After their original license agreement was terminated back in November 2023 due to ‘ongoing fundamental breaches’, Motorsport Games and BTCC agree a new license deal, covering rFactor 2 content until the end of 2026.
Having found an amicable resolution to their issues, both parties have signed a new non-exclusive license agreement, which means British touring car content could appear in other sim racing titles or games. The prior deal which saw Motorsport Games owing TOCA, the owners of BTCC $800,000 has been replaced with a one-time payment of $225,000 and 50% of the sales of rFactor2 DLC sold through Steam in the future.
That’s good news for rFactor 2 sim racers, as the agreement includes a condition that livery updates and minor model corrections to portray each Championship season are supplied by the Licensor (TOCA) no later than July 1st of the applicable calendar year, and the Licensee (Motorsport Games) will use ‘its best efforts’ to incorporate new cars and major model revisions duing each applicable Championship season.
Given that Motorsport Games and Studio 397 are focused on Le Mans Ultimate right now, this could be the main content developed or released for rFactor 2 for the foreseeable future.
What about the official BTCC Game?
The new agreement doesn’t guarantee anything regarding the previously planned official BTCC game, but does include the provision that during the term of the New BTCC License Agreement, which runs until December 31st 2026, the Company (MSG) and TOCA agree to negotiate in good faith the option to develop an official game, and one or more esports competitions based upon the British Touring Car Championship.
So it could mean Motorsport Games are able to resume work on an official sim racing title for the BTCC, depending on how the company fares over the next two years. But it’s far from guaranteed, and it also doesn’t exclude someone else from potentially stepping in at some point.
And given the likes of the Virtual Le Mans series, and the recent loss of NASCAR esports events, it makes sense for Motorsport Games to potentially secure BTCC esports in the event they want to run competitions via rFactor 2 or a bespoke game in the future. But again, that’s covered by negotiations in good faith, so may not prove to be exclusive.
A Better Deal For Everyone?
The New BTCC Licence Agreement with Motorsport Games seems like a better outcome for everyone involved. MSG have a smaller settlement amount with a royalty share, ongoing content and the potential to develop a BTCC game and eSports in the future. And rFactor 2 players can go back to selecting BTCC content with an official license, and potentially more cars alongside livery updates and minor changes to keep things current.
Meanwhile, there’s nothing to stop other sim racing titles also licensing BTCC content for their own platforms, whether that’s iRacing, Automobilista 2, Rennsport, RaceRoom or Assetto Corsa Evo. Which is typically a better outcome for sim racers, if you can access the series you love on the sim racing title you prefer.
It also allows people to still hope for a dedicated BTCC game at some point in the future, or a potential official BTCC esports series. Whether that ends up being provided by Motorsport Games or someone else, depending on those good faith negotiations.
And it may mean other motorsport organisations realise that exclusive licenses are a bad idea unless there’s a proven working relationship and track record to go on. Even then, for most race series, it makes more sense to allow as many people as possible to experience your content across as many sims and racing games as possible, whether or not there’s an official game or preferred platform.
Leave a Reply