Rainbow Studios

Rainbow Studios is an American game development studio founded in 1986 in Phoenix, Arizona. Throughout its long history, it has specialised primarily in racing games focusing on motocross, quad bikes, off-road vehicles and other extreme sports. In 2001, the studio became part of THQ, and later came under the umbrella of THQ Nordic, where it remains to this day.

The studio’s greatest fame came from the MX vs. ATV series, which became one of the most successful brands in off-road racing. Players can take the wheel of motocross bikes, quad bikes, UTVs and other off-road vehicles and race on vast tracks featuring realistic suspension physics and dynamic terrain. The series gained popularity thanks to its arcade-style gameplay combined with faithfully recreated controls.

Even before the MX vs. ATV series was created, the studio had made a name for itself with titles such as MX Unleashed, ATV Offroad Fury and the water racing game Splashdown. Rainbow Studios was also behind the development of games such as Monster Jam, Cars Mater-National Championship, Big Beach Sports and the more recent instalments in the MX vs. ATV Legends series.

The developers are known for their sophisticated vehicle physics, the realistic handling of motorbikes off-road, and vast open tracks that allow players to freely explore their surroundings. It is precisely this emphasis on the driving model and entertaining arcade-style gameplay that has helped the studio establish a strong position amongst fans of off-road racing.

With a history spanning almost forty years, Rainbow Studios ranks among the leading developers of racing games focused on motocross and extreme sports. Their titles are regularly released on PlayStation, Xbox and PC platforms and remain among the most popular games in their genre to this day.