The ranked online multiplayer system used in both rFactor 2 and Le Mans Ultimate has received over 100,000 registrations, according to Motorsport Games CEO Stephen Hood.
One of the main game modes within Le Mans Ultimate, albeit from a choice of only two presently, the ‘Online’ area provides native ranked racing, weekly schedule updates and special event support.
This feature is powered by what developers Studio 397 and Motorsport Games tout as ‘RaceControl’, something that was initially released for its venerable rFactor 2 platform last year, before arriving at the early access launch of Le Mans Ultimate in February.
It now transpires that the company has a bigger vision for the system.
"RaceControl, our online service providing multiplayer functionality to our rFactor 2 and now Le Mans Ultimate game, launched five months ago, and continues to play an important role in the ecosystem we are building around our products, and has now broken through more than 100,000 account registrations,” said Motorsport Games Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Hood during its Q4 and full-year 2023 earnings call, 1st April 2024.
“RaceControl drives regular activity within our games and is vital to our future strategy around community and complimentary services. Enabling conversation around our game experiences, even when a user is not playing the game, is important and to this end, RaceControl is expected to soon have a more friendly interface, making it accessible from any web browser.
“With RaceControl, users will be able to learn more about the game, tips and tricks to get the most from the experiences, become a better virtual driver and more.
“In time, our plan is to have users able to manage their account and experience from this site using any mainstream connected device; phone, desktop, laptop and so on.”
At present, you can check your previous race results and current ranking within the menus of Le Mans Ultimate. Still, based upon these recent comments, it sounds as if at the very least this will be available elsewhere – sitting alongside additional features and guide-style article content.
It is presumed the 100,000 registered users figure quoted is an amalgam of rFactor 2 Online and Le Mans Ultimate online players, with the latter selling 55,000 copies within its first 10 days on sale in early access.
The ability to create and hire your own server, to the benefit of community-driven leagues or events, view multiplayer race replays and driver-swap online are all currently absent within Le Mans Ultimate.
These features are available within rFactor 2, where an online career mode is also still teased within the user interface. It is anticipated they will make it to Le Mans Ultimate, but if this will align with the web-based RaceControl expansion is not yet clear.
Missing since the ill-fated 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual, we now know at least a timeline for its formal unveiling: the real-world 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
“One big springboard could be at Le Mans [12th-16th June 2024] when we start talking about one of the world's biggest [racing] esports events, Le Mans Virtual, coming back,” explained Hood on the earnings call.
In previous incarnations, the vast majority of the grid was only open to professional esports teams, who paid an entry fee and then selected their drivers. Last season, for instance, teams required a driver who was real-world FIA graded for the season-ending 24-hour race.
There was an entry route for other drivers not signed to full-time esports teams or motorsport competitors, which was the Le Mans Virtual Cup – open to all with rFactor 2, the top two earned a seat for the main day-long race.
While the final details aren’t expected for another two months, the Cup process perhaps inspired the upcoming new concept, maybe even tying into the aforementioned RaceControl ranking system and its special events.
“For us, this is not about throwing prize money out there to attract the top 1 per cent of professional esports drivers,” continued Hood.
“Really, that is yesterday's needs, what we really care about is 99 per cent of the player base.
“People who aren't necessarily trying to be the fastest, but want to be part of the community, want to imagine the fantasy of being a racing driver, want to contribute to something and want to have fun and entertainment online.
“That's very different from what people have typically done in racing esports previously and we think we're in a great place to harness that this year.”
These direct quotes are backed up by a recent SEC filing by Motorsport Games, which claims the following:
“Although we did not organize the Le Mans Virtual Series for the 2023/24 season, we currently plan on organizing the 2024/25 Le Mans Virtual Series to commence later this year.
“We also intend to continue exploring opportunities to expand the recurring portion of our esports segment outside of Le Mans.”
The upcoming RaceControl expansion seems to be closer than initially anticipated, with the website currently live, if not fully functional.
The landing page currently showcases both Le Mans Ultimate and rFactor 2, directing you to the Steam Store for each title, with the meta title reading 'coming soon'.
It is billed as the "official tutorial website of Studio 397."
Perhaps notably, in the copyright disclaimer: "Website created by David Perel" is mentioned. Perel is the founder of The SimGrid and Coach Dave Academy.
The latter publishes a wealth of tutorial articles readily available for iRacing and Assetto Corsa Competizione presently.
Alongside guide content, it also offers paid-for vehicle setups. It bundles those in with track guides, data analysis and stats within its Coach Dave Delta app subscription service which can automatically install vehicle settings.
"Throughout the remainder of this year, we plan to bring exciting new content and features to the Le Mans Ultimate experience, as well as complimentary services, which we anticipate will in due course provide additional revenue streams," said CEO Hood on Monday's earnings call.
Would you participate in an endurance sim racing competition using Le Mans Ultimate? Let us know in the comments below, or on X: @OverTake_gg.
One of the main game modes within Le Mans Ultimate, albeit from a choice of only two presently, the ‘Online’ area provides native ranked racing, weekly schedule updates and special event support.
This feature is powered by what developers Studio 397 and Motorsport Games tout as ‘RaceControl’, something that was initially released for its venerable rFactor 2 platform last year, before arriving at the early access launch of Le Mans Ultimate in February.
It now transpires that the company has a bigger vision for the system.
"RaceControl, our online service providing multiplayer functionality to our rFactor 2 and now Le Mans Ultimate game, launched five months ago, and continues to play an important role in the ecosystem we are building around our products, and has now broken through more than 100,000 account registrations,” said Motorsport Games Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Hood during its Q4 and full-year 2023 earnings call, 1st April 2024.
“RaceControl drives regular activity within our games and is vital to our future strategy around community and complimentary services. Enabling conversation around our game experiences, even when a user is not playing the game, is important and to this end, RaceControl is expected to soon have a more friendly interface, making it accessible from any web browser.
“With RaceControl, users will be able to learn more about the game, tips and tricks to get the most from the experiences, become a better virtual driver and more.
“In time, our plan is to have users able to manage their account and experience from this site using any mainstream connected device; phone, desktop, laptop and so on.”
At present, you can check your previous race results and current ranking within the menus of Le Mans Ultimate. Still, based upon these recent comments, it sounds as if at the very least this will be available elsewhere – sitting alongside additional features and guide-style article content.
It is presumed the 100,000 registered users figure quoted is an amalgam of rFactor 2 Online and Le Mans Ultimate online players, with the latter selling 55,000 copies within its first 10 days on sale in early access.
The ability to create and hire your own server, to the benefit of community-driven leagues or events, view multiplayer race replays and driver-swap online are all currently absent within Le Mans Ultimate.
These features are available within rFactor 2, where an online career mode is also still teased within the user interface. It is anticipated they will make it to Le Mans Ultimate, but if this will align with the web-based RaceControl expansion is not yet clear.
A New-Look Le Mans Virtual Series
In February, OverTake reported that the Le Mans Virtual Series is set for a return later this year – the sim racing competition has previously broadcast live on the FIA WEC and 24 Hours of Le Mans digital channels, French television, plus highlights on other linear outlets.Missing since the ill-fated 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual, we now know at least a timeline for its formal unveiling: the real-world 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
“One big springboard could be at Le Mans [12th-16th June 2024] when we start talking about one of the world's biggest [racing] esports events, Le Mans Virtual, coming back,” explained Hood on the earnings call.
In previous incarnations, the vast majority of the grid was only open to professional esports teams, who paid an entry fee and then selected their drivers. Last season, for instance, teams required a driver who was real-world FIA graded for the season-ending 24-hour race.
There was an entry route for other drivers not signed to full-time esports teams or motorsport competitors, which was the Le Mans Virtual Cup – open to all with rFactor 2, the top two earned a seat for the main day-long race.
While the final details aren’t expected for another two months, the Cup process perhaps inspired the upcoming new concept, maybe even tying into the aforementioned RaceControl ranking system and its special events.
“For us, this is not about throwing prize money out there to attract the top 1 per cent of professional esports drivers,” continued Hood.
“Really, that is yesterday's needs, what we really care about is 99 per cent of the player base.
“People who aren't necessarily trying to be the fastest, but want to be part of the community, want to imagine the fantasy of being a racing driver, want to contribute to something and want to have fun and entertainment online.
“That's very different from what people have typically done in racing esports previously and we think we're in a great place to harness that this year.”
These direct quotes are backed up by a recent SEC filing by Motorsport Games, which claims the following:
“Although we did not organize the Le Mans Virtual Series for the 2023/24 season, we currently plan on organizing the 2024/25 Le Mans Virtual Series to commence later this year.
“We also intend to continue exploring opportunities to expand the recurring portion of our esports segment outside of Le Mans.”
Update 16:46 CEST - The RaceControl Website Is Live
The upcoming RaceControl expansion seems to be closer than initially anticipated, with the website currently live, if not fully functional.
The landing page currently showcases both Le Mans Ultimate and rFactor 2, directing you to the Steam Store for each title, with the meta title reading 'coming soon'.
It is billed as the "official tutorial website of Studio 397."
Perhaps notably, in the copyright disclaimer: "Website created by David Perel" is mentioned. Perel is the founder of The SimGrid and Coach Dave Academy.
The latter publishes a wealth of tutorial articles readily available for iRacing and Assetto Corsa Competizione presently.
Alongside guide content, it also offers paid-for vehicle setups. It bundles those in with track guides, data analysis and stats within its Coach Dave Delta app subscription service which can automatically install vehicle settings.
"Throughout the remainder of this year, we plan to bring exciting new content and features to the Le Mans Ultimate experience, as well as complimentary services, which we anticipate will in due course provide additional revenue streams," said CEO Hood on Monday's earnings call.
Would you participate in an endurance sim racing competition using Le Mans Ultimate? Let us know in the comments below, or on X: @OverTake_gg.
