During the announcement of iRacing’s purchase of the rights to create NASCAR video games from Motorsport Games, uncertainty has been cast over the expected official IndyCar video game.
“Additionally, as part of ongoing efforts to achieve long-term financial sustainability and growth, Motorsport Games has committed to redefining its product and development strategy and will start with a comprehensive commercial review of all projects in its portfolio, which may result in additional restructuring efforts to those already implemented under the previously announced 2022 Restructuring program,” reads the statement.
The 2022 restructuring program witnessed a reduction in expenditure and headcount at the Miami-headquartered racing game developer. It is set to receive an initial $5,000,000 payment from iRacing for the rights to create ‘simulation-style’ mobile, console and PC NASCAR games, however, the restructuring could seemingly continue throughout 2023.
“This includes a detailed review of the INDYCAR game project, which is under development by the Motorsport Games Australia studio and Traxion.GG, a UK-based media website and community focused on racing games and related esports,” continued the update.
The dedicated and official game of the open-wheeler championship was announced in July 2021 for a 2023 release, before teaser images were released via an email campaign in May 2022 and then a formal delay to 2024 in March of this year. The title is currently in development by the former KartKraft team in Australia.
It follows comments last month by Penske Entertainment, who owns the series, insinuating that Motorsport Games is seeking assistance to complete the project.
“It’s still not clear how it will end,” said Penske Entertainment CEO Mark Miles to Marshall Pruett of RACER.
“I think a lot of really good work has been done with the current partner, Motorsports Games. They’ve put a lot into it. We’ve seen evidence of how it looks. It’s amazing.
“But they are struggling to have the resources to finish the job. So they’re working on other ways that other partnerships could be established to help them get it done. Whether that will play out successfully or not remains to be seen.”
Apart from the aforementioned heavily watermarked images of a static car released in May 2022, nothing else has been seen in an official capacity of the game to date, nor has Motorsport Games provided a development update for the title since the March 2023 earnings call.
As for the aforementioned review of us, Traxion.GG, we’re still here pushing to deliver insightful sim racing news.
“We believe that the sale of the NASCAR license is a significant accelerator to a planned change of direction,” said current Motorsport Games CEO, Stephen Hood.
“With proprietary technology, industry-leading talent, handpicked advisors, stronger processes, and a change of culture we expect to deliver on the promise we see throughout our company.”
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.
Featured image captured using rFactor 2, not the IndyCar game.
