After a three-year hiatus, Milestone’s RIDE motorcycle simulation series is making a triumphant return. Not long after MotoGP 23’s reveal, Milestone made the surprise announcement that RIDE 5 is speeding onto PC and consoles this summer.
Compared to Milestone’s MotoGP and Monster Energy Supercross games, the RIDE games focus on licensed road bikes with a mix of real-life and fictional locations. Think of it as the Gran Turismo of bike games.
We’ve got everything you need to know about RIDE 5.
Latest news - First RIDE 5 gameplay footage revealed
After April's CG announcement trailer, Milestone has revealed the first RIDE 5 gameplay footage. The gameplay trailer gives us a first look at Wave Blue, a new Pacific circuit with picturesque landscapes and challenging corners.
Suzuka is also shown in the gameplay trailer alongside Autopolis, which features in RIDE 5 for the first time in the series.
New career mode
RIDE 5 will expand on previous games with a new career mode with the aim to defeat ten rivals featuring unique personalities, backgrounds, and appearances and reach the top of the leaderboard.
click to enlargeWith 200 events including extra challenges, it promises to be an extensive career mode.
In what will be a relief for series veterans, endurance races now support in-race save and rewinds.
Dynamic weather
Like in MotoGP 23, a new dynamic weather system will calculate in real-time track and air temperature to create weather changes that affect your race strategy.
Thanks to new 3D volumetric clouds, the environments will look more realistic than before, with clouds changing shape and interacting with the lighting depending on the density.
New physics
Milestone has also revamped the physics. Each bike category now has different lean speeds, creating the "most realistic two-wheel experience ever."
click to enlargeNew rider assists for brakes, cornering, and automatic steering and throttle will also make the experience more approachable for newcomers.
Customisation
A new Race Creator will also let you create custom races, choose motorcycle categories for AI opponents, and set rules. There will also be extensive customisation options for bikes, suits, and helmets.
Cross-play multiplayer
Milestone has confirmed RIDE 5 will launch with cross-play multiplayer. This will enable players to race online on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC and Online, and compare leaderboards across all systems.
click to enlargeSplit-screen is also returning for the first time since RIDE 2.
Bike and track list
Milestone is yet to announce a full bike list, but it’s safe to assume RIDE 5 will feature hundreds of licensed motorcycles, making it the Gran Turismo of bike games.
click to enlargeBikes shown in RIDE 5 so far include the BMW M 1000 RR (the game's cover star) and MV Agusta F3RR.
As for locations, we can expect a mix of real and fictional tracks. Confirmed locations shown in the trailer and screenshots include the North West 200, Suzuka, and Brands Hatch. Sonoma Raceway and Autopolis will also feature for the first time in a RIDE game.
One of the new fictional circuits shown in the first gameplay trailer is called Wave Blue. According to Milestone, this Pacific circuit combines "suggestive views with challenging corners and braking points."
Trailer
Accompanying the announcement is a trailer giving us a first look at RIDE 4’s bikes, locations, and new graphics engine. You can watch the RIDE 5 announcement trailer below.
Editions
Two editions of RIDE 5 can be pre-ordered: the Standard and Special Edition.
Retailing for £69.99/$59.99, the Standard edition comes with a RIDE 5 Far East Pack, which includes the 2021 Kawasaki Z900 and 1998 Suzuki TL1000R Racing Modified 1998 as a pre-order bonus.
As well as the Far East Pack, the Special Edition includes the Rebel Pack and a Season Pass that will add more content until February 2024. You also get three days early access with the Special Edition, which will set you back a whopping £94.99/$89.99.
Release date
RIDE 5 will be released on 24 August on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and Epic store. Players who pre-order the Special Edition can start their motorcycle journey three days earlier on 21 August.
Unlike the last game, RIDE 5 won’t be released on the last-gen PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles.
click to enlargeThis is surprising since MotoGP 23 is coming to last-gen consoles, but it means Milestone can push the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S games further without limitations.
It's also a sign of Milestone's technical ambition that RIDE 5 will also be skipping Nintendo Switch.
With TT Isle of Man - Ride on the Edge 3 also out in May, 2023 is shaping up to be a stellar year for bike racing game fans.
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