I’m not sure I could create a PC without cutting my hand on a PCI card or heatsink, but I enjoy fiddling with small parts and screws enough to put up with any blood. That’s why when RIMS Racing (stylized “RiMS”) was revealed a few weeks ago, it piqued my interest. I’m not a big fan of motorcycle racing, but I am a big fan of replacing small parts with other small parts, and the motorcycle customization in RIMS seems to be extensive.
However, the April announcement trailer lacked simulation video, so I asked publisher Nacon and developer RaceWard Studio if we could see any real racing. They delivered: The first RIMS Racing gameplay trailer is available on YouTube.
It appears to be a normal, graphically pleasing racing game, but the Italian developer claims that it has gone all in on simulating its licenced motorcycles. “Racing conditions, riding style, and part mechanical status all have a significant effect on the motorbike’s conduct,” RaceWard says.
“Players can totally disassemble their motorcycle and replace any feature to achieve the best possible configuration by selecting over 500 official components: tyres, discs, callipers, pads, suspension, springs, air filters, exhausts, brake and clutch master valves, brake fluids, engine oils, ECUs, fairings… and many more.”
The Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory in the trailer has a powerful 217 horsepower engine, “integrated winglets,” and a “double-layered fairing.” Is it a smart idea to have a double-layered fairing? I’m not sure, but I’m looking forward to forming views about fairings and saying stuff like, “Wow, the fairing on this bike? Yes, it’s two layers.”
The customization system isn’t seen in the latest trailer, but here’s a snapshot of it.
The trailer does include two of the game’s tracks: Germany’s Nürburgring, which is “considered one of the most challenging by a significant number of drivers,” and a snapshot of Norway’s ultra-scenic Atlantic Path.
RIMS Racing will be available on August 19 for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and, of course, PC through Steam and the Epic Games Store. If you want to learn more about RIMS, you can visit its Steam website. It’ll be fun to see how it stacks up against MotoGP21, which was announced at the end of April.
