Following its release last month, Project Motor Racing’s Japanese GT500 DLC was removed from sale across all platforms this week without warning. All official social media posts and mentions on the game’s website were also pulled, sparking speculation about the DLC’s licensing credentials.
Now, Straight4 Studios has released a statement addressing the situation, saying it was delisted due to a “sensitive concern” and “does not reflect any finding of fault or wrongdoing” of the developer or publisher.
“We want to address the temporary delisting of our DLC 1 pack, as well as some of the speculation surrounding this decision,” the developer wrote in a statement shared on social media.
“The choice to temporarily remove the DLC was made by us as a courtesy while we work through a sensitive concern. We believe this is the responsible course of action while good-faith discussions continue.”
“This temporary step does not reflect any finding of fault or wrongdoing on the part of the studio or our publisher,” it continues. “Our focus remains on safeguarding the content for players and reaching a constructive resolution as quickly as possible.
“We are working urgently to resolve this matter and will share a further update once discussions have concluded.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
At the time of writing, the Japanese GT500 DLC is still listed on Steam and the PlayStation Store, but is unavailable to purchase. It remains delisted on the Xbox digital store.
While it doesn’t use the Super GT moniker and isn’t officially endorsed by the real-world championship, the DLC featured nine licensed vehicles used in the Japanese series.
These included cars never seen in sim racing such as the 2022 Nissan Calsonic Impul Z GT500 and 2024 Honda Civic GT500, alongside the Takimiya Circuit, inspired by the Okayama International Circuit.
Released on 31st March, the car pack retailed for €9.99. Those who purchased the Year 1 Pass and Year 1 Bundle could also access the DLC at no extra charge.
While Straight4 Studios hasn’t confirmed when the DLC will be relisted, it confirmed that the removal is a “temporary” measure.
“Players who have already purchased the affected DLC are not, and will not be, impacted by this temporary delisting,” the studio confirmed. “Season Pass holders will also not be affected, either in relation to this pack or to future packs included in our Year 1 Season Pass.”