2023 is shaping up to be a great year for bike racing game fans.
The first half of the year saw the releases of Monster Energy Supercross 6 and, more recently, the punishing TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3. MotoGP 23 is also arriving in June with a revamped career mode and dynamic weather effects. But 2023's most anticipated new bike game is arguably RIDE 5.
The first new RIDE game since 2019, RIDE 5 aims to be the Gran Turismo of bike games, with over 200 licensed bikes and a variety of fictional and real circuits to race on.
After the last month's CGI announcement trailer, Milestone has shared the first raw RIDE 5 gameplay footage.
First RIDE 5 gameplay footage revealed
Lasting around two and a half minutes, the RIDE 5 gameplay trailer starts in familiar territory with a race at Suzuka played from the first-person perspective at dawn.
The action then switches to Blue Wave, a brand-new Pacific circuit in RIDE 5 with a winding tunnel, bridge and tropical environment surrounded with palm trees.
In a blog post, Milestone describes Blue Wave as “visually stunning” but “very demanding, combining suggestive views with challenging corners and braking points.”
It’s these fictional locations that will help RIDE 5 set apart. As the series progressed, the RIDE games had fewer fictional environments, so we’re hoping to see more of them in RIDE 5.
The video ends with a look at Autopolis in the wet. This real-world location is another new addition to the RIDE series.
While the MotoGP and SBK games feature competition bikes, RIDE 5 focuses on road bikes you can buy at dealerships, with the gameplay trailer showcasing the BMW M 1000 RR.
RIDE 5 release date
RIDE 5 is racing onto PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC on 24 August. Pre-ordering the Special Edition gives players access three days earlier on 21 August. This will be Milestone’s first current-gen-only title, meaning RIDE 5 isn't coming to PS4 or Xbox One.
Focusing on current-gen platforms has allowed Milestone to implement volumetric clouds and dynamic weather along with physics and AI improvements, even with up to 20 bikes on screen.
Motorcycle models will be more detailed than before, with higher-quality material rendering, new glass, and higher polygon counts. New rider assists will also make RIDE 5 more approachable for less experienced players.