After much rumouring and speculation, more concrete information is surfacing about the next projects from embattled racing title publisher Motorsport Games.
Alongside the INDYCAR IR-18 for the simulation platform rFactor 2, in recent earnings calls, a dedicated PC and console IndyCar game has remained on the company’s release slate for 2023.
At last weekend’s Indianapolis 500, won by former Formula 1 driver Marcus Ericsson, an rFactor 2 leaderboard challenge was won by sim racer Pablo López.
Visiting the booth was meant to “unlock a first-look of the INDYCAR Game”, but how remained unclear.
However, a social media post by local radio station 93 WIBC Indianapolis shows a QR code for email sign-ups.
In fact, this is still active as of today, 30th May. Scanning this code with a smartphone when viewing the tweet on a computer sends an email with IndyCar game details almost immediately.
Contained within are images of the current IndyCar open-wheeler in-engine, the first time the IndyCar game has been shown.
“The upcoming INDYCAR game will be developed by the teams that brought you KartKraft and rFactor 2,” reads the communication.
“This will utilize the power of Unreal Engine…”
While it could be safe to assume that the IndyCar game will be built upon rFactor 2, the use of Unreal Engine belies this notion.
The fatally flawed NASCAR 21: Ignition was a combination of the simulator and Unreal, but a recent update highlighted that the next NASCAR title, due in 2023, “will not inherit the tech debt of NASCAR 21: Ignition as its base.”
Ergo, it sounds more like the dedicated IndyCar and NASCAR games are building from the KartKraft framework, utilising some of the rFactor 2 development resources.
This would also perhaps explain why there are images of the car being created as a 3D model separately and not just the existing rFactor 2 car placed on a track.
During the Indy 500 race, according to Indianapolis Motor Speedway president J. Douglas Boles, “all the IndyCar drivers are getting scanned for the upcoming Indycar game,” alongside an image of himself being photographed.
Firestone’s Firehawk mascot was also captured, according to the game’s Twitter profile.
It still looks to be a long way from a finished product – the work in progress shots only show tightly cropped details – but if these are in-engine stills from an IndyCar game, we hope it shows signs of life.
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