MotoGP 26 launches 29 April with a “rider-based handling system” and production bikes

As sure as the first glimpse of daffodils marks the end of another brutal meteorological assault by British winter time, this is the time of the year when a new MotoGP game is announced. Both happenings get the same neural pathway in our brain firing: the one that says, ah, that’ll be nice.

MotoGP 26 is out frighteningly soon on 29 April for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S (note that it’s current-gen only this year for Sony and Microsoft’s hardware), Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.

Developer Milestone has been taking the series in an increasingly challenging – and often rewarding – direction since it gained stewardship of the license in 2013, so it’s particularly intriguing to hear that the riding physics have had a significant update this year. Handling is now “rider-based”, which means you’re controlling the movement of the rider on the bike, rather than controlling the bike directly.

According to Milestone this “allows players to control the bike by managing the rider’s weight and movements, delivering a true-to-life riding sensation and faster reactions for intense, high-speed action".

There’s also a dynamic rider rating system, similar to what you’d find in modern EA Sports FC games. Each rider’s overall ability will change depending on their real-world lap times, pace, head-to-head ability and reliability from one race weekend to the next. In other words, expect poor Pecco Bagnaia’s grid position to vary wildly. It’s not clear whether rider ratings will be adjusted throughout your career mode yet – we’ll be following that one up with the devs.

Career mode now has Thursday press conferences and the introduction of a personal manager – yes, we will have another energy drink, thank you. Now how’s that factory Ducati contract coming along?

And joining the Motard, Flat Track, and Minibikes from last year’s game are 1000cc production bikes. You can hop on these to train with fellow paddock members between race weekends, or in Race Off events in PvP.

Here’s the trailer, featuring some mouthwatering slow-mo shots.