No. In fact, the very existence of this error proves the opposite. Assetto Corsa is far from obsolete. The fact that a specific version from 2017 is still demanded by thousands of mods and servers in 2025 shows incredible longevity for a racing sim.
However, obtaining v1.16.3 has become a challenge in itself. The update was initially released through the game's Steam branch system, but it is no longer easily accessible. As a result, users have been searching for a link to download the update, which has proven elusive. This has led to frustration among the community, with some users declaring that Assetto Corsa is, in effect, obsolete.
The good news is that this error is with your game's core files. It is almost always a version mismatch caused by a recent, minor Steam update to the base game.
The assertion that Assetto Corsa is obsolete stems from its increasingly outdated architecture and compatibility issues. While the game remains enjoyable, its lack of support for modern systems and hardware has made it difficult for new users to join the community. Furthermore, the absence of official updates and support from Kunos Simulazioni has led some to believe that the game is no longer viable.