Ubisoft’s recent Forward presentation showcased an array of upcoming titles, including the highly anticipated Year 2 content for The Crew Motorfest. While fans eagerly awaited updates on the Splinter Cell remake, which remains elusive, the racing game took centre stage with promises of exciting new features and expansions.
As The Crew Motorfest Year 1 comes to a close on July 3 with the final update, Season 4, players can look forward to content inspired by donk and lowrider car cultures. The real excitement, however, begins with the launch of Season 5 in November 2024, which will be available to players free of charge.
One of the most significant additions in Year 2 is the introduction of a new island, Maui, offering players a fresh landscape to explore and conquer. With 214 miles (345 km) of new road networks, including 142 miles (229 km) of tarmac and 118 miles (190 km) of off-road tracks, the expansion promises to deliver an immersive and diverse driving experience.
Alongside the new island, Season 5 will also bring the “Made in Japan Volume 2” playlist and Street Rivalry, further expanding the game’s content offering. However, the spotlight shines brightest on “The Chase Squad,” a Premium PvE (Player versus Environment) mode set to launch in November.
While details about “The Chase Squad” remain scarce, the new trailer provides a tantalising glimpse of what players can expect. Drawing inspiration from classic racing games like Need for Speed Hot Pursuit and Burnout Paradise, the mode appears to put players in the role of law enforcement, tasked with chasing down and taking out street racers by ramming into them. The trailer showcases a thrilling pursuit involving a Ford GT being chased by a Ford Mustang S650 and an Ivory-Tower Aezus, both sporting police car liveries.
Ubisoft has announced plans to host a dedicated The Crew showcase in September, during which more information about the Chase and Takedown mode will be revealed, building anticipation among fans eager to experience this new gameplay dynamic.
Despite the exciting Year 2 announcements, The Crew Motorfest has struggled to gain traction on Steam, with only 404 players engaging with the game in the past 24 hours and a lifetime peak of 1,186 players two months ago. While the game has received praise for its fun, arcade-style racing, mixed review scores and a 57% rating on the platform suggest that there is room for improvement.
The lacklustre performance on Steam may be attributed to Ubisoft’s decision to discontinue support for the original The Crew (2014) game. Whether the Year 2 content will be enough to revive interest in Motorfest on the platform remains to be seen.
For those who have yet to experience The Crew Motorfest, a 5-hour free demo is available on Steam, allowing players to test-drive the game before committing to a purchase. Additionally, the game is included in the Ubisoft+ Premium subscription service, priced at USD 18 per month and available on PC and Xbox, offering an alternative way to access the title and its upcoming content.
As The Crew Motorfest enters its second year, Ubisoft aims to captivate players with a wealth of new content and features. With the introduction of Maui, the “Made in Japan Volume 2” playlist, and the highly anticipated “The Chase Squad” mode, the game is poised to offer a refreshed and expanded experience for racing enthusiasts. Only time will tell if these updates will be enough to boost the game’s popularity and attract a larger player base on Steam and beyond.