Gamers may have reason to believe that the PS3-era arcade racer series MotorStorm could be making a return relatively soon. Speculation about this revival started when Stellar Entertainment, a studio best known for Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, Need for Speed: Remastered, and Need for Speed: Unbound, created a job listing for work on a "AAA arcade racing game." The studio's history with Sony, alongside its history of remastering classic arcade racing franchises like Need for Speed, have led some to believe that this "AAA" game is, in fact, a new MotorStorm.
This would align with previous reports about PlayStation revisiting its older, dormant IP. For as many show-stopping, genre-defining franchises that Sony has under its belt, remarkably few have received continued development in the modern era, with fan-favorite series like Sly Cooper, Infamous, and Killzone all being seemingly abandoned in the last two console generations. In light of this, Sony reviving some of its older franchises seems like a no-brainer, and PlayStation boss Hermen Hulst went on record just last year about the company exploring opportunities to leverage its vast portfolio of dormant IP. Naturally, Hulst's comments have been read by many as vague corpo-speak to keep consumers on the hook, but a MotorStorm reboot would prove that this isn't quite the case.
Reviving MotorStorm Would Indicate that Sony Is Serious About Its Older IP
MotorStorm Is a Cult Favorite, but Far from a System-Seller
Assuming that the aforementioned speculation is accurate and Sony is indeed looking to bring back MotorStorm, it sends a powerful, albeit somewhat unexpected, message about the company's plans. It would be easy to sell something like a new Sly Cooper or Killzone, as these IP have much bigger fanbases and broader mass-market appeal. Indeed, many PlayStation fans would probably have assumed that one of these franchises would be brought back before MotorStorm, an off-road, chaotic arcade racing series that only lasted for five years.
But Sony investing in something like MotorStorm suggests that it is truly looking to make the most of its older IP, not restricting itself to only the most hot-ticket ones. Killzone might be more of a household name than MotorStorm, but MotorStorm arguably has more potential for growth, and can also stand out more in the current game market, where off-road arcade racers are decidedly rare. Moreover, investing in MotorStorm would prove that Sony isn't being totally risk-averse in its revival efforts, which would bode well for the future of PlayStation.
If a MotorStorm Comeback Goes Well, Audiences Can Likely Expect an Avalanche of Sony Resurrections
Sony bringing MotorStorm back could be interesting for a number of reasons, and such a project would likely have at least some appeal to modern audiences: as previously mentioned, good off-road racing games are few and far between these days. If this potential MotorStorm reprisal were to sell well, it could conceivably pave the way for even more fan-favorite PlayStation franchises to return, which would be beneficial for obvious reasons.
Perhaps a MotorStorm reboot could spark a chain of classic PlayStation comebacks, with the likes of Sly Cooper and Resistance once again seeing the light of day. Even older, more niche IPs like Ape Escape, SOCOM, and Siphon Filter could perhaps make a glorious return, with Sony using the success of MotorStorm as proof positive that its older franchises still have life in them.
Of course, it's crucial to remember that none of this information is confirmed. The MotorStorm discussion is predicated upon mountains of speculation and very little actual evidence, and there's no use in shoe-horning a reboot theory to fit a certain narrative, even (or especially) if it's a desirable one. Whatever the case, a MotorStorm comeback would definitely prove that Sony isn't simply gesturing toward developing dormant IP, but actually taking action.
- Released
- February 22, 2012
- ESRB
- everyone e10+
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Engine
- Havok
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3, PS Vita
- Genre(s)
- Racing
