Game intel
RIDE 6
Live the thrill of asphalt and dirt with RIDE 6: affirm your biker identity by joining RIDE Fest, race with 250+ bikes from different categories and prove you'…
RIDE has long been the “Gran Turismo for bikes,” and Milestone’s RIDE 6 looks like the first entry in years that genuinely shakes up the formula. It’s not just a prettier sequel with more bikes. The big swings are off-road racing joining the roster, a dual-physics model that caters to both sim diehards and newcomers, and full cross-play that could finally unify this niche community’s multiplayer scene. It launches February 12, 2026 (with Early Access from February 9) on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
The headline for me is off-road. Milestone already knows dirt thanks to MXGP and Supercross, but bringing gravel and soil into RIDE is a different beast. RIDE’s asphalt handling has traditionally punished sloppy throttle and rewarded proper body position; translating that feel across dirt, mixed grip, and potentially tighter kart-sized layouts is a bold move. If it lands, we’ll finally get a two-wheel sim where you can spend a morning learning apexes at a world-class circuit and an afternoon fighting for traction on loose surfaces without swapping games.
Then there’s the garage and track list. Milestone is touting 340+ motorcycles from 21 manufacturers across seven categories, including new Bagger and Maxi Enduro classes. That’s exactly the kind of variety RIDE has needed – a Harley-style bagger asks completely different lines and braking points than a supersport. Same with 45 tracks that stretch from iconic circuits to road races and kart tracks. Variety matters in a game that’s ultimately about repetition and mastery, and RIDE 6 sounds built to keep you bouncing between disciplines.
Career mode, now called RIDE Fest, leans into a touring-festival vibe with free-form progression and real riders as rivals. That’s new for RIDE, and honestly overdue. Putting legends like Stoner and Bayliss on the grid adds real stakes, and it’s a cleaner way to teach different categories than another menu-only ladder. The Riding School is back too, which is good news for anyone who bounced off RIDE 4/5’s license tests – getting meaningful rewards for technique drills is the right kind of grind.
RIDE 6 is arriving three years after RIDE 5, and that gap matters. Milestone moving to Unreal Engine 5 isn’t just a new coat of paint. UE5 can deliver denser scenes and more convincing lighting, which is huge for a game where reading the track surface — curbing texture, rubbering-in, shadows on brake markers — impacts your lap. The flip side: UE5 on PC has a reputation for shader compilation stutter if studios aren’t careful. If Milestone nails the port, we get the best-looking bike sim around; if not, PC players will feel it immediately.
Cross-play is also a bigger deal than the press blurb suggests. Bike sims live and die by population, and past RIDE entries sometimes had quiet lobbies outside peak console hours. Full cross-play should mean healthier matchmaking, better ranked seasons, and time trial leaderboards that actually feel alive. The key will be smart separation of leaderboards and rulesets if Arcade and Pro physics both feed into multiplayer — nobody wants to lose a lap record to a different handling model.
Finally, the dual-physics approach is the right call. Milestone’s “all or nothing” sim handling has historically scared off curious players who don’t have muscle memory for trail braking a superbike. An Arcade option that’s genuinely approachable could turn RIDE 6 into a gateway for new riders, while Pro stays nasty enough for those of us who pore over telemetry. The trick is making sure the bikes still feel like bikes in Arcade — not floaty rockets.
There are a few catches worth flagging. The impressive-sounding totals — 340+ bikes, 45 tracks — include Day 1 and DLC. If you’ve followed Milestone, you know to expect a steady DLC cadence. That’s fine if the base package is generous, but manage your expectations (and budget) around the complete collection.
Split-screen and the Race Creator won’t be available on day one. Local multiplayer has been MIA or undercooked in too many modern racers, so it stings to see it delayed here. If couch racing matters to you, maybe wait for that update and reviews to confirm performance and features are up to snuff.
Off-road physics are also a big question mark. Milestone’s dirt games feel good, but merging that DNA with RIDE’s asphalt sim is delicate. Will mixed-surface events exist? How will tire choice and wear work across gravel versus tarmac? And can the AI handle a world where every corner has five viable lines? RIDE’s bots have improved, but they’ve also been famous for the occasional brain fade.
I’ve poured hours into RIDE 4 and 5, fine-tuning gearing, building liveries, and grinding long races for one more podium. This pitch hits the right notes: real rivals in career, bigger variety in bikes and tracks, cross-play so the community isn’t split, and a Riding School that rewards technique. If Milestone threads the needle between accessibility and authenticity, RIDE 6 could be the two-wheel sim I recommend to newcomers without a 20-minute lecture on assists and tire temps.
RIDE 6 looks like a meaningful leap: UE5 visuals, off-road racing, a dual-physics model, and cross-play could make this the most approachable and varied RIDE yet. Just know the big content numbers include DLC, split-screen and the Race Creator miss launch, and UE5 performance on PC is something to watch. Cautious optimism — and I’m saving a spot in the garage for a bagger and a maxi enduro.
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