One inch. That’s the difference between victory and defeat in every corner of a MotoGP race. While most of us will never know what it’s like in real life to throw a thousand cubic centimeters of highly-tuned engineering around at lethal speeds, Milestone SRL’s annual series of MotoGP games have fortunately been safer, but no less thrilling, alternatives.
As usual, the company has a new release speeding into view in June, and as someone who hasn’t had hands-on time with a chapter in the franchise for a few years now, spending a few hours with MotoGP 23 has me convinced that this year’s game is on the right track.
For this hands-on preview done on PC, I got to test out a selection of bucket-list motorcycles on several of the tracks featured in MotoGP’s world tour. I could also choose from several of the biggest names in the sport, from Brad Binder to Jack Miller. And, as I learned when I chose Marc Marquez, my Valentino Rossi-supporting father has officially disowned me. Ah well, it was nice having a dad who loved me.
That winning formula
Like previous entries, MotoGP 23 doesn’t stray from its two-wheeled formula. Aiming to deliver the most authentic motorcycle racing experience (similar to how Codemasters handles Formula One every year), Milestone is sticking with more of the same but updated for this year on an iterative level.
Bikes naturally look fantastic, you’ve got a wealth of options to set them up before you start your race, and handling feels authentic. This isn’t Road Rash, as MotoGP races are surgical showcases of speed and precision, with knee-scraping battles around each corner as you shave fractions of a second off of your time and steal positions from anyone in front of you.
There’s a unique thrill to threading the needle in this game, only the eye of said needle happens to be a pair of Ducati bikes that you’re looking to slip between as soon as you spot an opening. Great stuff, and it never gets old to fight your way through a motorcycle mob and eventually end a race with a pole position finish.
Dynamic weather thrills and chills
But if there are two key takeaways with this year’s MotoGP game, it’s weather systems and accessibility.
The weather has always played a key role in any MotoGP race, whether it be a Spanish circuit’s unrelenting heat making riders consider exactly what kind of rubber compound they want on their wheels; or the heavens opening up and unleashing a torrential downpour that turns the asphalt into a deadly surface to race on. With a dynamic weather system in play, there’s a chance that the track could get a lot slicker during a race, adding a layer of unpredictability to any event that makes for a more exciting game overall.
If finding the perfect line and mastering every corner wasn’t challenging enough, then dealing with a mercurial weather system that wants to watch you smash your Honda motorcycle into a nearby barricade is just the icing on top of a stress cake. I freakin’ love it.
Newcomer friendly
The other big selling point of MotoGP 23 is that this might be the most approachable version of the game to date. Milestone is using what it calls Neural AI assists to help newcomers to the sport – a series of in-game assists that’ll help keep you on your bike as you get to grips with the nuanced art of controlling it. At its most maxed-out form, neural aids will essentially take control for you, while the only thing you need to do is twist the throttle and steer your bike around corners.
Rider position, speed, and following the perfect line is left for the AI, taking a lot of the struggle away from the player. And that’s great! Previous MotoGP games have had extremely steep learning curves even with more traditional assists in the options menu. These neural aids aren’t crutches for inexperienced riders either; they’re motivational tools to help you master several aspects of motorcycle riding while soaking in the sheer beauty of the game.
MotoGP 23 will have more to offer when it arrives on 8 June for PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. Milestone says the game will have a more detailed career path full of pivotal moments that’ll define your legend, more online options for racing against friends, and a high level of customization.
But for now, MotoGP 23 is a comfortable and familiar pair of leather pants to slip into ahead of its arrival on the grid. It may not look like much has changed, but underneath the digital fiberglass fairing, some serious fine-tuning has been done to create a more unpredictable and enjoyable beast.