Motorsport Manager Revived with a Break From SEGA

Why It Matters

Regaining IP control lets the original creator directly nurture a niche simulation, boosting longevity and community trust. It also illustrates how indie studios can revive legacy games without publisher constraints.

Key Takeaways

• Playsport Games reacquired Motorsport Manager IP from SEGA
• Patch addresses black screen boot issue via Unity upgrade
• Unity 5.5.6f1 update may break existing mods
• Windows version released first; Mac, Linux follow
• Community feedback invited for beta stability

Pulse Analysis

The return of Motorsport Manager to its original developer highlights a growing trend where indie studios negotiate back their intellectual property from large publishers. As the racing management genre remains under‑served, Playsport Games can now steer product roadmaps, pricing, and community engagement without external approval. This autonomy often translates into more frequent updates, tailored features, and a stronger brand identity that resonates with dedicated fans, potentially revitalizing sales for a game that still holds a Very Positive Steam rating after a decade.

From a technical standpoint, the shift to Unity 5.5.6f1 resolves the notorious black‑screen issue that has plagued recent installations, but it also raises compatibility concerns for the mod ecosystem that has kept the game fresh. By launching the fix as a beta, Playsport signals a pragmatic approach: gather real‑world data, allow modders time to adapt, and mitigate the risk of breaking user‑generated content. This strategy balances rapid problem solving with respect for the community’s contributions, a critical factor for titles that rely heavily on mods for extended replay value.

Business-wise, the move could unlock new revenue streams through DLC, cross‑platform releases, and possibly a subscription model for premium content. With Windows support already live and Mac/Linux on the horizon, the broader platform coverage widens the potential audience. Moreover, the transparent communication on Steam fosters goodwill, encouraging both new players and long‑time fans to re‑engage, which may translate into higher concurrent user counts and a stronger position in the competitive simulation market.

Motorsport Manager revived with a break from SEGA

By Liam Dawe · 10 Feb 2026 at 4:47 pm UTC

Playsport Games announced they've got the rights to Motorsport Manager back from SEGA, and they're already working on updates to the game. Originally released back in 2016, it's quite highly rated by a number of critics and has a Very Positive rating on Steam from over 11,000 reviews too.

Writing in an announcement on Steam the developer posted:

Good news, we've got the rights to Motorsport Manager back from Sega!

So the first thing we wanted to fix is that black screen on booting the game.

For this patch we’ve had to change the version of Unity we are using, to 5.5.6f1, and we are aware this could potentially break some mods. As such we’re initially releasing the patch as a beta to allow time for mods to support it.

This initial release is Windows only, Mac and Linux versions will follow shortly.

If you find any issues with this new patch please let us know.

Updates:

• Fixed black screen on boot

• Fixed incorrect driver positions on minimap

• UI fixes in various menus

• Updated legal text & privacy policy

Nice to see a break between developer and publisher that appears to have gone well, not something that happens too often especially on older games like this.

Motorsport Manager

• Release Date: 9 Nov 2016

• Platform: 🐧 Native Linux

• Official link: Steam