MotorStorm

Lore & Background

The MotorStorm series began with the first game released in December 2006 in Japan, March 2007 in North America and Europe. It featured various vehicle classes from Bikes to Big Rigs, each with unique abilities and weaknesses, and 8 tracks set in Monument Valley, with 4 additional tracks available via the PlayStation Store. Boost mechanics played a central role, where holding boost too long caused the engine to explode, potentially rocketing the player forward. The second game, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift (2008), introduced Monster Trucks, new boost temperature effects from water and fire, manual ramming, and a Photo Mode. MotorStorm: Arctic Edge (2009), developed by BigBig Studios for PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable, added vehicle customization, avalanches, and ice bridges. MotorStorm: Apocalypse (2011) shifted to an urban setting with a decaying city, warring factions, and five new vehicle classes, along with a story mode featuring three racers. The final installment, MotorStorm: RC (2012), featured remote-controlled vehicles on tracks from previous games. Sony closed Evolution Studios on 22 March 2016 and retained ownership of the MotorStorm intellectual property; in April 2016, Codemasters hired most of the Evolution staff.

Reader's Guide

The MotorStorm series is significant as a flagship off-road racing franchise for Sony Computer Entertainment, spanning five main installments from 2006 to 2012. The series distinguished itself through its emphasis on diverse vehicle classes and terrain interactions, where each vehicle type had distinct advantages and disadvantages on different surfaces. The boost mechanic, with its risk of explosion, added a strategic layer to races. The series also introduced innovations such as dynamic environmental hazards (avalanches, collapsing buildings) and vehicle customization in later titles. Despite the closure of Evolution Studios in 2016, Sony retained the intellectual property, and the series' legacy includes strong sales for the first two games, with MotorStorm selling over 3 million copies globally. The hiring of former Evolution staff by Codemasters in 2016 suggests the team's expertise continued in the racing game genre.

Did You Know?

• The first MotorStorm game sold over 3 million copies globally.
• MotorStorm: Apocalypse was delayed in North America due to the 2011 Japan earthquake, and its release in Japan was later cancelled.
• MotorStorm: Arctic Edge is the only title in the series not released on PlayStation 3.
• Sony closed Evolution Studios on 22 March 2016 but retained ownership of the MotorStorm intellectual property.