- MXGP 26 Xbox is the official FIM Motocross World Championship game, rebuilt on Unreal Engine 5.
- New developer setup: Created solely by Artifact Studio and published by Nacon.
- Core content: 2026 riders, liveries, and 19 faithfully recreated circuits.
- Biggest weakness: Weak single-player AI and a thin mode selection with no true career mode.
- Verdict: A major step up from MXGP 2024, but still rough around the edges.
MXGP 26 Xbox Overview: A Full Reboot
MXGP 26 marks a fresh start for the official motocross championship license. After the widely criticized MXGP 2024 built on Kylotonn's KT Engine, publisher Nacon handed the entire project to French studio Artifact, invested in an Unreal Engine 5 tech stack, and gave the team room to rebuild the franchise from the ground up. The result is a night-and-day improvement over its predecessor, even if it does not yet lead the genre.
Video Highlights:
- MXGP 26 is a significant improvement over the disappointing MXGP 2024
- Track surfaces degrade in real time based on your racing lines
- Dynamic weather creates naturalistic puddles and drenched, muddy circuits
- PS5 and high-end PC testing held a reliable 60 frames per second
- AI opponents remain the game's biggest weakness
| Aspect | MXGP 2024 | MXGP 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | KT Engine (proprietary) | Unreal Engine 5 |
| Developer | KT + Artifact (split) | Artifact Studio only |
| Bike feel | Stiff, "cardboard horse" handling | More poised, serious physics |
| Visuals | Lackluster | Dynamic mud, rain, large crowds |
| Overall reception | One of the most disappointing releases | Significant step forward |
If you skipped MXGP 2024 out of frustration, MXGP 26 is genuinely worth a second look. Just temper expectations regarding single-player depth — this is a rebuild year for the franchise.
Visuals and Track Technology
The standout technical achievement in MXGP 26 is the track surface itself. Mud, sand, and hard-packed terrain don't just look authentic — they churn up and degrade in real time based on your racing lines. Set berms and circuit edges stay fixed, but the racing line between them visibly carves out lap after lap. Circuits like Riola Sardo look particularly striking, and rainfall produces dynamic weather with realistic puddle formation.
| Visual Feature | Quality Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Track degradation | ★★★★★ | Real-time rut formation from your lines |
| Dynamic rain | ★★★★☆ | Naturalistic puddles, drenched mud in replays |
| Trackside crowds | ★★★★☆ | Large crowds, smoke effects |
| Bike detail | ★★★★☆ | Gradual dirt build-up on bodywork |
| Rider animation | ★★★★☆ | Shirts blow in wind, slide-catch animations |
| Mid-distance scenery | ★★★☆☆ | Occasional pop-in during pre-race scenes |
On PS5 the game reliably holds 60 frames per second with no obvious hiccups, and high-end PCs can max out quality settings without issue. Smaller details amplify the immersion — the rider's shirt blowing in the wind and gradual dirt accumulation on the bike build naturally across a moto.
Testing showed smooth 60 FPS on PS5 and flawless performance on maxed-out high-end PC configurations. Console performance on Xbox platforms should be comparable, but always check recent patches before purchase.
Physics and Handling
The motorcycles feel far more poised than two years ago, though not quite as smooth as earlier installments from previous developers. There's a neat animation under braking where the rear steps out and your rider catches the slide, backing it into a turn. Riders are also sometimes shown hopping back onto the bike after a crash — and you will crash frequently.
Braking Slides
- Rear steps out under brakes
- Rider catches the slide
- Backing it into corners
Whips and Scrubs
- Vital tools to lower airtime
- Tricky to exit cleanly
- Easy to flip over your head
Cornering
- Occasionally rigid mid-corner
- Understeer-like sensation
- Course corrections need precision
Clips and signage will end your race. Landing a jump heavy-side can end your moto. Hitting a berm at an awkward angle launches you skyward. Despite the official-license framing that typically leans arcade, the physics here are surprisingly tough, and you genuinely must learn each track.
Despite being an officially licensed title rather than an out-and-out simulation, MXGP 26's physics can be punishing. Newcomers will need real patience before clicking with the handling. The three-axis auto-alignment assist helps, but even with it enabled, mid-air corrections remain demanding.
Game Modes: What You Can Actually Do
Here is where the reboot stumbles. There is no true career mode. You can run a championship in either MX2 or the main MXGP category, but you cannot rise from MX2 to the top class, manage a team, develop your bike, or handle sponsors and resources. When the season ends, a podium celebration plays and you return to the main menu with nothing carrying forward.
| Mode | Included | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix events | Yes | Single races against AI rivals |
| Time Attack | Yes | Bronze/Silver/Gold/Diamond targets, online leaderboard, ghost |
| Championship (MX2/MXGP) | Yes | Customizable calendar, race length, format |
| Career mode | No | No progression, team management, or sponsors |
| Training Ground (free roam) | Partial | Open compound area, but no tutorials or challenges |
| Multiplayer | Partial | Ranked public lobbies, private friends lobbies, AI fill |
| Split screen / cross-play | No | Omitted |
| Design sharing | No | Custom liveries cannot be shared |
The "Journey" mode attempts to mask the thin selection by combining championships, time attack targets, and unlockable customization into a task list with completion percentages. It provides a semblance of progression, but it doesn't replace meaningful features. Customization itself is welcome — a paint scheme color picker lets you race a bright pink bike if you choose, and real-world apparel can be unlocked and tweaked.
No split screen, no cross-platform online play, and no way to share custom rider and bike designs. Compared to direct rival Monster Energy Supercross 25 — let alone MotoGP or EA Sports F1 — the mode selection is noticeably basic.
How to Get Fast in MXGP 26: Step-by-Step
Because the AI is slow and forgiving, the real challenge in MXGP 26 is beating yourself — learning tracks, mastering Time Attack, and cleaning up your technique. Follow this progression path:
Learn Each Track in Time Attack
Skip racing the AI immediately. Run solo laps to learn braking points, berm entries, and jump timing. Track degradation means your lines physically change, so repeat laps matter.
Chase Medal Times
Target bronze, then silver, then gold times on each circuit. Gold times unlock new bike liveries and build fundamental pace.
Practice Whips and Scrubs in the Training Ground
The open compound has no tutorials, so use it as your sandbox. Drill scrub and whip exits repeatedly — these are the hardest skills and the game won't teach them.
Adjust Your Assist Settings
Keep the three-axis auto-alignment on while learning, then progressively reduce assists. Manual clutch mode increases the holeshot challenge and adds engagement off the line.
Race Online
With weak AI, ranked public lobbies and private friend lobbies offer the only consistently competitive racing. Use AI fill to round out grids.
Unless you use manual clutch mode, you're essentially guaranteed a holeshot every start because your rivals launch slower off the line. Switch to manual clutch if you want a real first-corner battle.
Skill Milestones:
- Learn braking points on all 19 circuits
- Earn gold times in Time Attack
- Master scrub exits without flipping
- Win races with assists reduced
- Reach ranked multiplayer lobbies
Strengths, Weaknesses & FAQ
| Category | Rating | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Visuals | ★★★★☆ | Real-time track degradation is genre-leading; minor pop-in |
| Physics | ★★★☆☆ | Serious and demanding but lack cohesiveness mid-corner |
| AI opponents | ★★☆☆☆ | Short-sighted, crash oddly, generally slow |
| Content / Modes | ★★☆☆☆ | No career mode, no split screen, no cross-play |
| Customization | ★★★★☆ | Full paint picker, unlockable real-world apparel |
| Multiplayer | ★★★☆☆ | Ranked matchmaking with AI grid fill |
MXGP 26 lays the foundational elements for a strong franchise future: tidy visuals, powerful dynamic rain, serious physics, and welcome customization. The on-track experience is dragged down by woeful AI rivals and a lack of things to do. It's a race cake without the topping — a significant step forward that arguably needed another year in development.
Q: Is MXGP 26 worth buying after MXGP 2024?
Yes, if you were burned by MXGP 2024. The switch to Unreal Engine 5 and full Artifact Studio development makes MXGP 26 a night-and-day improvement with real-time track degradation and far better bike feel. Just know the mode selection is still thin and there is no true career mode.
Q: Is there a career mode in MXGP 26?
No. You can run a full championship in MX2 or MXGP with a customizable calendar, but there's no promotion between classes, no team management, no bike development, and nothing carries over between seasons.
Q: How hard is MXGP 26 for beginners?
Surprisingly hard for a licensed title. The physics are demanding, crashes are frequent, and whips and scrubs are tricky to exit cleanly. The Training Ground has no tutorials, so beginners should spend time in Time Attack before racing.
Q: Does MXGP 26 have split screen or cross-play multiplayer?
No. Local split screen and cross-platform online play are both omitted. You get ranked public lobbies, private friend lobbies, and the option to fill grids with AI riders.