Exclusive: Rainbow Studios Reviving “Baja” Offroad Racer for THQ Nordic

According to materials provided to eXputer by an anonymous source, the long-forgotten Baja IP centered on offroad racing is currently being revived by THQ Nordic. It’s been reported that Rainbow Studios is developing the new Baja game, which is the famed studio behind other popular offroad racers, such as the MX vs. ATV franchise and Motocross Madness. This particular genre is right up Rainbow’s alley.  

Furthermore, our sources have confirmed that the title is in its early stages and pretty distant from its planned launch. In fact, the developers are targeting 2025 to be the Baja sequel’s release year. Another vital piece of information due here is that the game is being developed in Unreal Engine 4, although a potential upgrade to Unreal Engine 5 may be in the cards.  

In addition, this new Baja game will be launched on multiple platforms, including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, while likely skipping old-gen consoles. We cannot reveal any more information for now, but eXputer has seen graphical evidence pertaining to the under-development offroad racer that verifies its existence. 

The IP itself is based on a real-life event called Baja 1000—an offroad motorsport racing occasion held on the Baja California peninsula in northwestern Mexico. It takes place every year and is one of the most anticipated events across the country. Just like the real deal, Baja 1000 features several tracks and houses an array of different vehicles, including trucks, dirtbikes, buggies, and others. 

There has only been one original Baja game so far, titled Baja: Edge of Control, and its release dates back to 2008 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. At that time, 2XL Games was the developer of the project, with THQ serving as the publisher. Edge of Control saw mixed reception upon launch and went on to accumulate mediocre ratings. However, the game was nominated for 2008’s Best Racing Game by GameSpot and found its place as a cult hit with fans of the genre. 

Fast-forward to 2017, THQ, then rebranded as THQ Nordic, made the remaster of Baja: Edge of Control official for the then-modern platforms, and sourced BlitWorks to work on the revamped version of its classic IP. Baja: Edge of Control HD finally came out in September 2017 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC, boasting 4K visuals, enhanced lighting effects, and a number of other improvements. 

According to fans, Baja has remained an exceptional offroad racing game throughout the years, with a difficult yet rewarding gameplay system that feels like no other when it finally clicks in. No thanks to the poor sales of the title, Baja: Edge of Control isn’t as popular as it should be, but a must-try all the same for die-hard offroad racing fans. For the veterans, better get your vehicles revving in celebration of what’s to come next.