Milestone has officially releasedMotoGP 25as it continues to firmly put its foot into the talks of the top annual racing video game series. With the amount of racing series that exist, there are only about four that get annual releases. Ironically, three of those are from Milestone.The other major competition comes from EA and Codemasters' F1 series, as there hasn’t been an annual NASCAR game in years while Indy Car or the WEC don’t get annual release games as of now.The specialty of the MotoGP series in recent years is its innovation as Milestone continues to try new things in this series and it works.MotoGP 25has also made the jump over to Unreal Engine 5, which is the basis of this year’s innovation.
Major Overhauls for MotoGP 25
Innovation is key to annual titles, and whileMotoGP 25did move over to the Unreal Engine 5, there are other big changes included in this year’s game. Milestone has introduced a new physics engine with its Arcade Experience. This allows for more accessible gameplay to get players into the game for the first time. Players can turn on Neural Assists to simplify controls, but this physics engine allows for more engaging handling and the lack of needing to worry about wobbling. This is available in all modes including the Career Mode and is a big bonus.
The specialty of the MotoGP series in recent years is its innovation as Milestone continues to try new things in this series, and it works.
Milestone has also fine-tuned adjustments based onMotoGP 24’sPro Experience, which is the simulation aspect. Lift during acceleration, which does happen but isn’t as apparent, and fuel consumption issues have been addressed. Each motorcycle will actually reflect their real-life performance for more accurate simulation. This means Ducati dominates and it’s not even close. This also means that Marc Marquez is on Ducati in this game, as the game offers the 2025 MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 riders and tracks.
The Neural Aid System is advanced AI support that is based on neural networks. These aids are used for acceleration, braking and handling while offering a scale of just how much assistance is needed. The game also includes Adaptive Difficulty in each mode, but issues occur with AI that will be discussed later on. This is good to keep things competitive as the game used to have issues with the AI just blowing you out of the park. Tutorials and the MotoGP Academy also return to help get players acclimated with how this game feels and how each track works.MotoGP Academy is much like the Circuit Experience in theGran Turismoseries as it allows you to learn corner segments and set times.
The Neural Aid System is advanced AI support that is based on neural networks.
Where the Arcade Experience handling comes in the best, however, are the new modes Milestone has added. you may master your craft in three other motorcycle racing disciplines with the option of racing minibikes, Motards and Flat Trackers on dirt. Each has its own set of physics. Thanks to the Ducati dual-sport Motard bikes, these three disciplines add more depth to the game and are fun. The rear end coming out on these bikes makes for a fun time around three tracks. You’ll race against other MotoGP riders and the option to race these online does exist. These events are sprinkled into Career Mode as well. The only downfall is that there isn’t more as track availability and you’re limited to four total. There simply needs to be more of this in the future.
The Best Racing Career Mode Gets Better
This year’s Career Mode will once again focus on creating narratives to keep your career engaging. Turning Points allow you to choose between three paths to provide different results, which usually means just beating another rider on the track.The results provided are how you want to shape your career.Do you plan on moving up or do you want to stay on the team and develop it? The Social Media relations return and there are in-race indicators to see who you are good with and who you aren’t. The two options to responding to posts are extreme and comical.
These shape the direction of your rider during the Career Mode, which also allows for custom short calendars and shortened races. Players can opt for full weekends including Sprint Races for each race if they want a full-on MotoGP experience. There are test sessions along the way that allow for creating two setups and improving different aspects of the bike. The best aspect that feels like you’re truly working towards something are the debriefs after races.
Review: MotoGP 24
Milestone has dedicated MotoGP 24 to offer everything seen on 2024 race weekend.
With the tech meetings and debriefs after races with you and with engineers, they ask what the bike felt like after each race. Rather than having a skill tree and trying to figure out what does what, it’s simplified and the engineers come to you. You can work on electronics, aerodynamics, frame or engine development. You can compare your bike’s stats against the rest of the teams via a graph, which is cool to see where your development is at in comparison. If you have a faster engine, you will pass bikes on the straightaways. It all nicely comes together.
With the tech meetings and debriefs after races with you and with engineers, they ask what the bike felt like after each race. Rather than having a skill tree and trying to figure out what does what, it’s simplified and the engineers come to you.
The Rider Market also returns and will include riders from both Moto3 and Moto2 classes. There are a few different options in terms of theRider Marketto start your career. This comes into play later in the season during your career. There are a few things holding this mode back. Player can opt to directly jump into Ducati, which is the top ride. Any league can be entered, but for the sake of a Career Mode, it should feel like the option to grow is there rather than just jumping in as the best. The option to create teams would open things up and keep them permanent, even if you change teams. Teams could come and go with fake generated teams or re-names in the future. The Career Mode still does plenty right, but there are ways that it can be opened up even more.
On-Track MotoGP Experience
The AI inMotoGP 25may have taken a step back.At grid starts, the bikes seem to bunch up allowing for an easy overtake of about half the field.The racing tends to even back out, but there are too many times where an AI rider comes right up to the rear and makes contact. The AI also seems to be able to break later and start overtaking later in the race. They’ll slide in and make contact in corners. It seems there just isn’t a sense of surrounding. Other times, the racing one-on-one can be fantastic with undercuts and drag races on straights.
The AI truly does take into consideration the best manufacturers on the track and those drivers. There’s still an issue where if a rider goes down, it’s yellow for two seconds and starts again. Riders don’t have to get on their bike, they just reappear somewhere. Managing tire and brake temperatures are pivotal, once again, to success. This type of tire management is much deeper than any other racing game on the market. Customization items also return, but are limited to modes outside of the career due to the race suit licensing.
The jump to the Unreal Engine 5 isn’t as major as one would believe.
The jump to the Unreal Engine 5 isn’t as major as one would believe. Milestone is still a smaller studio, but there are noticeable changes here. Faces in the game are the best that they have ever been, so clearly the engine was used to boost those assets. The bikes and player models looks largely the same and the environments still have inconsistencies in certain assets. The Lumen lighting that was added does seem to offer a change to the overall look, but this isn’t a generational leap. There are no issues with frame rate and the presentation process is largely untouched from previous games.
MotoGP 25 Officially Announced in New Trailer
MotoGP 25 will offer “The Heart of Racing”, which is the core design behind the 2025 edition of the game.
Milestone has brought in new bike sounds forMotoGP 25as on-site sounds were recorded with post-production handled in partnership with Dorna and Audio-Technica.There are more sound variations that are noticeable. Again, this isn’t something that is a giant leap as the bike noise still offers the overall same tone, which isn’t fantastic. These still don’t sound like the bikes heard under acceleration at the track, so it’s difficult to discern what was recorded and what was edited.
Online Options and Other Game Modes
MotoGP 25does offer crossplay capabilities across different platforms. This allows the game to maximize the number of players into one pool. Customization items can mainly be shown off in multiplayer, so the suit liveries can tape shape and new podium emotes can be shown off. Helmets can be created and shared, but there remains a lot of licensed equipment in the game. The Live Championship allows for scheduled monthly events to keep the player base engaged online. Otherwise, ranked races are the only option with a lobby system.
Outside of the Career Mode and MotoGP Academy, the other options are a custom championship, time attack and split screen for multiplayer. You can jump directly into the Motard modes as they’re not locked behind anything. The overall experience still truly relies on the Career Mode, but the lack of custom bikes like the series once had or custom tracks still hurts the overall experience. Adding the different racing modes helps, but it’s shortsighted in its inclusion.
Closing Comments:
Milestone doesn’t have to continue to innovate itsMotoGP series, but it simply desires to. The Career Mode shines once again with its implementation and engagement. The racing now offers an arcade physics engine to go along with the simulation engine, which allows anyone to jump on and race. It’s fun for veterans as well. The new racing disciplines are a welcome change that requires more tracks and implementation. The Career Mode should start by competing in championships in these disciplines, then progressing through the three MotoGP classes. Being able to start wherever you want is both a positive and a negative, but the experience is good either way. The jump to Unreal Engine 5 isn’t a massive change, but there are noticeable changes. The overall lack of modes still hurts, but the Live GP should help keep players online along with crossplay. The AI issues are the only real thing hurting the on-track experience, but otherwise this is still another stellar racer from Milestone.
Version Reviewed: PlayStation 5
MotoGP 25 is the official video game of the 2025 MotoGP World Championship. Updates to the series include new ways of Training, a new Bike Development System and a new Arcade Experience.
