Monster truck fans, fire up your engines. The newest monster truck racer, Monster Jam Showdown, is launching later this year!
From its game modes and platforms to its developer and the highly-anticipated release date, here’s everything you need to know about Monster Jam Showdown.
Latest news: Monster Jam Showdown interview with Milestone
As the release gets closer, we spoke with Milestone game director Federico Spada to find out how Monster Jam Showdown captures the thrill of monster trucks. You can read our developer interview here.
Monster Jam Showdown preview
Ahead of its August launch, we've been hands-on with Monster Jam Showdown at a real-life Monster Jam event. Find out our first impressions in our Monster Jam Showdown preview here.
Post-launch plans confirmed
Players can look forward to new content in Monster Jam for eight months after launch as Milestone confirms the game's post-launch plans. Between September and March, Showdown will receive a mix of free and premium DLC, including a Hawaii expansion. Premium DLC will be bundled in a season pass.
New trailer showcases off-road racing
As we get closer to release, a new Monster Jam Showdown trailer has dropped showcasing plenty of off-road racing action. In Monster Jam Showdown, you won't just be confined to the stadiums. Off-road races will see you charge through three environments created in Unreal Engine 5 from the icy Alaskan mountains to the lush trees of Colorado and the rocky landscape of Death Valley.
Check out the latest trailer:
Monster racing
Monster Jam is a long-running racing series with its own accompanying TV show. For those wanting to live out a childhood dream, the Monster Jam game franchise hands you the keys to a wide range of monster racing trucks to hit the track in.
Since its debut title, Monster Jam: Maximum Destruction, hit the market in 2002, the series has had nine entries. The latest, Monster Jam Steel Titans 2, roared into sales in 2021 to much acclaim.
Along with several entries, the series has also seen several developers. From Ubisoft Barcelona to Torus Games and, most recently, Rainbow Studios, multiple studios have had a go producing a Monster Jam game.
Now, the mantle falls on the highly regarded Milestone, the studio behind Hot Wheels Unleashed and the MotoGP games, for Monster Jam Showdown.
Platforms
Monster truck racing is definitely for the masses, and this is reflected in Monster Jam Showdown's platforms.
Monster Jam Showdown will launch both current and last-gen consoles on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. This opens the game up to the largest possible audience.
The game utilises Unreal Engine 5 to create a stunning world of monster truck racing. This may prove taxing for older hardware, but at least last-gen players can still join the race.
Release date
For monster truck fans who can’t wait to get revving, you don’t have too long to wait. Monster Jam Showdown will be released on 29 August 2024. A three-day early access period also means players can fire up their rigs from 26 August.
At the time of writing, there’s no official confirmation on whether the early access period is exclusive to players who preorder. We will, of course, update this section as and when new information is revealed.
Editions and price
At the time of writing, there has been no official word on the number of editions of Monster Jam Showdown that will be available to buy. There has also been no official word yet on just how much the game will cost.
Check back here in the future for the latest news on the price of Monster Jam Showdown and any upcoming editions of the game.
Monster content
Monster Jam Showdown is set to be packed with content for monster truck fans to get stuck into. Milestone has already confirmed two fan-favourite trucks will be included in the game from launch, with the iconic Megalodon and legendary Grave Digger in the game from day one.
In total, 66 trucks will feature in Monster Jam Showdown. 40 will be available from launch, with a further 26 coming in future DLC.
The game will also be set in three original environments: Colorado, Alaska, and Death Valley. Ten different game modes will also feature, keeping players hooked on the action at all times.
Trailer
Accompanying the Monster Jam Showdown announcement was a trailer giving us a first look at the game in action.
You can check out Monster Jam Showdown in the announcement trailer below, which showcases iconic trucks like the Grave Digger battling it out in off-road races. This suggests Monster Jam Showdown will feature unofficial competitive races as well as official head-to-head events seen in the TV show.
Are you looking forward to firing up your monster truck? Let us know in the comments below!
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