~ Join the Rival Stars Horse Racing Community to discuss the latest news and updates! This update rolls out in stages over the next few days, so if you don’t see it yet, check back a little later. ~

Hi Rival Stars Community!

Thanks to everyone who jumped into our first Show Jumping Live Event. It’s been awesome seeing you get involved and share your thoughts, and we’re looking forward to continuing to improve the experience based on your feedback.

In this update, we’re excited to take our first steps into something new with an early access look at Barrel Racing. This is a first pass at the mode as it begins to take shape,  giving you a chance to jump in and get a feel for it as we continue building it out over time.

Barrel Racing Early Access

Star Club subscribers can get their first early access look at Barrel Racing in the Free Roam Arena.

Rooted in rodeo tradition, Barrel Racing is all about speed, precision, and timing. Riders and horses ride like lightning to complete tight turns around a set pattern of barrels. 

This is our first step of the journey. We’ve learned a lot from developing Show Jumping, and we’re bringing those learnings with us as we shape Barrel Racing over time. This first version is intentionally light, but there’s plenty more to come.

In the Free Roam Arena, you can try out and offer early feedback on the first pass of Barrel Racing, including an early version of the controls and our first barrel pattern.

To get things started, controls are simple. There’s a dedicated turn button that lets your horse make quick, sharp turns, helping you navigate the pattern and get a feel for how things will work.

This is a journey that will take time, and we’re excited to take it with you. Your feedback will help shape where Barrel Racing goes next, so keep an eye out for the Barrel Racing Survey in-game, future updates, and more news on our social channels and website.

New Jockey Faces Added

This is something we’ve been really looking forward to for a while.

As we continue introducing new looks for your horses, it felt only right that we showed our jockeys the same love. In this update, we’re giving jockey customisation an upgrade with new portraits and updated facial models.

When you’re soaring over a Show Jumping fence, heading out into the wild in Cross Country or Free Roam, or crossing the line in a nail-biting photo finish, those should feel like moments worth capturing. We hope this change helps your jockey feel like a true part of the story you share.

It’s a small change that makes a world of difference, and we can’t wait to see the moments you capture with this update.

Seven Years of Horse Racing

On the 24th of April, Rival Stars Horse Racing celebrates its 7th anniversary, and it’s a journey worth celebrating.

Over the years, we’ve introduced new breeds, game modes, customisations, and features, and through it all, you’ve been right there with us. We want to take a moment to thank our passionate and dedicated community for riding alongside us.

To celebrate, players can take part in the Seven Years Young Limited Time Event. Complete tasks, earn points, and unlock amazing rewards, including special FREE Race Pass rewards.

We’ll also be celebrating with a week-long Anniversary Calendar, packed with daily gifts, along with more celebrations across our social channels.

And while this milestone is a chance to look back, it’s also a reminder that there’s still plenty ahead! We’re excited for what’s to come, and we’re looking forward to continuing this journey with you.

What’s Coming Up Next?

As we celebrate seven years of Rival Stars Horse Racing, we just want to say thank you. Your support, feedback, and passion over the years have helped shape the game into what it is today and continues to guide what we do next.

We’re already working on our next update, with a focus on improving how Show Jumping feels to play. We’ve seen your feedback around controls and recent experiences, and we’re continuing to make adjustments as we go.

We hear you, and we’re going to keep putting in the work.

Until then, keep racing, and we’ll see you at the starting gates!

Changes and Fixes

Barrel Racing Early Access available to Star Club Subscribers

  • Introduced the first pass of Barrel Racing controls, including a dedicated quick turn button for sharper handling.
  • New features and controls to be added in future updates.
  • Barrel Racing can be accessed from the Free Roam menu in Race and Ride.

Jockey Customisation updated

  • New portraits and improved facial models have been added.

7th Anniversary events have been added

  • On the 27th of April, players can take part in the Seven Years Young Limited Time Event.
  • Added Free Race Pass rewards as part of Anniversary celebrations.
  • Introduced a week-long Anniversary Calendar with daily gifts. 

Other notable changes and bug fixes: 

Bug fixes:  

  • Fixed an issue where Limited Time Offer horses could change traits after purchase.
  • Fixed an issue where Live Event goals were not displaying correctly.
  • Fixed an issue where Show Jumping tutorial steps could repeat for some players.