Dorna Sports has made an exciting announcement – MotoGO eSport Championship 2017 is kicking off. Fans will be able to take to their couches or chairs as they join the world’s top gamers to find the true champion of 2017.
The championship will be played on the company’s MotoGP 17 console game which is set to release in June.
The game, available only on the PlayStation 4 platform, offers a full season of racing with the player’s path to the finals vague. Players will need to beat challenges to unlock the online challenges and all players hoping to make it to the finals will need to gain top spots in the seven challenges that await.
Gamers will be able to participate in the online challenges throughout the game’s 2017 season with the aim of qualifying for the November championship in Valencia. Dorna’s Media partners will broadcast the championship live allowing gamers from across the world to view the season finale.
The top 16 fastest players will be invited to Valencia before the MotoGP season ends with the top prize being a BMW M240i car. The M240i is offered in the M Performance Edition and is able to reach 0 – 60 in 4.4 seconds. The 6-cylinder vehicle boasts 335 horsepower and can reach 0 – 60 in 4.2 seconds with the all-wheel drive model.
MotoGP’s move into the world of eSports allows the company to engage with their gaming audience and will leverage the company’s media broadcasters to have a successful entry into eSports.
MotoGP hasn’t released much information on the road to the championship, so gamers will be left on the edge of their seats waiting for the June 17 release or to hear word from the developer. Players will have to post times with the fastest times being the winner, so the format is a little different compared to other eSports.
Players may not even compete against other players until they’ve unlocked the online mode, and even then, no one knows for sure how the initial phases will pan out.
Dorna has secured sponsors for their eSport already with big names, such as Red Bull added to the list.
IGN reports that the game will include all of the latest 2017 riders as well as seasonal updates, new rules and championships. The game will run at 60 frames per second according to the post. The company’s foray into eSports is expected to be more extensive next year with additional sponsors and partners if the 2017 championship is a success.