Milestone
Italian video game developer known for licensed and original racing games, particularly motorcycle-racing titles.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
2requests
1companies- Anthropic2
- Profile
- 2
- Controversies
- 0
- JSON · MD
- 0
- First read
- Nov 4, 2026
- Latest read
- Nov 4, 2026
From this site's server log
Overview
Milestone S.r.l. is an Italian video game developer headquartered in Milan and focused primarily on racing software. Founded in 1994 by Antonio Farina under the name Graffiti, the company first established itself through Screamer, a personal-computer racing game that helped demonstrate that an Italian studio could compete in a technically demanding international genre. The studio adopted the Milestone name in 1996 and used the visibility of Screamer to secure publishing relationships with Virgin Interactive and Electronic Arts. Those partnerships led to additional car-racing releases and a series of games licensed from the Superbike World Championship. The company’s early publishing relationships gave it experience in both original game development and externally licensed sports properties. A later agreement with Atari produced Racing Evoluzione, released in 2003. The title received mixed reviews and was disadvantaged by limited marketing and competition from better-supported racing releases. Its commercial performance contributed to the departure of several important members of staff and forced Milestone to reconsider its direction. Milestone joined the Leader Group in 2002, a period during which it expanded its workforce, recruited younger developers and worked on several platforms and projects at the same time. The studio initially relied heavily on the group’s internal publisher, Lago, but later pursued relationships with outside publishers. During this phase it developed games intended to offer a more limited-scale alternative to the Gran Turismo model, including Alfa Romeo Racing Italiano and Corvette Evolution GT. It then returned increasingly to motorcycle racing, a category with strong cultural resonance in Italy. Super-Bikes Riding Challenge, released in 2006, became an important turning point by helping define the company’s long-term identity. Milestone continued producing Superbike-related games and also supported Capcom’s MotoGP projects. Its workforce grew from 55 employees in 2007 to approximately 80 in 2010, making it one of Italy’s largest game developers at that time. In 2011 the studio separated from Leader Group and reorganized as an independent company. The transition brought financial pressure: the company reported low earnings in 2012 and stopped pursuing work-for-hire development as it moved toward self-publishing and ownership of its own commercial strategy. A major strategic step followed in 2013, when Milestone obtained the license to develop MotoGP games. MotoGP 13 was released later that year and became the beginning of a sustained series of officially licensed motorcycle-racing titles. The company subsequently expanded its portfolio through agreements connected with FIM Motocross, the World Rally Championship and Monster Energy Supercross. These properties complemented its continuing work in motorcycle racing and broadened its position within licensed motorsport entertainment. Koch Media acquired Milestone on 14 August 2019, including the studio’s intellectual property. At the time of the transaction the developer had approximately 200 employees. Chief executive Luisa Bixio remained with the company after the acquisition. Milestone operates as a specialist developer within Koch Media’s broader games business, with its brand associated with simulation-oriented racing experiences, annual or recurring licensed sports series, and original racing properties such as Ride and Gravel. Its principal competitive advantage is the combination of dedicated racing technology, experience with official motorsport licenses and a long history of developing for multiple platforms.
History
Milestone began in 1994 when Antonio Farina founded a Milan-based development studio called Graffiti. Its first important project was Screamer, a PC racing game that gave the young company international visibility. In 1996 the studio changed its name to Milestone. The success of Screamer helped it negotiate publishing agreements with Virgin Interactive and Electronic Arts. Virgin published Screamer 2 and Screamer Rally, while Electronic Arts worked with Milestone on games licensed from the Superbike World Championship. Three such games were released through 2000, providing the company with early experience in developing official sports properties. The exposure generated by these releases led to an agreement with Atari for Racing Evoluzione. The game was released in 2003, but Atari’s limited marketing support and the title’s competition with Project Gotham Racing weakened its commercial prospects. Its mixed reception and poor performance were followed by the departure of several key figures. Milestone subsequently recruited younger developers and began to reshape its production model. Milestone joined Leader Group in 2002. As part of that organization it expanded its staff and developed several games across multiple platforms. The studio initially worked mainly with Leader’s internal publishing arm, Lago, but later concluded that external publishing relationships offered better opportunities. Projects such as Alfa Romeo Racing Italiano and Corvette Evolution GT reflected an attempt to compete with the broader appeal of the Gran Turismo series while operating at a smaller scale. Motorcycle racing then became central to the company’s identity. Super-Bikes Riding Challenge, released in 2006, marked a significant return to the category, after which Milestone produced further Superbike titles and contributed to Capcom’s MotoGP games. The company grew to 55 employees by October 2007 and about 80 by January 2010, making it a leading Italian game developer by headcount. In 2011 Milestone left Leader Group and became independent. Its earnings were low in 2012, and the studio abandoned work-for-hire development in favor of self-publishing and greater control over its own products. In 2013 it acquired the license for MotoGP games and released MotoGP 13. The performance and visibility of its MotoGP work supported later licenses for FIM Motocross, the World Rally Championship and Monster Energy Supercross. Milestone’s business expanded substantially during the 2010s, with reported profits reaching €28 million in 2017. On 14 August 2019 Koch Media acquired the company and all of its intellectual property for €44.9 million in cash. Luisa Bixio, Milestone’s chief executive, continued with the studio. Under Koch Media ownership, Milestone remains identified with specialist racing development and a portfolio spanning motorcycle, rally, motocross and car-racing properties.
- 2019
Acquired by Koch Media
[1]Koch Media acquires Milestone and its intellectual property in a cash transaction.
- 2013
Begins the MotoGP license era
[1]Milestone obtains the MotoGP license and releases MotoGP 13 later in the year.
- 2011
Becomes independent
[1]Milestone separates from Leader Group and restructures as an independent developer.
- 2006
Super-Bikes Riding Challenge reinforces the motorcycle focus
[1]The release helps establish motorcycle racing as a defining part of Milestone’s creative and commercial identity.
- 2003
Racing Evoluzione is released
[1]Atari publishes Milestone’s car-racing title, whose mixed reception and weak commercial performance contribute to personnel departures.
- 2002
Joins Leader Group
[1]Milestone becomes part of Leader Group and gains the capacity to work on several projects and platforms.
- 1996
Graffiti adopts the Milestone name
[1]The studio rebrands as Milestone after the early success of Screamer.
- 1994
Studio founded as Graffiti
[1]Antonio Farina establishes the Milan-based development studio that would later become Milestone.
Products and positioning
A specialist racing-game developer combining simulation-oriented driving and riding experiences with official motorsport licenses.
PC racing game
Screamer
Milestone’s first notable racing property, originally developed while the studio was still called Graffiti. Screamer gave the company early international visibility and helped it secure publishing relationships with Virgin Interactive and Electronic Arts. Its success also supported the later Screamer 2 and Screamer Rally releases.
Licensed motorcycle-racing games
Superbike World Championship series
A group of games based on the Superbike World Championship license and developed in cooperation with Electronic Arts during Milestone’s early period. These projects gave the studio practical experience with licensed motorsport presentation and helped guide its later concentration on motorcycle racing.
Licensed motorcycle-racing series · 2013
MotoGP
Milestone’s long-running series based on the MotoGP championship. The studio obtained the license in 2013 and released MotoGP 13 that year. The property became one of its most visible recurring franchises and helped strengthen its reputation as a specialist developer of motorcycle-racing games.
Licensed motocross-racing games
MXGP
A motocross-focused line associated with Milestone’s expansion beyond circuit motorcycle racing. The series uses official FIM Motocross-related licensing and extends the company’s expertise into off-road racing, terrain handling and motocross competition formats.
Licensed motorcycle-racing games
Monster Energy Supercross
A series built around the Monster Energy Supercross property. It broadens Milestone’s motorcycle portfolio with stadium-based off-road racing, emphasizing jumps, tracks, riders and licensed competition structures.
Licensed rally games
WRC
Milestone’s work connected with the World Rally Championship license represents an expansion from motorcycle games into four-wheel rally competition. The property complements the studio’s broader strategy of developing games around recognized international motorsport brands.
Original motorcycle-racing series
Ride
An original motorcycle-racing brand associated with Milestone’s broader catalog. Unlike its championship-licensed properties, Ride gives the studio a proprietary setting for presenting a wide range of motorcycles and road-riding competition.
Car-racing game · 2003
Racing Evoluzione
A car-racing title developed by Milestone and published by Atari in 2003. The project was an important early attempt to broaden the studio’s profile, but its release received mixed reviews and was commercially weakened by limited marketing and strong competition.
Motorcycle-racing game · 2006
Super-Bikes Riding Challenge
Released in 2006, this motorcycle-racing game marked a decisive return to the category for Milestone. Its importance lies less in being a single flagship product than in its role in shaping the studio’s subsequent identity and portfolio.
Brand decisions
2019
Accept acquisition by Koch MediaM&ABackground
Milestone had grown into a sizable specialist developer with a portfolio of racing intellectual property and licensed motorsport series.
Action taken
Koch Media acquired Milestone, its intellectual property and related operations for €44.9 million in cash.
Aftermath
Milestone continued operating within Koch Media’s games organization, while CEO Luisa Bixio remained with the studio.
Acquisition price. €44.9 million (2019)
2013
Pursue the MotoGP licenseProduct launchBackground
Milestone had developed substantial expertise in motorcycle racing through Superbike-related projects and other motorcycle titles.
Action taken
The company obtained the MotoGP license and released MotoGP 13.
Aftermath
The success of the MotoGP games supported further licensing relationships involving motocross, rally and Supercross.
2012
Ends work-for-hire developmentStrategyBackground
Milestone recorded low earnings during its early independent period and reassessed the sustainability of developing games primarily for other parties.
Action taken
The company stopped developing games on a work-for-hire basis and began moving toward self-publishing.
Aftermath
The change gave Milestone greater control over its products and commercial strategy and supported its later expansion of licensed racing franchises.
Earnings. €2.6 million (2012)
2011
Separate from Leader Group and pursue independenceStrategyBackground
After operating within Leader Group for several years, Milestone sought greater control over its growth and commercial direction.
Action taken
The studio reorganized as an independent company and aimed to remain self-reliant.
Aftermath
The transition was followed by financial pressure, but it also preceded the move away from work-for-hire development and toward self-publishing.
Recent events
Reported
Milestone announces Ride 4 release for Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5[3]
Milestone announced that Ride 4 would launch for Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 on January 21, 2021. The game was also scheduled to launch for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam on October 8.
Reported
Milestone announces RIDE 4[4]
Milestone announced RIDE 4 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows PC via Steam, with the game planned to launch on October 8.
Sources4 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/milestone · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled