Kunos Simulazioni: Co-Founder Stefano Casillo Rejoins Studio

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Stefano Casillo Rejoins Kunos.jpg
Image: Kunos Simulazioni
Kunos Simulazioni is getting the band back together, it seems: Co-Founder Stefano Casillo rejoins the Italian studio after a five-year absence.

The Assetto Corsa franchise has become a pillar of the sim racing world: 2014's original title continues to amaze players to this day, of course carried by its near endless selection of mods. Assetto Corsa Competizione is a shining example for a simulator focused on a particular category of racing cars, and Assetto Corsa EVO is looking to break new ground by incorporating an open world in a proper sim.

All three titles are the work of Kunos Simulazioni, founded by Marco Massarutto, who is still the studio's Managing Director, and Stefano Casillo. The latter left the company in 2020 to pursue his own endeavour called Jaxx Vane Studio, focusing on creating a hydrofoil sailing title.

Stefano Casillo Rejoins Kunos LinkedIn.jpg

Image: Stefano Casillo on LinkedIn

In early March 2025, Casillo might have just pulled off the sim racing comeback of the year already: According to an update to his LinkedIn profile, he has rejoined Kunos Simulazioni as Chief Technology Officer. Whether or not this means that Jaxx Vane Studio will take the back seat now remains to be seen, but the position at Kunos is full-time, according to the update.

Stefano himself is happy to be back: "This happened very fast and all I can say is that I am super happy and excited to be back at work with my old friends. I missed the action of having fun with a wheel in my hands and I love what they have been doing with EVO and the vision behind it", he told OverTake.

About 20 years after Kunos being founded, Massarutto and Casillo now reunite just after AC EVO has started its Early Access program. With the aim to have the sim ready for its full release in fall of 2025, this should be a good amount of time for Stefano, who tends to pop into the comment sections of OverTake articles from time to time, to use his strengths in the development of the sim.

Are you excited to see Stefano Casillo rejoin Kunos Simulazioni? Let us know in the comments below and join the discussion in our Assetto Corsa EVO forum!
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About author
Yannik Haustein
Yannik Haustein
Lifelong motorsport enthusiast and sim racing aficionado, walking racing history encyclopedia.

Sim racing editor, streamer and one half of the SimRacing Buddies podcast (warning, German!).

Heel & Toe Gang 4 life :D

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Comments

F
Interesting, maybe the grass wasn't greener on the other side, or Evo is proving challenging to sort out and they needed him back to help?
 
Slapped
Premium
If my memory serves me correctly this isn't the first time he's been back to Kunos since he left. I do remember that he went back briefly, I believe, to help sort out the AI for multi class racing in ACC ahead of the release of the British GT pack.

I'm sure the man himself will correct me If I'm wrong about this.
 
pz666
TeddyBearx said:
kunos speech is always true, or can delay for a few months, not by years like with Reiza.
Click to expand...

We'll see...

Although ACE is on a new engine that hasn't failed to produce more than vapoware and a Need for Speed title... So there is reason to have more hope for it...
 
Last edited:
J.J.McClure
Premium
Do I know him from Far Cry 5?
Or is that the one from Far Cry 4 or even Far Cry 3?
Or is that even el Presidente himself?
Or maybe the reincarnation of Bhagwan?
Why don't you just make him the god of all gods?
I recommend founding a sect. Somewhere in the South Seas on a deserted island.
Don't forget solar panels and camping toilets.
There you can pay homage to the reincarnated one and sacrifice a virgin every now and then.
Why did he go back to Kunos?
Some predict that this will make the rain really noticeable.
No liability is accepted for electric shocks.
Others say that he is now actually implementing the wind that the player can feel in his excited face anytime and anywhere. As DLC, of course.
I think it was primarily money.
What's next?
Do you name a newly discovered solar system or the breakthrough in dark matter research after him?
This personality cult is downright ridiculous.
 
guidofoc
J.J.McClure said:
Do I know him from Far Cry 5?
Or is that the one from Far Cry 4 or even Far Cry 3?
Or is that even el Presidente himself?
Or maybe the reincarnation of Bhagwan?
Why don't you just make him the god of all gods?
I recommend founding a sect. Somewhere in the South Seas on a deserted island.
Don't forget solar panels and camping toilets.
There you can pay homage to the reincarnated one and sacrifice a virgin every now and then.
Why did he go back to Kunos?
Some predict that this will make the rain really noticeable.
No liability is accepted for electric shocks.
Others say that he is now actually implementing the wind that the player can feel in his excited face anytime and anywhere. As DLC, of course.
I think it was primarily money.
What's next?
Do you name a newly discovered solar system or the breakthrough in dark matter research after him?
This personality cult is downright ridiculous.
Click to expand...
Ok? You slept bad last night?

Stefano is the creator or netKar, Ferrari Academy, and then AC and part of ACC, both of which ended up being some of the most successful sim racing titles of the last 10 years. So he definitely is one of the major contributors to today's sim racing, not just another guy. Of course people are happy that his talent is back.

Stefano is Italian (like me) and he has a rather outspoken but also very passionate personality, besides having lots of experience with coding. When you love what you do and you are good at it, usually good things happen. So people hope for more good things to happen to our hobby.

You see pictures of cats etc. because Kunos was the name of his cat and is also the logo of Kunos Simulazioni. No cult here, just a bit of cat-related fun.

Money, sure. I hope he is paid well.
 
Last edited:
Lupo grigio
Premium
J.J.McClure said:
Do I know him from Far Cry 5?
Or is that the one from Far Cry 4 or even Far Cry 3?
Or is that even el Presidente himself?
Or maybe the reincarnation of Bhagwan?
Why don't you just make him the god of all gods?
I recommend founding a sect. Somewhere in the South Seas on a deserted island.
Don't forget solar panels and camping toilets.
There you can pay homage to the reincarnated one and sacrifice a virgin every now and then.
Why did he go back to Kunos?
Some predict that this will make the rain really noticeable.
No liability is accepted for electric shocks.
Others say that he is now actually implementing the wind that the player can feel in his excited face anytime and anywhere. As DLC, of course.
I think it was primarily money.
What's next?
Do you name a newly discovered solar system or the breakthrough in dark matter research after him?
This personality cult is downright ridiculous.
Click to expand...
Surely no one will start a cult or worship someone like you.
 
Last edited:
A
J.J.McClure said:
Do I know him from Far Cry 5?
Or is that the one from Far Cry 4 or even Far Cry 3?
Or is that even el Presidente himself?
Or maybe the reincarnation of Bhagwan?
Why don't you just make him the god of all gods?
I recommend founding a sect. Somewhere in the South Seas on a deserted island.
Don't forget solar panels and camping toilets.
There you can pay homage to the reincarnated one and sacrifice a virgin every now and then.
Why did he go back to Kunos?
Some predict that this will make the rain really noticeable.
No liability is accepted for electric shocks.
Others say that he is now actually implementing the wind that the player can feel in his excited face anytime and anywhere. As DLC, of course.
I think it was primarily money.
What's next?
Do you name a newly discovered solar system or the breakthrough in dark matter research after him?
This personality cult is downright ridiculous.
Click to expand...
You okay my dude?
 
Jonny Austin
To frame it in F1 terms.Will it be a successful Niki Lauda McLaren successful comeback or a Michael Schumacher Mercedes dismal failure?

My money is on the former:)
 

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