In the past decade or so, we have witnessed massive growth in the sim racing communities, most prominently in NASCAR and IndyCar. Recently, a prominent racing magazine delivered a disappointing piece of news to the sim racing community. Dale Earnhardt Jr went on to call it a “gut punch” for the American sim racing community.
iRacing is one of the most popular sim racing games worldwide. Earlier this year, Earnhardt Jr had been one of the main driving forces in working with iRacing toward the revival of the North Wilkesboro Speedway. It is widely known that the former Hendrick Motorsport driver is a big fan of the simulation racing game.
However, the magazine RACER recently announced that IndyCar’s license with iRacing will expire at the end of this year. This comes at the back of a decade-long partnership between IndyCar and iRacing. Soon after, Dale Earnhardt Jr took to Twitter to express how he took the news of IndyCar’s departure from iRacing.
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I don’t understand this decision by @IndyCar to not continue a decade long partnership with @iRacing. This is such a gut punch for that community. After all both brands accomplished together, including during the past few challenging years…🤷🏼♂️ https://t.co/fXl7D2K2gy
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) December 21, 2022
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In his tweet, Dale Earnhardt Jr mentioned, “I don’t understand this decision by @IndyCar to not continue a decade-long partnership with @iRacing. This is such a gut punch for that community. After all both brands accomplished together, including during the past few challenging years…“
Why is IndyCar not continuing with iRacing?
Taking a closer look, we found that there’s a standalone IndyCar game in the pipeline. Back in 2021, it was announced that the publisher Motorsport Games was working on a dedicated IndyCar title. It is scheduled to launch next year (2023). It turns out that this is the primary reason for the licensing conflict.
No one likes the use of exclusive licensing in sports. Unfortunately, such is the nature of business practices, and Motorsport Games’ upcoming IndyCar title required that the license for the 2023 season belonged to them exclusively.
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Given the tumultuous history of Motorsport Games, the racing community is not happy with how things are panning out. Several people took to social media to criticize the exclusive licensing deal.
Fans react to the end of IndyCar’s license with iRacing
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The community was left upset with the news of the iconic racing series’ removal from the popular simulation racing title. Agreeing with what Dale Jr had to say about it, many expressed their angst on social media.
They will come to find that Motorsport Games is a fraudulent organization and they will regret not renegotiating with iRacing. Some lessons have to be learned the hard way. They chose that path.
— Don Carty (@DC_outdoors_) December 21, 2022
— Zane (@zfranklin21_) December 21, 2022
The iRacing Indy 500 every year is legitimately the most fun event there is… or was, I guess.
— Patrick (@hekkcat) December 21, 2022
With all due respect I feel like the marketing department flawed on this one. A lot of off track revenue seemed like was being brought in from oval asphalt, and dirt. Not as much fun marketing behind Indy car. Just my opinion
— Josh Parker (@JoshParker81) December 21, 2022
Don’t forget about leagues and hobbyists who are also just completely alienated by this shortsightedness too. Your friends at @EliteRacing_ come to mind along with the LionHeart series… as well as numerous smaller broadcasters and content creators.
— Sudik Social Media Presence 2k22 (@NjSudik) December 21, 2022
The most confusing thing is that @MSportGames doesn't even know how to make decent, playable racing games. They ripped people off. Why would @indycar allow this to happen? Exclusivity shouldn't be a thing anyway.
— Going in Circles (@Here4Racing) December 21, 2022
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I'm with you. I think this will prove to end up a bad decision on Penske's part. Exclusivity punishers everyone but the game company.
— Mike (@Mike_P_2) December 21, 2022
They want to capitalize on this success by making the series less accessible. These big deals consistently stomp over sim racers.
— Jon Palmieri (@speed_visions) December 21, 2022
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Fans of sim racing are definitely opposed to the idea of giving away something they cherish to a company that can’t even make a decent game to begin with. Previously, Motorsport Games had all but destroyed NASCAR games into an unplayable mush. Now with IndyCar’s official licensing heading to a poorly performing game dev, the future looks bleak for the virtual IndyCar series.
