Motorsport Games intends to acquire rFactor 2 and developer Studio 397

Popular PC-based racing simulator, rFactor 2, and its development team Studio 397 is set to be purchased by the burgeoning racing game developer, publisher and esports ecosystem, Motorsport Games, it has been announced today.

The news comes as Motorsport Games look to build upon its NASCAR, BTCC and 24 Hours of Le Mans licenses and follows on from the news that it also intends to purchase go-karting simulator KartKraft and the creative team behind it to create a new Motorsport Games Australia studio.

rFactor 2 has a loyal following in the sim racing community and has been developed by Studio 397 since 2016. It is regularly used for top-level esports competitions such as the upcoming GT Pro Series and last year’s Le Mans Virtual event, which was produced by Motorsport Games.

“After growing rFactor 2 in the last five years, we are excited to take the next step with Motorsport Games, advancing rFactor 2 and integrating its advanced simulation technology into future projects. We share a common ambition to be the best at what we do,” said Marcel Offermans, Managing Director, Studio 397.

As you can see by Marcel’s comments, Studio 397 already has a working relationship with Motorsports Games through the various esports projects. But it also sounds like the team and technology will be used for other projects, a fact backed up by Stephen Hood, President of Motorsport Games.

“We see this as great news for the sim racing community as we can now leverage the best elements of the rFactor 2 platform, combine it with our foundational use of Unreal Engine (developed by Epic Games) and layer in the additional components our talented teams have spent the last two years developing. Our aim was to start out with a product that had heart and soul. When the planned acquisition is completed, we can operate safe in the knowledge that another piece of an ambitious puzzle has been secured.”

This is what intrigues us most about this deal – the chance for more players to experience the superlative handling and tyre characteristics from rFactor 2 within different titles. That and the combination of the Unreal Engine for extra visual fidelity. Oh, and actual Fernando Alonso has given it his seal of approval.

“The level of simulation and the feeling of driving offered by rFactor 2 is second to none,” shared Fernando Alonso, Motorsport Games shareholder, Alpine Formula 1 driver and two-time Formula 1 World Drivers’ Champion. “I am delighted that Studio397 and rFactor 2 will be joining our Motorsport Games family and I am sure that we will enjoy a great deal of success together.”

For more insight into the deal, we have an exclusive interview with Paul Coleman, Director of Design for Motorsport Games, and Marcel Offermans, Managing Director of Studio 397. Within the interview, we discuss what games the rFactor 2 technology will be used within, the future of NASCAR game and why the existing rFactor 2 community has plenty to look forward to.

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