With no MXGP 2023 game out this year, the future of the official motocross game series was in doubt. Milestone has developed every MXGP game since 2013, but the series has been on hiatus for the last two years.
This led to rumours that Milestone had lost the license to make MXGP games. Well, it turns out these rumours were true.
Nacon has announced it has acquired the MXGP game license in a multi-year deal. Going forward, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown developer KT Racing will helm future MXGP games, starting with MXGP 2024.
Nacon acquires MXGP game license
Starting on 1 January 2024, an agreement with Infront Moto Racing will see Nacon acquire publishing rights for the FIM Motocross World Championship (MXGP) game license.
This exclusivity deal covers five seasons from 2024 to 2028, while KT Racing, the French developer behind WRC Generations and Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, will handle development.
“We are very excited to be able to offer fans the official game of this popular international competition in the near future,” said Nacon CEO Alain Falc.
“We have of course entrusted this new project to the KT Racing teams who have already proven themselves in motorcycle games. They will undoubtedly be able to transcribe into a video game all the complexity of this spectacular discipline which combines reflexes, speed and anticipation.”
Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo added: “Infront Moto Racing is delighted to start this new collaboration with NACON for the development of the MXGP video game. The digital world is very important for us as promotor, and covering 360° of the needs of our fans as well.
“The video game will give the possibility to everybody to engage on the official tracks of the FIM Motocross World Championship with the official riders and to compete becoming a World Champion."
"We cannot wait to see the first input and result of the development of the new game and I am sure that the realism with be breathtaking. I would like to thank Nacon to partner with us and to give the most popular Off Road Championship in the World such a great platform of gaming”.
New MXGP game coming in 2024
KT Racing is already working on a new MXGP game with all the official calendar, riders, teams, bikes, and sponsors. There's no release date yet, but given that the deal starts next January, KT Racing's first MXGP game will likely arrive in 2024.
The French studio aims to recreate the thrills and spills of the iconic motocross championship “as close to reality as possible” in the official MXGP 2024 game.
This will be the first official MXGP game since Milestone’s MXGP 2021 - The Official Motocross Videogame. Meanwhile, Milestone will presumably continue developing the Monster Energy Official Supercross games after releasing Monster Energy Supercross 6 earlier this year.
Based in Paris and Lyon, KT Racing is best known for developing the WRC games between 2015 and 2022, culminating with WRC Generations.
However, KT Racing also has experience making two-wheeled bike games, having developed the first two TT Isle of Man Ride on the Edge games. Part of Nacon Studio Milan, Raceward took over the reins with the release of Ride on the Edge 3, though it still utilised the KT Racing engine.
One of KT Racing’s earliest titles was also a motorbike game: remember Motorcycle Club? Released in 2014, the bizarre bike game lets you switch between multiple bike types mid-race.
We’re looking forward to seeing how KT Racing uses its experience making motorcycle and off-road racing titles to reinvent the MXGP game series.