Dormant karting sim KartKraft is now completely dead, or is it?

Update: After booting up KartKraft this afternoon (4th February 2025, 3:30 PM, Traxion was able to play the game as normal, with its server issues now seemingly rectified.

KartKraft. Remember it? It was a sumptuous-realised Early Access karting sim originally developed by Australian studio Black Delta. 

Sadly, KartKraft now appears to be completely dead, as any user who tries to boot it up is reportedly met with server connection issues, rendering the game unplayable (as reported by OnlineRaceDriver.com).

Featuring realistic handling and Unreal Engine-powered graphics, the KartKraft project was purchased by Motorsport Games in 2021 and a v1.0 release for the game arrived in 2022.

However, despite the ‘v1.0’ moniker, KartKraft lacked several important features, including online PVP racing and a working in-game economy. MSG had even mooted a console release and a sequel in its Roadmap timeline, which sadly came to nought. 

The game was essentially mothballed as the focus switched to the doomed BTCC and IndyCar game projects, the latter of which was to be conducted by the same Australian team.

MSG’s subsequent financial difficulties are well-known, with all its Australian staff being made redundant (along with many of their European and American colleagues) effectively sealing the fate of KartKraft. Despite this, the game was still available on Steam, receiving only rudimentary updates to keep it playable.

Until now, that is.

Motorsport Games boss addresses KartKraft issues

Intriguingly, MSG CEO Stephen Hood directly addressed the KartKraft debacle in a Reddit post today (4th February 2025).

“The project was all but abandoned when Motorsport Games picked it up,” stated Hood, indicating that development on the title had effectively ceased before MSG acquired it.

“I don’t envisage it [KartKraft] being further developed in the near future, but we are working on making it operational again,” he continued, referencing the game’s current bricked status. 

So, there’s a small light at the end of the tunnel for the handful of people who still play the game, but there has been no indication of when KartKraft will be made playable again.

“Totally get the love for it. Sorry for the downtime,” ended Hood, echoing many sim racer’s sentiments regarding KartKraft’s huge potential.

Are you a fan of KartKraft? What do you make of its current predicament? Let us know in the comments below.