The official MotoGP 21 game's release should be just around the corner. We say "should" because we've heard absolutely nothing from developers Milestone about the upcoming title as of the time of writing.
We're sure that Milestone are working their hardest to ensure that MotoGP 21 is the best game in the series' history.
The silence is a little worrying though...
Cause for concern
MotoGP 20 was released in April 2020, around the time that the 2020 MotoGP season was meant to start. This meant that both the game and the calendar began at almost the same time.
This quick release would've boosted sales, as hype around MotoGP returning will have helped peak fans' interest. If MotoGP 21 is to replicate this, we'll need to hear something soon, as April is just two months away.
Milestone have been busy this past year, as both Ride 4 and MXGP 2020 have been released in the previous 12 months. Furthermore, both games are now available on the next-gen consoles.
That's a lot of work on their plates, all while their staff were working at least partly from home. MotoGP 21 will be the first game developed by Milestone to have its entire development cycle affected by the pandemic.
Will this mean a delay of a few months? It's certainly possible.
What about previous years?
Milestone isn't known for making unnecessary announcements, they do the bare bones when it comes to promotion. Even for MotoGP, we usually only get an announcement and release trailer.
Last year's announcement trailer dropped on 20th February. Which means Milestone have until the end of this week to replicate that for MotoGP 21.
An April release hasn't been the norm for long though, as MotoGP 19 launched in June of that year. The same is true for both MotoGP 18 and 17 as well.
With everything that's happened in the world and the jump to next-gen consoles, it's not too much of a stretch to say that we could see a June release date.
Why a delay isn't such a bad thing
When a delay to a title you're looking forward to is announced, it's only natural to have a negative reaction.
Delays aren't without meaning or purpose though, it's the last thing developers want to do, but they sometimes have to. When given the choice, most gamers would rather wait longer than buy a sub-par product.
A June release date means that the MotoGP season will be in full swing when 21 drops. Interest and buzz around the series will still be very high by then.
Plus, this delay will give more gamers an opportunity to buy either a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S and MotoGP 21 to have a greater potential audience.
It's not as if MotoGP 21 won't be released, it's the official game of the MotoGP series, it's too popular for Milestone to miss out.
Ride 4 and MXGP 2020 are both great on next-gen too, we don't doubt MotoGP 21 will be the same. Besides, MotoGP 20 is a great game and one we'll happily play for a few months longer if we have to.
MotoGP 20 announcement trailer
If you're wondering what last year's announcement trailer looked like, you can check it out below!