With the motorcycle racing series releasing its latest yearly entry a little early as the real-life MotoGP continues its indefinite hiatus during the current pandemic. For fans of the motorsport, MotoGP 20 - available now on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch - will no doubt be a turn of events they'll happily lean into.

MotoGP 20 isn't a simple cosmetic update either, a newly updated an in-depth career mode has been created offering unprecedented levels of freedom. And in a strange twist of fate will let you experience the 2020 season of racing that never was. Or, now lives digitally in MotoGP 20.

The new Career Mode will put players into a pro riders’ boots, with an engaging and progressive gaming experience both on and off the track. Just like in the real MotoGP™ simply being fast on the circuit is not enough; players will need to take the best decisions to find a winning strategy to master the Championship.

Echoing real life, one of the key figures at the top of the team is the personal manager, whose work can truly make a difference when it comes to sponsorship and contract opportunities. If players select a new team, they will be able to make their rider and bike stand out using different graphic editors to modify the helmet, racing number, lower-back patch, stickers and bike livery. When it comes to being fast on track, it is the players’ choice of technical staff that influences the performance of the bike; the most skilled technicians will be able to develop bikes better and faster, but of course they will be much more expensive than others. How do you find the right balance between budget and performance? It’s up to players! On-track tests during the weekend will provide valuable data for development, but the synergy between the engineers will determine how much of this knowledge can be actually used to craft new parts. Each engineer will have different skills in different areas so teamwork will be key.

Taking part in the winter and mid-season tests enables players to develop their bike, choosing up to 3 different packs with various engines and frame combinations to find the perfect settings for the season. Once the season starts, players can also improve performances of different bike parts, earning and spending development points and allocating their R&D staff to reach the highest level. Aerodynamics, electronics, engine power and fuel consumption are just an example of the many technical parts that players can now manage to improve their bikes. For the first time, Milestone also announces brand-new features that will support the game after launch, that will further expand contents of the Managerial Career gameplay; more details about the post launch features will be revealed soon.

It sounds pretty awesome, with the following launch trailer highlighting the realistic sim's immersive visuals.

A renowned historical mode. One of the community’s favourite game modes will be back in a brand-new format, with full races randomly generated that players need to win to unlock and collect the most iconic riders and bikes.

Neural AI goes 2.0. What many thought was utopic, has become a reality. Last year A.N.N.A. (an acronym for Artificial Neural Network Agent) brought a more fast, natural and fair AI. This year Milestone developers further enhanced its capabilities, to allow her to strategically manage tire and fuel consumption, as real riders do.

New Editors. Together with Stickers, Helmets, Racing Numbers and Lower-back patches, in MotoGP 20 players will also be able to customize bikes’ liveries of their Custom Team, to race on track with a unique style.

The best online experience. Dedicated Servers for the Multiplayer mode have continued to enable a more reliable and fun online experience. Now we added quality of life improvements that will further enhance online gameplay in all modes: Public Matches, Private Matches and Race Director Mode.

In terms of simulation new "fuel management", "asymmetrical tires’ consumption", and "aerodynamic damages" will factor into your bike's performance powered by AI. When it comes to realism, the magic is in the details. And with the current real-life season on hold this year will also see the return of the MotoGP eSport Championship, where racers from all over the world will compete for the top spot. For more details on that, including how to enter, standings, and scheduling - head here.