Managing Director Marcel Offermans Leaves Studio 397


The rumblings under the Motorsport Games umbrella do not seem to stop: While news on the rFactor 2 side have been positive recently with the announcement of exciting content due this month, the end of May is going to be the end of Studio 397’s Managing Director Marcel Offermans at the company.

Offermans is not the first higher-up to decide that it is time to move on: In early April, it became known that Motorsport Games' President Stephen Hood had left the company, just as the planned BTCC game faced a delay that by now looks like a complete cancellation of the project.

What Offermans’ departure means for the future of rFactor 2 remains to be seen. He shared a YouTube video (see above) titled “So long, and thanks for all the fish!”, a reference to a famous book by Douglas Adams with the same name. The video shows his beloved GTE Corvette exiting the final turn of Circuit Zandvoort at night, followed by a statement regarding his departure.

“By the end of May, it is time to move on”, states Offermans while simultaneously expressing his gratitude for his time with Studio 397: “Over time, we grew the user base by an order of magnitude, improved just about every aspect of the simulation and did some really cool projects and collaboration.” Offermans has been with Studio 397 since 2016.

Update: according to this SEC filing the heads of Luminis, the previous owners of Studio 397, received a million dollars to complete the acquisition of the company but with 2.2 million being differered for undisclosed reasons.​

Interestingly, his successor is apparently already in place to take over in June: “I am leaving rFactor 2 in very capable hands”, reads the penultimate line of Offermans’ statement – although it is not yet known who is going to take over the reigns or what the future holds regarding the simulation. The next content drop including two BTCC cars plus Donington Park, Brands Hatch and Laguna Seca is expected sometime in May.

What are your thoughts regarding this news? Let us know on Twitter @RaceDepartment or in the comments below!
About author
Yannik Haustein
Lifelong motorsport enthusiast and sim racing aficionado, walking racing history encyclopedia.

Sim racing editor, streamer and one half of the SimRacing Buddies podcast (warning, German!).

Heel & Toe Gang 4 life :D

Comments

#Austin Ogonoski, was right. :coffee:
It's a sad news about marcel leaving 397, he had a major part in my simracing life for these last 6 years.
Right now rF2 looks much better and seems gonna have a better future, thanks to his efforts and managment.
We'll miss him for sure, But life goes on.

Do you remember when 505 games bought Kunos and Stefano left the studio?
It's a common thing after companies merg/bought...

Don't bring up that clown's name from youtube.
 
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Specially with so much new content incoming!!! No doubt that the end is near! :p:p:p

As far as I know, Studio397 was bought by Motorsport Games. If you want to know about them in great details, just watch Austin's videos, as well as the ones from Ermin and Upper Elechon. Motorsport Games may go away this year. And if that happens, if I'm not mistaken, Studio397 will be swallowed up along with Motorsport Games.

I can't help but have a gloomy look at this situation. This news only confirms to me that the ship may continue to sink.
 
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As far as I know, Studio397 was bought by Motorsport Games. If you want to know about them in great details, just watch Austin's videos, as well as the ones from Ermin and Upper Elechon. Motorsport Games may go away this year. And if that happens, if I'm not mistaken, Studio397 will be swallowed up along with Motorsport Games.

I can't help but have a gloomy look at this situation. This news only confirms to me that the ship may continue to sink.
none of those people have any credible source nor insight tho, its all pure speculation, possibly just trying to jump onboard the train since this topic is hotly debated, its really just opinion not facts atm
 
The positive thing is that RF2 is a valuable asset.So if MSG fails someone will pick up the pieces,the developers carry on developing the sim.The only negative is that RF2 is still an unfinished project & the uncertainty will put it further behind the other more complete titles.
 

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