- MXGP 26 is a night-and-day improvement over MXGP 2024, built on Unreal Engine 5
- Dynamic track deformation and real-time weather are the visual standouts
- AI opponents are weak: races are winnable on Pro difficulty with little practice
- No true career mode: only season-long championships in MX2 or MXGP
- Solid foundation for MXGP 27, but thin on content out of the box
MXGP 26 Review: First Impressions of the Reboot
This MXGP 26 review covers the official game of the FIM Motocross World Championship, developed solely by Artifact Studio in France and published by Nacon. After the widely criticized MXGP 2024 — built on Kylotonn's KT Engine with stiff, unsatisfying bike handling — the publisher handed the entire project to one studio and paid for a move to Unreal Engine 5. The result is a genuine reboot, featuring the 2026 riders, liveries, and 19 faithfully recreated circuits.
Video Highlights:
- Full verdict on whether MXGP 26 fixes the franchise
- Breakdown of dynamic track degradation and weather
- Hands-on impressions of the physics and AI behavior
- Analysis of game modes and what's missing
The improvement over its predecessor is emphatic — but that bar was low. The fairer comparison is against genre rivals like Monster Energy Supercross 25, MotoGP, and EA Sports F1, and against those, MXGP 26 still falls short on content.
Judging MXGP 26 against MXGP 2024 makes it look great. Judging it against modern racing titles shows a game that still needs another year of development and more meaningful game modes.
Graphics and Track Surfaces
The move to Unreal Engine 5 delivers the biggest visual jump the series has seen. The standout is the track surface itself: mud, sand, and hard-pack don't just look authentic — they degrade and churn up in real time based on the racing lines you and the AI take. Set berms and circuit edges remain fixed, but the ground between them develops visible, evolving ruts.
Video Highlights:
- Riola Sardo looks particularly impressive
- Rain creates naturalistic puddles and drenched, muddy surfaces
- Rider shirts billow in the wind and dirt builds up gradually
- PS5 holds a reliable 60 fps; high-end PCs max out cleanly
| Visual Element | Quality | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Track surface | ★★★★★ | Real-time deformation, authentic mud/sand |
| Dynamic weather | ★★★★ | Naturalistic puddles, strong rain effects |
| Bike detail | ★★★★ | Gradual dirt build-up, detailed models |
| Crowds/effects | ★★★☆ | Large trackside crowds, smoke effects |
| Scenery | ★★★ | Occasional pop-in; mid-distance weaker than Milestone era |
| Performance | ★★★★★ | 60 fps on PS5, clean on high-end PC |
During a downpour, replay cameras reveal a drenched, muddy surface that genuinely surprises — easily the game's best-looking scenario.
Physics and Handling: Better, Not Perfect
The bikes feel far more poised than the "cardboard horse" dynamics of MXGP 2024, though not as smooth as older Milestone-era installments. There's a satisfying animation where the rear steps out under braking and your rider catches the slide, backing it into a turn — plus riders hopping back onto the bike after crashes.
Video Highlights:
- Scrub and whip inputs can be tricky to exit cleanly
- The three-axis auto-alignment assist doesn't fully prevent mid-air flips
- Mid-corner corrections feel rigid, almost understeer-like
- You will crash — a lot — against clips, signage, and awkward berm angles
| Handling Area | Verdict | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Braking/slides | ★★★★ | Rear steps out, rider catches slides |
| Scrubs/whips | ★★★ | Hard to exit cleanly; easy to flip mid-air |
| Corner fluidity | ★★★ | Course corrections feel rigid, understeer-like |
| Crash behavior | ★★★☆ | Punishing on clips, signage, heavy landings |
| Assist system | ★★★ | Three-axis auto-alignment helps but feels assumed |
Despite the official-license framing, the physics lean surprisingly tough. There are no real tutorials, so expect a steep learning curve on every track before you stop hitting the ground.
Game Modes: What You Can Actually Do
Here's the biggest weakness. MXGP 26 ships with Grand Prix events, a time attack mode with bronze/silver/gold/diamond targets and online leaderboards, a customizable championship in MX2 or MXGP, a free-roam "training ground" area, ranked public lobbies, and "The Journey" — a task list that ties the other modes together with unlockable customization.
There is no career mode. You cannot rise from MX2 to MXGP, manage a team, develop your bike, or handle sponsors and resources. Nothing carries across seasons — you finish a championship, get a podium celebration, and return to the menu.
| Mode | Included | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix events | Yes | Single races vs AI |
| Time attack | Yes | Medal targets, ghost, online leaderboard |
| Championship | Yes | MX2 or MXGP, customizable calendar/format |
| Career mode | No | No progression, teams, or sponsors |
| Training ground | Partial | Open area, no tutorials or challenges |
| Multiplayer | Partial | Ranked matchmaking, private lobbies, AI fill |
| Split-screen / cross-play | No | Both omitted |
| Livery sharing | No | Despite a color picker and unlockable apparel |
The Journey
- Task list spanning all modes
- Metal-style progress tracker
- Unlocks customization items
Customization
- Bike paint color picker
- Unlockable real-world apparel
- Rider and bike tweaks
Missing Pieces
- No career progression
- No split-screen or cross-play
- No design sharing
AI Opponents: The Biggest Problem
The single-player rivals are the factor that most damages the on-track experience. AI riders are short-sighted and unpredictable, weaving or crashing at unorthodox places — especially in the opening phase of a race. They appear to struggle with the detailed, dynamically rutting track surfaces.
Unless you use manual clutch mode, you're essentially guaranteed a holeshot every start. Beyond the first corner, the field spreads out like three pros racing a lobby of amateurs. Races are winnable on Pro difficulty without practice or qualifying, and Expert isn't much tougher.
Reviewers who describe themselves as average riders were winning races on Pro difficulty despite multiple crashes. Veteran players will find very little challenge offline.
Start with Time Attack
Learn each track's lines and medal targets before racing AI — the game won't teach you itself.
Enable Manual Clutch
Automatic starts give you an unfair holeshot advantage; manual clutch creates a more authentic launch.
Turn Off Assists Gradually
Once scrub and whip inputs feel natural, reduce the auto-alignment assist for better mid-air control.
Move to Ranked Online
With weak AI, ranked multiplayer lobbies offer the only genuinely competitive racing.
Final Verdict and Buying Advice
MXGP 26 is a significant step forward — the Unreal Engine 5 visuals, dynamic track degradation, serious-feeling physics, and customization options form a solid foundation. But weak AI opponents undermine single-player racing, and the lack of a career mode leaves the package feeling like a race cake without a topping.
| Category | Score | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Graphics | ★★★★ | Great surfaces and weather; minor pop-in |
| Physics | ★★★☆ | Serious and improved, but lacks cohesiveness |
| Content/Modes | ★★ | No career, thin feature set |
| AI | ★★ | Slow, unpredictable, uncompetitive |
| Multiplayer | ★★★ | Ranked and private lobbies; no cross-play |
| Overall | ★★★ | Worth it for MXGP fans; rivals offer more |
Buy MXGP 26 If:
- You want the official 2026 MXGP riders and 19 circuits
- You mainly play racing games online against real people
- You value dynamic track surfaces and weather effects
- You can wait for a sale if career depth matters most to you
If you skipped MXGP 2024, MXGP 26 is the reboot the franchise needed — just temper expectations on content. Most of the elements for a truly great motocross game are now in place; here's hoping MXGP 27 adds the modes and refinement.
Q: Is MXGP 26 better than MXGP 2024?
Yes, dramatically. The switch to Unreal Engine 5 and single-studio development under Artifact Studio fixed the visuals and much of the handling. Reviewers describe it as a night-and-day improvement, though MXGP 2024 set a very low bar.
Q: Does MXGP 26 have a career mode?
No. You can run a championship season in MX2 or the MXGP class with a customizable calendar, but there is no team management, bike development, sponsors, or progression between seasons.
Q: How is the AI in MXGP 26?
Disappointing. AI rivals weave, crash unpredictably, struggle with the dynamic track surfaces, and are generally slow — races are winnable on Pro difficulty without practice unless you enable manual clutch starts.
Q: Does MXGP 26 support split-screen or cross-platform play?
No. The game offers ranked public lobbies, private friend lobbies, and AI-filled grids, but local split-screen and cross-platform online play are both omitted, along with custom livery sharing.