The Crew passes impressive player milestone

Forza Horizon has dominated the open-world racing genre for over a decade, but The Crew is a popular alternative. Ivory Tower’s exemplary post-release support has kept The Crew 2 alive for several years, helping it retain a loyal player base.

While we wait for The Crew Motorfest to arrive, Ubisoft’s open-world franchise has just passed an impressive player milestone.

The Crew races past 40 million players

On Twitter, creative director Stephane Beley announced The Crew has racked up over 40 million players since launching in 2014.

"15 years ago a group of friends dreamed of creating their own driving game," Beley wrote on Twitter.

"Ubisoft trusted them. Ivory gave birth to The Crew. 15 years later 40 million players have joined the adventure. Soon it will continue with The Crew Motorfest. Always believe in your dreams! Thank you all."

For comparison, Forza Horizon 5 reached over 28 million players this month after launching in November 2021, though this also includes Game Pass subscriptions.

It probably helps that, unlike Forza Horizon, The Crew games are multiplatform, helping the series reach a broader audience.

Set in a massive open-world recreation of the United States, The Crew launched back in 2014 on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. Its sequel, The Crew 2, followed in 2018, introducing boats and planes to the franchise.

The Crew Motorfest release date

This impressive player count will only rise when The Crew Motorfest comes out. The next instalment will swap the US for the tropical island of O'ahu in Hawaii - the same exotic location as the original Test Drive Unlimited.

Ubisoft hasn’t announced a release date for The Crew Motorfest yet, but the open-world racer is set to arrive sometime in 2023. In the meantime, Ubisoft is running an Insider Program allowing players to test The Crew Motorfest early ahead of release.