With April and the first third of the 2023 calendar behind us, May is already shaping up to be a big one in the racing games and racing esports genre.
New games, additional content for existing games, new products and must-watch (or participate) events are set to shine in the fifth month of the year. Here are some of the things that we’re looking forward to.
NEW RACING GAME TITLES
There are two games that we know will release in May, and those are TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3 and LEGO 2K Drive. While we still await information regarding titles such as F1 23 and the possibility of a new WRC title, both from EA, these two are for certain to be released in this upcoming month.
TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3
TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3 is the follow-up to 2020’s TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 2. The premise of the game is focused on the Isle of Man TT motorcycle races and features a realistic rendition of the 37.73-mile Snaefell course.
This upcoming title has been developed by the Italian team Nacon Studio Milan, formerly known as RaceWard Studio who created RiMS Racing. The previous two TT Ride on the Edge games were created by Kylotonn.
The title is set to release on 11th May, 2023.
LEGO 2K Drive
LEGO 2K Drive is an open-world racing game, set in the fictional setting of Bricklandia, and it is set to release on 19th May, 2023.
This new up-and-coming title will be published by 2K Games and developed by Visual Concepts South.
LEGO 2K Driver is set to be jam packed full of racing, mini games, challenges and collectables, featuring many real-world LEGO sets and things to customize along the way. It should be a fun time for both kids and their parents, and everyone in between.
NEW DLC / ADD-ONS FOR EXISTING CONTENT
Some of our favorite current titles will also be receiving new content in the upcoming month.
On the more fun and laid back gaming side, Forza Horizon 5 will be launching an Overlanding update at the end of the month. For those in the more serious sphere of sim racing, RaceRoom Racing Experience is set to include a new GT3 car this month.
Forza Horizon 5 – Overlanding update
This is kind of a weird one, but Overlanding is on its way to Forza Horizon 5 in May. What that means and entails, well, we’re not entirely sure.
The 21st Festival Update will start at the end of May (25th May) and continue through June, and it is called “Explore the Horizon”. On the Coming Soon tab of the festival that players will see when High Performance begins, it says “Overlanding Modifications”.
“Overlanding is basically camping with your car,” said Chris Phillips, Vehicle Director on the recent Forza Monthly stream. “Think ‘roof tents’, think all the kind of things that you want to take you into the wilderness with your car.”
So, yeah, camping stuff.
RaceRoom Racing Experience – New Mystery GT3 Car?!?
So, we don’t yet know exactly what RaceRoom’s creators KW Studios has planned for May, but we know it is something about a new GT3 car.
After their last DLC pack, On The Edge, it was revealed that every six weeks, there will be some new content available to own, just about the mid point between big packs that are expected every three months.
So we know it’s a GT3… but which one will it be?
NEW SIM RACING EQUIPMENT
While there are games and updates to look forward to, there are also new pieces of sim racing hardware to gaze upon as they release during this month. Now only if I had the funds to afford both of these…
Next Level Racing F-GT Elite 160 (Comes in Ferrari too)
One step above what exists in the form of the F-GT Elite Series line of racing rigs from Next Level Racing, now feast your eyes on the F-GT Elite 160. This new frame will launch in standard form, or it also comes as a special Scuderia Ferrari Edition.
Sitting above the existing F-GT Elite in the range – which is currently available in Wheel Plate, Front/Side Mount and iRacing editions – the F-GT Elite 160 is also an aluminum extrusion cockpit.
Pricing will be as follows for the new line from NLR:
- Next Level Racing F-GT Elite 160 Scuderia Ferrari Edition: €1,499, $1,299 USD, $1,699 AUD, £1,299
- Next Level Racing F-GT Elite 160 Front & Side Mount: €1,499, $1,299 USD, $1,699 AUD, £1,299
- Next Level Racing F-GT Elite 160 Wheel Plate Edition: €1,299, $1,149 USD, $1,499 AUD, £1,149
- Next Level Racing Elite ES1 Seat Scuderia Ferrari Edition: €549, $499 USD, $699 AUD, £499
GSI X-29 Pre-Orders begin
For $650, the Gomez Sim Industries’ X-29 will be the cheapest wheel rim available from said manufacturer. Consider it their entry level despite still having premium components and also a very premium price point.
While we don’t know exactly when the wheel will ship, with it’s many adjustable buttons and knobs and LED lights and other fun features, it will open up for preorders on 1st May.
ESPORT RACES YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
As an esport racing connoisseur, there’s always a race going on somewhere with some of the best esports drivers in the world. Here are our picks of events that they’ll be partaking in during the month of May.
GT Challenge finale
The sixth and final round of the rFactor 2 GT Challenge will take place on the first of the month (1st May) with the title on the line for Ferrari Esports.
Daytona International Speedway is the venue for the finale and the two Ferrari drivers, Dennis Jordan and Alex Siebel, sit first and second in the standings, separated by 15 points. Their closest competition is Michi Hoyer of Burst Esport back in third, another eight points behind Siebel.
Alpine Esports Series Round 2, Round 3 FINALE
The first event of the Alpine Esports Series is in the books, but May will include the second round and final round at Silverstone (11th May) and Valencia (25th May). Dennis Schöniger was the dominant force in the opening round at Paul Ricard.
35 drivers have qualified for the three-event competition. Each round will have an Endurance race followed by a Sprint race, and the broadcasts are set on Thursday nights starting at 8:30 PM CEST / 7:30 PM BST / 2:30 PM EDT.
Nürburgring 24h iRacing Special Event
The next Special Event on the iRacing calendar will take place from the 12th to the 14th of May. It’s the iRacing Nürburgring 24h, and it’s another endurance team racing event. This race will utilize the combined Nürburgring, the Gesamtstrecke which has both the Nordschleife and the Grand Prix course.
The cars to choose from will include three cars in the GT3 class (BMW M4 GT3, Mercedes-AMG GT3 2020 and the Porsche 911 GT3 R), two GT4 class cars (Aston Martin Vantage GT4 and Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR) and three single car classes, the Porsche 992 GT3, the Audi RS3 LMS and the Toyota GR86.
It’s not one of the VCO Grand Slam races this year, but it would be expected that one of the top splits will be picked up and broadcasted. While the top drivers will be fighting for the top honors in the top splits, all iRacers with the proper licenses can participate in the event.
iRacing Coke 600
Like the 24 hours at the Nürburgring, this is another event that all iRacers can partake in. It is a part of the NASCAR iRacing Series schedule (so my Wednesday night of this week is going to be a long one).
600 miles at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series NEXT Gen cars is 400 laps and a number of hours turning left. This Special Event is scheduled to happen on the week of the 23rd to the 29th of May.
Final ESL R1 Spring race before June Major
Earlier in the season, the inaugural ESL R1 Spring schedule was amended to push the final online round back to the 15th of May and the in-person Major to June, which was originally at the end of May.
So while it’s not the finale itself to look forward to, it will be the last change to qualify for the ESL R1’s final Major LAN event of the season at the Rennsport Summit in Munich, Germany on the 3rd and 4th of June.
