The Crew Motorfest is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 in October

Ubisoft has confirmed that The Crew Motorfest will launch on Nintendo Switch 2, bringing a large-scale open-world racing experience to the console. The announcement offers players a more realistic alternative to the platform’s current selection of racing games. It could help fill the gap left by the absence of the Forza Horizon series.

The game is scheduled to arrive on 8 October and will be available as both a digital download and a physical retail release. Its arrival will expand the Nintendo Switch 2 racing library with hundreds of licensed vehicles, a large open-world setting and a wide range of driving activities.

Nintendo Switch 2 gains a major open-world racing game

The announcement of The Crew Motorfest for Nintendo Switch 2 received relatively little attention amid wider interest in Ubisoft’s other recent projects. However, the release could become an important addition to the console’s growing catalogue, particularly for players seeking a realistic racing experience beyond traditional circuit-based games.

Nintendo Switch 2 already offers several racing titles, including Mario Kart World, which provides colourful, arcade-style competition centred on Nintendo characters and imaginative tracks. Kirby Air Riders also offers a different approach to high-speed action. However, these games focus on fantasy settings and arcade gameplay rather than licensed vehicles and realistic open-world driving.

Players seeking a more traditional motorsport experience currently have fewer options. Grid Legends: Definitive Edition is one of the main options available on the console, but its gameplay largely centres on organised races and closed circuits. Although it provides a more realistic driving experience, it does not offer the freedom to explore a large map at a player’s own pace.

The Crew Motorfest is expected to address that gap by allowing players to travel freely across an open-world environment. Rather than moving directly from one race to another, players can explore roads, visit different locations and take part in a variety of events spread throughout the game world.

The Nintendo Switch 2 version will also give players access to hundreds of officially licensed cars. In addition to road vehicles, the game includes a selection of aircraft and boats, allowing players to explore the environment from the air and across the water. These additional vehicle types provide more variety than a conventional driving game and create different ways to travel around the map.

A large recreation of Hawaii provides the setting

The Crew Motorfest takes place in a large digital recreation of Hawaii, with much of the game centred on Oahu. The open world includes cities, coastal roads, beaches, mountain routes and other landscapes inspired by real locations. Several recognisable towns and landmarks are also represented throughout the environment.

The setting is built around Motorfest, a large international motoring celebration that brings together a wide range of cars, racing styles, and automotive themes. Players can take part in organised activities while also exploring the island without following a fixed route.

The festival-based structure has drawn comparisons with Microsoft’s Forza Horizon series. Both franchises combine open-world exploration with large motoring events and provide access to extensive collections of licensed vehicles. They also encourage players to move freely between races, challenges and other activities rather than limiting gameplay to traditional circuits.

Although the similarities are clear, the format has proved popular among racing fans. Open-world driving games offer a more relaxed experience alongside competitive events, giving players the option to explore, collect vehicles or drive through the environment.

The Crew Motorfest also introduces different themed experiences through its playlist system. These activities focus on particular vehicle categories, automotive cultures and periods of motoring history. Each playlist offers a structured series of events while introducing players to different cars and racing styles.

The combination of open-world exploration and organised activities could make the game suitable for both casual players and racing enthusiasts. Players can choose to complete events, build their vehicle collections or spend time travelling across the island without entering a competition.

Release could fill the gap left by Forza Horizon

The arrival of The Crew Motorfest may be particularly significant because no Nintendo Switch 2 version of Forza Horizon 6 has been announced. While the Forza Horizon series has expanded to additional platforms in recent years, there is currently no confirmation that the next entry will be released for Nintendo’s latest console.

Without a Forza Horizon title, Nintendo Switch 2 has lacked a major open-world racing game focused on licensed cars and realistic environments. The Crew Motorfest could therefore serve as a strong alternative for players interested in that style of gameplay.

Ubisoft’s game follows a similar formula while maintaining its own features, including the ability to control boats and aircraft. Its Hawaii-inspired environment also gives it a distinctive setting, combining urban areas with tropical scenery, coastal routes and varied terrain.

The planned physical edition may also appeal to Nintendo players who prefer boxed games or want to build a physical collection. Ubisoft has confirmed that the retail version will launch alongside the digital edition on 8 October, although further details about pricing and potential editions have not yet been provided.

The release will bring one of Ubisoft’s largest racing games to Nintendo hardware and could broaden the Switch 2’s appeal among fans of open-world driving. Its mix of licensed vehicles, free exploration and festival-themed events gives the console a more realistic racing option alongside its existing arcade and circuit-based titles.

With hundreds of vehicles and a large recreation of Hawaii to explore, The Crew Motorfest could become an important addition to the Nintendo Switch 2 catalogue. It may also provide players with a suitable alternative while the future of the Forza Horizon series on Nintendo platforms remains uncertain.