The Crew Motorfest Year 4 begins October 7, 2026 with one of the game’s biggest free map expansions so far. Kauai joins the playable world alongside the new Winch mechanic, wildlife, the Kauai Expeditions playlist and the premium Tomb Raider: Secrets of Ni’ihau adventure. Nintendo Switch 2 follows on October 8. See Ubisoft’s Season 11 patch notes.
1. The Crew Motorfest Year 4 starts with free Kauai
Season 11 opens Kauai to all players for free. Ubisoft highlights swamps, forests, coastline and Red Canyon, giving returning players a genuinely new environment rather than another event layered over the same roads. The free Kauai Expeditions playlist is built around offroad exploration and discovery rather than simply sending faster cars through familiar scenery. Explore the official Kauai Year 4 details.
2. The Winch changes how vehicles interact with the world
The new Winch lets eligible vehicles attach to hard surfaces, contextual vehicles and objects. Ubisoft says it is used to clear blocked paths, move cargo and solve environmental challenges, so exploration now has a physical tool that can matter outside pure racing. See how the Winch works in Season 11.
3. Wildlife makes the islands feel less like race tracks
More than 40 animal species are being added across the islands, from sea turtles and whales to horses, wild boar and birds. It is a small feature mechanically, but an important one for players who treat the game as a road-trip sandbox rather than a queue of races. See Ubisoft’s wildlife breakdown.
4. Tomb Raider: Secrets of Ni’ihau launches today
The premium crossover sends players to Ni’ihau for an adventure guided by Lara Croft, mixing driving with puzzles, exploration and environmental challenges. Ubisoft says the playlist includes eight main events, 25 animals to photograph, 17 treasure chests, three photoquests and five exclusive vehicles. Access requires the Year 4 Pass or the standalone DLC. Read the official Tomb Raider: Secrets of Ni’ihau details.
5. The Crew Motorfest Year 4 Pass includes 21 vehicles
The $29.99 Year 4 Pass includes 21 vehicles across the year plus access to Tomb Raider: Secrets of Ni’ihau. Free-update players still get Kauai and the wider Season 11 systems, so the pass makes the most sense for regular Motorfest players who want the premium adventure and the full vehicle drip. Compare the Year 4 Pass content.
6. Switch 2 arrives October 8
The Crew Motorfest lands on Nintendo Switch 2 on October 8 with cross-save and cross-progression support. Ubisoft also notes that purchases made on another platform do not transfer automatically to Switch 2, and The Crew 2 Collection Import is not available there. Performance still needs real-world testing, but the portability angle is significant. Read the official Switch 2 FAQ.
7. Ubisoft already mapped out 2027
Season 12 is planned for January 2027 with an Asia theme, while Season 13 is planned for April 2027 with semi-trucks and service-vehicle experiences such as taxis and limos. That roadmap makes The Crew Motorfest Year 4 a full expansion cycle rather than a one-day content spike. See the complete Year 4 roadmap.
If Switch 2 is your main platform, our EA SPORTS FC 27 Switch 2 breakdown is another recent look at how major multiplatform games are adapting to Nintendo’s hardware. For Motorfest, the key point is simpler: the free side of Season 11 is substantial enough that returning players have a reason to reinstall before spending anything. Check the full Season 11 patch notes.
Sources and official links
Primary details come from Ubisoft’s Season 11 patch notes, Year 4 showcase, and Switch 2 FAQ.
