argue a substantial shift is ideally needed. Having fired up Dirt Rally 2.0 to compare, the difference is night and day. 2.0 still regularly threatens to fling you at the scenery, but almost always in ways you can anticipate or have a chance to react to as you scythe through its tactile rocky rollercoaster rides.

Perhaps unsurprisingly given AC Rally was made in partnership with road racing sim devs Kunos Simulazioni, I’d say its tarmac stages have felt marginally better than the gravel ones thus far, though this is possibly influenced by simply not expecting as much baseline resistance from a smooth surface. It’s a real shame, as they’re otherwise picturesque romps which work plenty of tight twists and hidden hazards into a decent selection of routes and lengths of stage across the two starter locations.

There’s a clear sense of authenticity, with fans often sprinting off track ahead of you as you round corners, while the soundscape surrounds you with brash engine roar and the occasional tyre squeal. Though it’s very difficult to tell given the overall grip issue, I’d say that front-wheel-drive cars like the Mini Cooper and Peugeot 208 Rally4, both designed to act as approachable rides for beginners, need their handling tweaked so as not to be as prone to spinning out on acceleration. Currently, I’ve had as hard a time with them as any of the more powerful four wheel or rear wheel drive cars which are supposed to be more challenging. Though, several of the latter - including the sole Group B representative in the form of the Lancia 037 - still had work-in-progress handling in the build I’ve played.

Image credit:505 Games / Rock Paper Shotgun

It’s been equally hard to tell how much of an effect wet conditions have for the same reason, but I can at least say taking on a night stage is as atmospheric as you’d hope. The crash physics and damage mechanics are another element Supernova say they’re still working on, which I assume is why I’ve only experienced cosmetic bumps and the occasional puncture so far, having set things to realistic. Despite a couple of high-speed rolls, I’ve not had any stages abruptly end with a write-off-induced DNF, though I have had to start one with a Citroen which had jettisoned all of its front end bodywork, leaving it looking rather nude.

If you’re keen to read a thorough rundown of the different eras of rallying history or the accolades of specific cars, I can recommend the encyclopedia sections you can access in the menus. There are neat little summaries of each major decade following the formation of the World Rally Championship in the early 70s, outlining the impact of key drivers, cars, and shifts in tech. Though I did raise an eyebrow when I flicked to the final slide and saw the rally in Saudi Arabia the real-world WRC has added this year described as a “groundbreaking addition” which “signals the sport’s growing global footprint and ambition, introducing fans to exotic terrains and new rally cultures”.

I’m all for trying to be optimistic about the state of the sport , but there’s a reason ‘more sportswashing’ isn’t on the list of suggestions for improving top-level rallying’s appeal and status in that article I’ve just linked.

Image credit:505 Games

Moving back onto the trail to close out, based on what I’ve played thus far, I can’t recommend blindly grabbing Assetto Corsa Rally as soon as its early access kicks off today. It’s far from a lost cause, though. With a revamp of the handling that could at least be started on by the day one tweaks Supernova have suggested they’ll be making, there’s a good chance it can be moulded into a rally sim which can pick up the baton from the likes of Dirt Rally. As it stands though, unless there’s some underlying flaw in my wheel setup none of the other sims I’ve played recently have picked up, this game’s got time to make up in the coming stages.

Assetto Corsa Rally

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All 75 Arc Raiders Blueprints and where to get them

These areas have the highest chance of giving you Blueprints

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Looking for more Arc Raiders Blueprints? It’s a special day when you find a Blueprint, as they’re among the most valuable items in Arc Raiders. If you find a Blueprint that you haven’t already found, then you must make sure you hold onto it at all costs, because Blueprints are the key to one of the most important and powerful systems of meta-progression in the game.

This guide aims to be the very best guide on Blueprints you can find, starting with a primer on what exactly they are and how they work in Arc Raiders, before delving into exactly where to get Blueprints and the very best farming spots for you to take in your search.

We’ll also go over how to get Blueprints from other unlikely activities, such as destroying Surveyors and completing specific quests. And you’ll also find the full list of all 75 Blueprints in Arc Raiders on this page (including the newest Blueprints added with the Cold Snap update , such as the Deadline Blueprint and Firework Box Blueprint), giving you all the information you need to expand your own crafting repertoire.

In this guide:

• What are Blueprints in Arc Raiders?
• Full Blueprint list: All crafting recipes
• Where to find Blueprints in Arc Raiders Blueprints obtained from quests Blueprints obtained from Trials Best Blueprint farming locations

What are Blueprints in Arc Raiders?

Blueprints in Arc Raiders are special items which, if you manage to extract with them, you can expend to permanently unlock a new crafting recipe in your Workshop. If you manage to extract from a raid with an Anvil Blueprint, for example, you can unlock the ability to craft your very own Anvil Pistol, as many times as you like (as long as you have the crafting materials).

To use a Blueprint, simply open your Inventory while in the lobby, then right-click on the Blueprint and click “Learn And Consume” . This will permanently unlock the recipe for that item in your Workshop. As of the Stella Montis update, there are allegedly 75 different Blueprints to unlock - although only 68 are confirmed to be in the game so far. You can see all the Blueprints you’ve found and unlocked by going to the Workshop menu, and hitting “R” to bring up the Blueprint screen.

It’s possible to find duplicates of past Blueprints you’ve already unlocked. If you find these, then you can either sell them, or - if you like to play with friends - you can take it into a match and gift it to your friend so they can unlock that recipe for themselves. Another option is to keep hold of them until the time comes to donate them to the Expedition.

Full Blueprint list: All crafting recipes

Below is the full list of all the Blueprints that are currently available to find in Arc Raiders, and the crafting recipe required for each item:

Note: The missing Blueprints in this list likely have not actually been added to the game at the time of writing, because none of the playerbase has managed to find any of them. As they are added to the game, I will update this page with the most relevant information so you know exactly how to get all 75 Arc Raiders Blueprints.

Where to find Blueprints in Arc Raiders

Below is a list of all containers, modifiers, and events which maximise your chances of finding Blueprints:

• Certain quests reward you with specific Blueprints .
• Completing Trials has a high chance of offering Blueprints as rewards.
• Surveyors have a decent chance of dropping Blueprints on death.
• High loot value areas tend to have a greater chance of spawning Blueprints.
• Night Raids and Storms may increase rare Blueprint spawn chances in containers.
• Containers with higher numbers of items may have a higher tendency to spawn Blueprints. As a result, Blue Gate (which has many “large” containers containing multiple items) may give you a higher chance of spawning Blueprints.
• Raider containers (Raider Caches, Weapon Boxes, Medical Bags, Grenade Tubes) have increased Blueprint drop rates. As a result, the Uncovered Caches event gives you a high chance of finding Blueprints.
• Security Lockers have a higher than average chance of containing Blueprints.
• Certain Blueprints only seem to spawn under specific circumstances: Tempest Blueprint only spawns during Night Raid events. Vulcano Blueprint only spawns during Hidden Bunker events. Jupiter and Equaliser Blueprints only spawn during Harvester events.

Raider Caches, Weapon Boxes, and other raider-oriented container types have a good chance of offering Blueprints. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blueprints have a very low chance of spawning in any container in Arc Raiders, around 1-2% on average. However, there is a higher chance of finding Blueprints in particular container types. Specifically, you can find more Blueprints in Raider containers and security lockers.

Beyond this, if you’re looking for Blueprints you should focus on regions of the map which are marked as having particularly high-value loot. Areas such as the Control Tower in Dam Battlegrounds, the Arrival and Departure Buildings in Spaceport, and Pilgrim’s Peak in Blue Gate all have a better-than-average chance of spawning Blueprints somewhere amongst all their containers. Night Raids and Electromagnetic Storm events also increase the drop chances of certain Blueprints .

In addition to these containers, you can often loot Blueprints from destroyed Surveyors - the largest of the rolling ball ARC. Surveyors are more commonly found on the later maps - Spaceport and Blue Gate - and if one spawns in your match, you’ll likely see it by the blue laser beam that it casts into the sky while “surveying”.

Surveyors are quite well-armoured and will very speedily run away from you once it notices you, but if you can take one down then make sure you loot all its parts for a chance of obtaining certain unusual Blueprints.

Blueprints obtained from quests

One way in which you can get Blueprints is by completing certain quests for the vendors in Speranza. Some quests will reward you with a specific item Blueprint upon completion, so as long as you work through all the quests in Arc Raiders, you are guaranteed those Blueprints.

Here is the full list of all Blueprints you can get from quest rewards:

• Trigger Nade Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Sparks Fly”.
• Lure Grenade Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Greasing Her Palms”.
• Burletta Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Industrial Espionage”.
• Hullcracker Blueprint (and Launcher Ammo Blueprint): Rewarded after completing “The Major’s Footlocker”.

Alas, that’s only 4 Blueprints out of a total of 75 to unlock, so for the vast majority you will need to find them yourself during a raid. If you’re intent on farming Blueprints, then it’s best to equip yourself with cheap gear in case you lose it, but don’t use a free loadout because then you won’t get a safe pocket to stash any new Blueprint you find. No pain in Arc Raiders is sharper than failing to extract with a new Blueprint you’ve been after for a dozen hours already.

One of the best ways to get Blueprints is by hitting three stars on all five Trials every week. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blueprints obtained from Trials

One of the very best ways to get Blueprints is as rewards for completing Trials in Arc Raiders. Trials are unlocked from Level 15 onwards, and allow you to earn rewards by focusing on certain tasks over the course of several raids. For example, one Trial might task you with dealing damage to Hornets, while another might challenge you to loot Supply Drops.

Trials refresh on a weekly basis, with a new week bringing five new Trials. Each Trial can offer up to three rewards after passing certain score milestones, and it’s possible to receive very high level loot from these reward crates - including Blueprints. So if you want to unlock as many Blueprints as possible, you should make a point of completing as many Trials as possible each week.

Best Blueprint farming locations

The very best way to get Blueprints is to frequent specific areas of the maps which combine high-tier loot pools with the right types of containers to search. Here are my recommendations for where to find Blueprints on every map, so you can always keep the search going for new crafting recipes to unlock.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Dam Battlegrounds

The best places to farm Blueprints on Dam Battlegrounds are the Control Tower, Power Generation Complex, Ruby Residence, and Pale Apartments . The first two regions, despite only being marked on the map as mid-tier loot, contain a phenomenal number of containers to loot. The Control Tower can also contain a couple of high-tier Security Lockers - though of course, you’ll need to have unlocked the Security Breach skill at the end of the Survival tree.

There’s also a lot of reporting amongst the playerbase that the Residential areas in the top-left of the map - Pale Apartments and Ruby Residence - give you a comparatively strong chance of finding Blueprints. Considering their size, there’s a high density of containers to loot in both locations, and they also have the benefit of being fairly out of the way. So you’re more likely to have all the containers to yourself.

Buried City

The best Blueprint farming locations on Buried City are the Santa Maria Houses, Grandioso Apartments, Town Hall, and the various buildings of the New District . Grandioso Apartments has a lower number of containers than the rest, but a high chance of spawning weapon cases - which have good Blueprint drop rates. The others are high-tier loot areas, with plenty of lootable containers - including Security Lockers.

Spaceport

The best places to find Blueprints on Spaceport are the Arrival and Departure Buildings, as well as Control Tower A6 and the Launch Towers . All these areas are labelled as high-value loot regions, and many of them are also very handily connected to one another by the Spaceport wall, which you can use to quickly run from one area to the next. At the tops of most of these buildings you’ll find at least one Security Locker, so this is an excellent farming route for players looking to find Blueprints.

The downside to looting Blueprints on Spaceport is that all these areas are hotly contested, particularly in Duos and Squads. You’ll need to be very focused and fast in order to complete the full farming route.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blue Gate

Blue Gate tends to have a good chance of dropping Blueprints, potentially because it generally has a high number of containers which can hold lots of items; so there’s a higher chance of a Blueprint spawning in each container. In my experience, the best Blueprint farming spots on Blue Gate are Pilgrim’s Peak, Raider’s Refuge, the Ancient Fort, and the Underground Complex beneath the Warehouse .

All of these areas contain a wealth of containers to loot. Raider’s Refuge has less to loot, but the majority of the containers in and around the Refuge are raider containers, which have a high chance of containing Blueprints - particularly during major events.

Stella Montis

On the whole, Stella Montis seems to have a very low drop rate for Blueprints (though a high chance of dropping other high-tier loot). If you do want to try farming Blueprints on this map, the best places to find Blueprints in Stella Montis are Medical Research, Assembly Workshop, and the Business Center . These areas have the highest density of containers to loot on the map.

In addition to this, the Western Tunnel has a few different Security Lockers to loot, so while there’s very little to loot elsewhere in this area of the map, it’s worth hitting those Security Lockers if you spawn there at the start of a match.

That wraps up this primer on how to get all the Blueprints in Arc Raiders as quickly as possible. With the Expedition system constantly resetting a large number of players’ Blueprints, it’s more important than ever to have the most up-to-date information on where to find all these Blueprints.

While you’re here, be sure to check out our Arc Raiders best guns tier list , as well as our primers on the best skills to unlock and all the different Field Depot locations on every map.

ARC Raiders

PS5 , Xbox Series X/S , PC

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