Motorsport Games For Sale: What Does This Mean For Le Mans Ultimate?

Motorsport Games For Sale What Does This Mean For Le Mans Ultimate.jpg
Images: Motorsport Games / Studio 397
With Motorsport Games looking for a new buyer, the future of Le Mans Ultimate looks uncertain.

It has been a tumultuous time in the sim racing space, with Motorsport Games announcing further redundancies to its workforce last week. This came after the company laid off 38 employees, which made up 40% of its workforce, last November.

In a statement, Motorsport Games confirmed that “approximately 24 employees and contractors,” primarily in the US and UK, have been laid off. These latest redundancies will impact “approximately 39%” of the workforce, reducing the remaining team to a “skeleton crew,” a source told Overtake.

Motorsport Games For Sale Following Layoffs​

In an unprecedented revelation, Motorsport Games has announced it is potentially looking for a sale or merger as it considers “strategic alternatives.”

The Board of Directors has authorised management to consider strategic alternatives to maximise shareholder value, including a potential sale or merger of the Company,” the statement reads.

Le Mans Ultimate screenshot.jpg


Following the redundancies, Motorsport Games seeks additional funding to port Le Mans Ultimate to PlayStation and Xbox consoles. Considering that the official WEC game is Motorsport Games’ only new title in the pipeline and that it can no longer sell NASCAR games after 2024 following the sale of the license to iRacing, there is suddenly a lot riding on Le Mans Ultimate’s success.

The sale of the NASCAR license provided a cash injection, but NASCAR Heat 4, Heat 5 and 21: Ignition will be removed from sale after 2024 as a result – these titles made up 55% of Motorsport Games’ revenue stream.

We have implemented a strategic restructuring to further streamline operations, reduce costs, and strengthen our financial foundations. These changes position us to become a more agile, focused, and efficient company – one that is conscious of our forthcoming operating requirements as well as within-reach growth opportunities”, Motorsport Games CEO Stephen Hood commented.

With our core talent and cutting-edge technology intact, we are excited about the future. The successful launch of Le Mans Ultimate, our pivotal role in F1 Arcade, and our plans for an innovative new title are clear signals of our commitment to driving the company forward.”

What Does The Future Hold For Le Mans Ultimate?​

These Motorsport Games layoffs raise big questions about Le Mans Ultimate’s future.

Launched in February this year, Le Mans Ultimate has proven popular in the sim racing community.
During a recent earnings call, Hood confirmed that the early access release sold more in 36 hours than Motorsport Games projected in ten days.

Since the initial early access release, the official WEC game continues to evolve, with recent updates and DLC adding new 2024 Hypercars, new circuits, and asynchronous co-op multiplayer.


Looking ahead, Hood recently confirmed to OverTake that Le Mans Virtual is set to return in late 2024 or early 2025 with driver swaps after a hiatus this year. Whether this is still the case remains to be seen as the future of Le Mans Ultimate, which remains in early access with no final confirmed release date, looks uncertain.

Are you worried about Le Mans Ultimate following the Motorsport Games layoffs? Let us know in the comments below, or join the discussion in the forum.
About author
Martin Bigg
Arcade racing addict. Can usually be found causing carnage in Wreckfest and still craving a new Driver and Burnout game. Car movie nerd.

Comments

"The sale of the NASCAR license provided a cash injection, but NASCAR Heat 4, Heat 5 and 21: Ignition have been removed from sale as a result"

I must be misunderstanding this, as I see them for sale on Steam. NM, I see they can sell them up to end of 2024. I missed that line.
 
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"The sale of the NASCAR license provided a cash injection, but NASCAR Heat 4, Heat 5 and 21: Ignition have been removed from sale as a result"

I must be misunderstanding this, as I see them for sale on Steam.
You can still buy all 3 so that's definitely not right.
 
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"The sale of the NASCAR license provided a cash injection, but NASCAR Heat 4, Heat 5 and 21: Ignition have been removed from sale as a result"

I must be misunderstanding this, as I see them for sale on Steam. NM, I see they can sell them up to end of 2024. I missed that line.
Apologies for the error, the article has been amended - it meant to say they will be pulled from sale after 2024.
 
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Just gonna leave this here.

Been saying it since the beginning. Soon as it was announced DLC 3 months after EA release and Subscription down the line came to light. Since the very beginning been saying this was gonna happen.

Didn't I say this would happen? I certainly did.

 
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I for one, really love LMU- I hope it survives even if the owners change. Ideally I'd like the development to continue.

It's a little buggy but still worth saving - the coop mode they just unveiled is a real bonus and clever to boot !
 
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Sounds like they are doing the bare minimum to keep it going as an ongoing concern so they can sell it.

I won't be surprised to see them enter administration, and once that happens, they're done. Le Mans Ultimate isn't worth much to another developer given the antiquated nature of the isimotor engine - 11 years old this year.

It's a niche product in a niche part of a niche community.
 
Sounds like they are doing the bare minimum to keep it going as an ongoing concern so they can sell it.

I won't be surprised to see them enter administration, and once that happens, they're done. Le Mans Ultimate isn't worth much to another developer given the antiquated nature of the isimotor engine - 11 years old this year.

It's a niche product in a niche part of a niche community.
Doesn't matter still has the best tyre model and sounds engine of any sim out there not to mention the wet weather physics too.
 
Best wishes to all the fans who purchased the season pass
Well thank you for your wishes, but where I am the total cost of the game plus the season pass is about equal to going out for a few beers and grabbing a kebab on the way home.

So if there's nothing else to come, it's more of a case of "bugger, oh well" than it is anything disastrous.

In any event I think everybody that had at least two brain cells who bought into this knew and accepted the risk of early access and the possibility that promises may well not be delivered.
 
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In any event I think everybody that had at least two brain cells who bought into this knew and accepted the risk of early access and the possibility that promises may well not be delivered.
Problem is, the S397 glazers on this site would attack anyone that voiced that concern!

Looks like I'll be going out for a few beers and grabbing a kebab on the way home tonight!! :rolleyes:
 
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I don't think that the right folks have been let go, the ones making wrong decisions are the ones to go, reducing the workforce to 25% might seem economical but the previous reduction didn't help smooth the way for the release of LMU, and cutting the staff to a couple of dozen will certainly not help to bolster the player list.

It looks like the folks kept on either have been with the company for a long time or hold such a crucial position it's impossible to remove them... like the foundation.
 
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Problem is, the S397 glazers on this site would attack anyone that voiced that concern!

Looks like I'll be going out for a few beers and grabbing a kebab on the way home tonight!! :rolleyes:


I got a 6 pack of Yuengling sitting in the fridge might have to break one or two out tonight

also exactly, they attacked me soo many times over my thoughts and this very thing happening. I literally said it would happen and they yelled at me like its the was the 1400's and I was a witch

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