Sim-racing game Le Mans Ultimate scandalizes community with paid Joker feature

← Back to the feed

Sim-racing game Le Mans Ultimate scandalizes community with paid Joker feature

Polygon · 3 hours ago

Studio 397's competitive sim-racing title will introduce a new ranking system launching July 28 that allows players to exclude one race result from their record every ten races. This feature is exclusively available to subscribers paying $8 monthly for the "Pro" membership tier. Non-subscribers must accept all results, whether caused by accidents, technical failures, or performance, while paid members can selectively remove their worst performances from the rankings that determine matchmaking and competitive positioning.

The feature has generated substantial community opposition, with players arguing it creates competitive advantages and safety concerns. Critics highlight that paid subscribers can strategically delete poor performances to artificially improve their rankings, while potentially avoiding penalties for aggressive driving behaviour. The controversy reflects ongoing industry discussions about the boundaries between monetisation and competitive fairness, particularly in games where rankings affect player matching and reputation.

  • Le Mans Ultimate subscribers can delete one race result every ten races for $8/month; non-subscribers cannot access this feature
  • The paywall-locked system triggers player backlash over competitive advantage and safety concerns; feature launches July 28

Gaming

Read the full article at the source →