Monster Jam Showdown: Everything We Know

With huge wheels, high-octane racing, and jaw-dropping stunts, Monster Jam racing is an adrenaline-fueled spectacle. It's the type of racing where a fender bender doesn't stop the thrill. In fact, it fuels the crowd's excitement. Watching those huge-wheeler trucks on the course irks your curiosity. Wouldn't you want to be behind the wheel of the Titan treads? Well, a new game is set to come out this year. Developed by Milestone S.r.l., the title will feature the iconic real-world monster trucks from the North American Show.. What else is in the package? Buckle up as we unpack the upcoming title in Monster Jam Showdown—everything we know.

What is Monster Jam Showdown?

Monster Jam Showdown is an upcoming monster truck arcade racing game. The game draws inspiration from the Monster Jam live events, giving fans an exclusive virtual experience of the official competitions. 

This isn't the first game to capture high-octane racing for a virtual audience. Others went before it, but now it's time for Milestone to take over the wheels. The games in the series are not necessarily sequential, especially since they are all by different developers. However, it retains the essence of the sport: putting the pedal to the metal aboard the behemoth trucks equipped with massive tires and roaring engines.

Story

It's unclear whether Monster Jam Showdown will feature a storyline. However, if the other games in the series are anything to go by, it's unlikely that the new title will have a narrative. And if it features one, it will be, in a light sense. Something  to put things into perspective for fans new to the monster truck racing scene. 

From what we can gather so far, players will be walking in the shoes of Monster Jam drivers, taking control of the iconic real-world trucks. The game will recreate a similar experience for fans, where the competition will take place in three types of venues; baseball stadiums, football fields, and speedways. 

Besides that, the game will also feature three unique, American-inspired environments: “the American great outdoors: the barren desert of Death Valley, the stunning forests and crystal rivers of Colorado, and the wintry, wild mountains of Alaska.” 

Players will navigate these different terrains via ten different game modes, including head-to-head and freestyle racing. Ideally, this will be the first time a game in the Monster Jam series features more than two trucks on a racetrack. Also, fans should prepare for diamond, rectangular, and oval layouts instead of the regular straight or round track. 

Gameplay

Unlike Steel Titans, which features a blend of arcade and simulation gameplay, Monster Jam Showdown is exclusively an arcade game. The developer is leveraging the power of Unreal Engine 5 to “create lifelike, meticulously detailed environments as well as an unprecedented lighting system and physics system.” Beyond this, the upcoming title will also include customizable and comprehensive driving aids.

The most impressive element of the upcoming title is its vehicle lineup. Monster Jam Showdown will include a lineup of 66 trucks. This is more than any other game in the series. Only Steel Titans 2 came close to this figure with 54 trucks. 

The base game will feature 40 of the trucks in the lineup. The rest will either be paid for or be part of the DLC content. Moreover, players will have a field day with the 140 paint jobs available. So, if blue isn't your color, you have a ton of other options to unlock and apply. 

Moreover, the upcoming title borrows a few concepts from Monster Jam 07, where a stunt gives power to your boost meter. Once you're all charged up, you can unapologetically activate the boost meter to zoom past your opponents, leaving a cloud of dust in your wake.

Additionally, Monster Jam Showdown also comes action-packed with a new drift mechanic. The drift doesn't add to your boost meter. But it would have been a neat mechanic to include, just like in Mario Kart. 

Development

Milestone S.r.l., renowned for its expertise in the racing genre, is set to take the helm of the Monster Jam series. The studio is succeeding THQ Nordic following the previous entry into the series, Steel Titans 2.

With an impressive portfolio including titles like Hot Wheels Unleashed, MotoGP, and Monster Energy, this Milan-based studio brings a wealth of experience to the table. As the eighth developer to steer the Monster Jam franchise, Milestone S.r.l. is poised to inject fresh energy into the series.

Moreover, drawing from their extensive background in stadium-based motorsports and specialized arenas, Milestone S.r.l. aims to refine and elevate the Monster Jam experience. By leveraging insights gained from previous iterations of the series, the studio is meticulously crafting the ultimate off-road racing adventure, powered by 1500-horsepower beasts. As anticipation builds, we eagerly await to see how Milestone S.r.l. will shape the future of Monster Jam.

Trailer

Yes, we do have a Monster Jam Showdown trailer. The announcement trailer was showcased during the Xbox Partner showcase, giving a glimpse into adrenaline-fueled action. While it's a cinematic teaser lacking gameplay footage, it sets the stage for the epic showdowns to come, showcasing the iconic monster trucks, diverse terrains, and jaw-dropping stunts sure to ignite the imagination of its fan base.

For those hungry for more concrete details, a second trailer featured on Xbox's YouTube page delves deeper into the gameplay mechanics of Monster Jam Showdown. Here, you can see the freestyle and off-road racing modes and the points counter for every stunt you accomplish. Check out both trailers from the videos embedded above. 

Release Date, Platforms, & Editions

You can expect Monster Jam Showdown sometime in 2024 on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC platforms via Steam and the Epic Games Store. The exact release date is still unclear.

Moreover, we don't have information on the editions to expect. So many details remain scarce at the moment. However, you can always follow the official social handle here to keep track of new updates. Meanwhile, we'll keep an eye out for new information and let you know as soon as it comes up.

So, what's your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Monster Jam Showdown when it drops? Let us know over on our socials here.