The Crew Motorfest: Everything We Know

Ubisoft Ivory Tower is gearing up to take the universally acclaimed racing series The Crew on the road, with an all-new sequel set to take avid petrolheads to the Hawaiian coast of O’ahu. That’s quite the distance from the traditional US border, yet one that also has some spiritual connection to it, as it goes. Why? Well, as it turns out, Ubisoft Ivory Tower is made up of several developers who previously worked on Test Drive Unlimited, yet another racing series that featured the Hawaiian island of O’ahu as its primary setting. So, we can certainly expect to see one or two elements bleed through the latest code in the so-called The Crew Motorfest.

Similarities set aside, what is The Crew Motorfest, and when can we expect to see it grace the system? Well, here’s everything we’ve been able to collect on the matter since first hearing of it a year or so back. Just what is Ivory Tower up to, and how will the team breathe life into the decade-old series?

What Is The Crew Motorfest?

The Crew Motorfest is an open world racing game by Ubisoft Ivory Tower, that much we already know. It’s also a great deal like Forza Horizon, as it turns out, what with its premise being set around a year-long festival on the remote island of O’ahu, “the jewel of the Hawaiian archipelago.” It is here, as one of the festival goers, that players will have the opportunity to embark on a series of “Playlists”—thematic episodes in which various events, vehicles, and seasonal rewards come to fruition.

According to the devs, the third entry in the series will feature one of the largest rosters of vehicles in the series to date, with “new brands, new car categories, and dozens of new models.” So, quite a step up from 2018’s The Crew 2, all things considered.

Story

The Crew Motorfest will transport you to O’ahu, a tropical haven that just so happens to host one of the most prestigious year-round racing festivals of all time — Motorfest. Here, you will take part in a series of seasonal activities, which will see you going head-to-head with a roster of up-and-coming racers from around the world over a cutting-edge leaderboard.

As far as an actual storyline goes, it’s fair to say that The Crew Motorfest won’t feature anything overly complex. On the contrary, the Playlists that it’ll adopt will be very much by-the-number, and will consist of several themed events and seasonal activities. In other words, a lot of Forza Horizon vibes — only on the isle of O’ahu, of all places.

Gameplay

Much like its previous instalments, The Crew Motorfest will foster an open world setting—a world in which events will go far beyond bog-standard drags, drifts, and sprints. In fact, the island of O’ahu will feature numerous photo ops, collectibles, and other types of extracurricular events to partake in. Again, Forza Horizon, anyone?

In spite of its blatant connection to Forza Horizon, the upcoming chapter in Ubisoft’s saga will of course adopt its own style of play and progression. It’ll also introduce an ever-changing livery, too, which will allow players to keep a garage that’s forever stocked with all the newest car brands and models. So, don’t expect a direct replica of Playground Games’ IP. It’ll punch close, but hopefully not too close to be considered a total rip-off of what’s already been done several times over.

Development

News on the third instalment in The Crew series first aired back in 2022, at which point the to-be title of Motorfest was called Project Orlando. Rumours of this third instalment started surfacing earlier, though, with an earlier data mine back in 2021 turfing up a slew of random screenshots with a Hawaiian aesthetic. Well, surprise surprise, these were all connected to Ubisoft Ivory Tower’s secret project—a game that would go on to become The Crew Motorfest.

As it currently stands, Ubisoft is set to host a closed Beta test for the forthcoming chapter between July 21 and July 23, 2023. If that’s the sort of thing you’re after, then you can register your interest by visiting the connecting website here. But if you’d much rather wait for the full release, then you could always add it to your wishlist? Either way, Ubisoft won’t be keeping it on ice for much longer, what with it being ready to release later this year. But more on that shortly.

Trailer

Has the breezy shores of O’ahu caught your attention? If so, then you’ll be pleased to know that Ubisoft Ivory Tower has already gone ahead and released a sneak preview of The Crew Motorfest on its chosen streaming handle. Need we say more? You can see it for yourself in the video embedded above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Ubisoft Ivory Tower will be bringing The Crew Motorfest to Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC via the Epic Games Store on September 14, 2023. Does this mean it won’t be getting a Switch port? Apparently not, no. If this does happen to change, then chances are it won’t be for another year or so yet. Still, never say never.

There’ll be three editions to choose from: Standard, Gold, and Ultimate. Here’s what you can expect to find in each of the three on launch. Note that there’s also a pre-order bonus—the Liberty Walk Pack, which includes the Toyota GR Supra 2021 LBWK Edition.

Standard Edition — $59.99+

• The Crew Motorfest 
• The Liberty Walk Pack (Pre-Order)
• Toyota GR Supra 2021 LBWK Edition (Pre-Order)

Gold Edition — $99.99+

• The Crew Motorfest 
• Year 1 Access (2 New Vehicles Each Month)
• 3 Days Early Access

Ultimate Edition — $119.99+

• The Crew Motorfest 
• Year 1 Access (2 New Vehicles Each Month)
• 3 Days Early Access
• Fitted Ultimate Pack (Porsche 718 Spyder and Honda Civic Type R)

If you’re planning on staying up to speed with The Crew Motorfest, then be sure to check in with the official social handle here. Also, don’t forget to register for early Beta access via its website here. If anything noteworthy pops up ahead of its release, we’ll be sure to fill you in on all the key details right here on gaming.net.

So, what’s your take will you be picking up a copy of The Crew Motorfest when it releases later this year? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.