Following in the footsteps of the classic TOCA games, the BTCC was supposed to make a comeback to the sim racing stage with its own game in 2022: Announced in the summer of 2020, many touring car fans are looking forward to the title - however, it looks like its release might get pushed back.
As Traxion, a part of developer Motorsport Games, has learned, the new BTCC game's schedule is now listed as "to be determined" instead of a 2022 release. This became apparent in a call of Motorsport Games, outlining the plans for future titles - games like the brand-new IndyCar and WEC games announced earlier (and scheduled for release in 2023) are still listed, while the BTCC game has been demoted to merely a footnote.
After the release of NASCAR 21: Ignition that was plagued by bugs, this may hint at a "get-it-right" approach regarding the BTCC game - another game release like the NASCAR one would not have looked great for Motorsport Games, which is likely what the developer is trying to avoid. Even if the BTCC game has been pushed back indefinitely, the developer still holds the license until 2027 - more than enough time to create a worthy successor in spirit to the old TOCA games.
The last time the BTCC had an exclusive, standalone game was in 1998 when TOCA 2 Touring Cars (or Touring Car Challenge in the US) was released. It then evolved into the Race Driver series, which featured many more different classes, and eventually laid the cornerstone for the current GRID series.
What do you think about the game possibly being delayed? How much are you looking forward to a dedicated BTCC game for the first time in more than 20 years? Let us know in the comments!
As Traxion, a part of developer Motorsport Games, has learned, the new BTCC game's schedule is now listed as "to be determined" instead of a 2022 release. This became apparent in a call of Motorsport Games, outlining the plans for future titles - games like the brand-new IndyCar and WEC games announced earlier (and scheduled for release in 2023) are still listed, while the BTCC game has been demoted to merely a footnote.
After the release of NASCAR 21: Ignition that was plagued by bugs, this may hint at a "get-it-right" approach regarding the BTCC game - another game release like the NASCAR one would not have looked great for Motorsport Games, which is likely what the developer is trying to avoid. Even if the BTCC game has been pushed back indefinitely, the developer still holds the license until 2027 - more than enough time to create a worthy successor in spirit to the old TOCA games.
President Hood Leaves Motorsport Games
However, this is not all. According to Traxion, Motorsport Games President Stephen Hood is no longer with the company. A change in the bio of his Twitter profile seems to confirm this. However, no word is out on the reasons of Hood's departure.Update: Stephen Hood left the company already on January 21, 2022 after his position was eliminated. CEO Dmitry Kozko will assume all responsibilities of overseeing Motorsport Games Development Studio, the PDF on their corporate website states.
The last time the BTCC had an exclusive, standalone game was in 1998 when TOCA 2 Touring Cars (or Touring Car Challenge in the US) was released. It then evolved into the Race Driver series, which featured many more different classes, and eventually laid the cornerstone for the current GRID series.
What do you think about the game possibly being delayed? How much are you looking forward to a dedicated BTCC game for the first time in more than 20 years? Let us know in the comments!
