In June 2023, Motorsport Games and Studio 397 announced Le Mans Ultimate, a new sim racing title that would utilize the pMotor 2.5 game engine to represent the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans and FIA World Endurance Championship grid.
A successor platform set to also host future iterations of the Le Mans Virtual Series, a top-level esports series previously hosted by Motorsport Games on Studio 397’s rFactor 2 platform, Le Mans Ultimate is set to focus on the multiplayer aspect of simulated racing including a co-op mode.
Here’s everything you need to know about the future sports car-slash-endurance racing sim title.
What is Le Mans Ultimate?
Le Mans Ultimate is a PC sim racing title that acts as the official video game of the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans event.
Who is making Le Mans Ultimate?
The title will be developed by Studio 397 and published by Motorsport Games.
What kind of content is included in Le Mans Ultimate?
The PC simulation is expected to include the current season’s 24 Hours of Le Mans and FIA World Endurance Championship racing machines. A recent teaser video showcased seven different prototype vehicle shapes under covers, which would align with the 2023 WEC grid.
It will also include well-known circuits including the titular Le Mans circuit. It’s known more formally as Circuit de la Sarthe, which is the home of the 24 Hours of Le Mans event. Monza has also been showcased. It’s expected that the 2023 WEC calendar locations will be included, but it’s yet to be confirmed.
That would mean the likes of Spa-Francorchamps, Sebring, Bahrain, Portimao and Fuji.
Car classes in Le Mans Ultimate:
- Le Mans Hypercar (LMH)
- LMDh
- LMP2
- GTE
Expected LMH and LMDh class cars, according to the game’s Steam page:
- Toyota
- Ferrari
- Porsche
- Cadillac
- Peugeot
- Glickenhaus
- Vanwall
LMP2 cars:
- Oreca 07-Gibson
GTE vehicles:
- Aston Martin
- Corvette
- Ferrari
- Porsche
Which features will be included?
Le Mans Ultimate will include features such as the all-new collaborative asynchronous race mode, plus a new RaceControl online multiplayer and the evolution of the Real Road track evolution mechanic that has been made and utilized in previous Studio 397 projects such as rFactor 2.
Part of that Real Road system includes wet weather, which pictures have been shown by the company with wet track surfaces, and rubbered track evolution.
- RaceControl online multiplayer
- Asynchronous co-op endurance racing
- Real Road surface conditions and dynamic time/weather
The simulation platform will have wheel support as a primary function, but will also have handheld controller support for more casual racing.
How do some of these new features work?
Online multiplayer sounds like it could be the main focus for Le Mans Ultimate. Players will connect through a new system dubbed ‘RaceControl’.
RaceControl will be the system used to create competitive online races as well as hosted private lobbies. Developer Studio 397 was recently looking for online alpha testers.
Asynchronous cooperative mode is in the works. That is where drivers will be able to complete stints at times that suit them. We interpret this as being able to complete a stint of an endurance race before somehow handing it over to a friend who could complete their stint at a later date, but that is not yet confirmed.
Which platforms will Le Mans Ultimate release on?
Le Mans Ultimate will only release for PC via Steam at launch.
When will Le Mans Ultimate release?
Le Mans Ultimate is scheduled to release in December of 2023.
Full disclosure – Traxion.GG is part of Motorsport Games and the Motorsport Games family of brands. All Traxion.GG content is editorially removed from Motorsport Games video game development and created by a dedicated team.
