Driveclub getting a huge update in February, dev teases
Evolution Studios went to Twitter to tell fans that they have a big update coming next month for Driveclub, though they were very coy about the details of the said update.
They released nothing but a short 8 second video embedded in Twitter that really doesn't explain much in the way of their thinking. The stylized black and white video races down a highway in a mountainous region. Perhaps new maps? New cars or even the inclusion of new physics is on the way?
Previously they've increased the visual fidelity, though slightly, by introducing one of the better rain weather effects in a console racing game. But it seems they've struggled from the beginning to make Driveclub even playable since it released with many different issues that affected playability. Regardless, it's sold over 2 million copies and continues to do quite well.
Tomorrow's February update to DriveClub is bringing a whole new level of fun to the game. A hardcore handling mode and new tracks should help infuse some needed love into one of the better console racing games.
The new mode lets you turn off all traction control and any other driving assist features to let you truly feel the road. It also might make it that much easier to crash. But just imagine the fun you can have before the moment of impact. In case that isn't quite your thing, this update is also adding six variants of a new track, Scotland - old Town.
All of this is just a precursor to much larger expansions, No Limits and Suzuki, which are coming out on February 23rd. Those will add new cars, bikes and six extra events to play through. Those will be paid expansions, however, and this update with hardcore mode is completely free.
Last month they teased us with a small video showing off a challenging romp through a rain soaked byway, which has turned out to be a teaser for this new hardcore mode, letting you make the experience as realistic as possible.
DriveClub looks to be an amazing racing game, with everything from a McLaren 650S throttling down the road to Suzuki bikes coming in a future DLC. The game looks to have something for everyone, and with companies like Nissan mistaking gameplay for real-life, the graphics are jaw dropping. That said a game is not made by graphics alone and initial reviews saw DriveClub lacking with missing or broken features following a delay. Let’s hope the latest update brings more people into the fold for the game.
The latest update for DriveClub features a new map, based in an old Scottish Town (unsurprisingly called Scotland’s Old Town) is available in three variants to give you a bit of choice.
If the extra map wasn’t enough there is a break from the arcade tradition of the game with the addition of the hardcore mode. Meant to bring a more challenging experience, selecting this option gives you breaks that lock and your tires will scream out if you try to perform some of the more ambitious driving moves.
With an update like this the game now has two feelings, but with players often wanting to seek out new ways to drive faster, is a game mode that makes them slow down a good option? With the new game mode sharing the same leaderboard as the normal mode, you’ll find it a challenge to get your times anywhere near high enough to get near the top.
Evolution Studios, the British development team responsible for Driveclub and previously Motorstorm and WRC, has been shut down by Sony today.
GamesIndustry confirmed this while posting the following statement from Sony.
Regular reviews take place throughout SCE Worldwide Studios, ensuring that the resources that we have in such a competitive landscape can create and produce high quality, innovative and commercially viable projects.
As part of this process we have reviewed and assessed all current projects and plans for the short and medium term and have decided to make some changes to the European studios structure.
As a result, it has been decided that Evolution Studio will close.
It is regrettable that this decision will lead to compulsory redundancies. We accept that this decision will mean that we risk losing high calibrestaff but by focusing on other Studios that already have exciting new projects in development we believe we will be in a stronger position going forward and able to offer the best possible content of the highest quality for our consumers.
Where possible we will try to reallocate people onto other projects. If appropriate opportunities are not possible within the company, we will assist staff in any way we can, including speaking with local employers and with other development companies.
Evolution has been an important part of SCE Worldwide Studios for over 10 years – working on ground-breaking racing titles like WRC, Motorstorm and DRIVECLUB.
This decision should not take anything away from the great work that Evolution has produced.
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Game Director Paul Rustchynsky said on the Twitter that he had an incredible time working for Evolution Studios.
Driveclub will still be maintained by another internal team at Sony, but it’s probably best not to expect another DLC pack. After all, the last one released is called Finish Line – clearly, the team was already aware of what was going to happen, unlike Lionhead with Fable Legends.
Evolution: We Hope to Stay Together and Do Something Awesome; Great Options for Us
Earlier today we posted about Sony Computer Entertainment’s decision to close Evolution Studios, the developer behind Motorstorm and Driveclub.
On the surface, the story bears a lot of similarities to Microsoft’s decision to shut down Lionhead, another historic UK developer. However, once you look closer there are some significant differences.
For starters, even Lionhead’s top level executives were apparently informed at the last minute. On the other hand, Evolution employees might have been aware for quite a while if we consider a couple of clues.
The first one is that the latest DLC pack for Driveclub is aptly titled Finish Line. The second one is that employees have a very different attitude while commenting the news on social media, focusing more on the good memories they had as a team and maintaining a positive outlook for the future.
@Yalstromo@yosp Don't be mad, stay positive for the future, the opportunities are endless
More importantly for fans of their racing games, there seems to be a good chance that they’ll create a new team together. That’s what Senior Community Manager Jamie Brayshaw said, adding first that there are “great options” for Evolution developers and then, in another tweet, that they want do something “awesome” if they stay together.
@ysalmi There are plenty of opportunities for such as talented team We'll all be just fine!
Of course, should they create a new studio it seems likely that their games will be targeting multiple platforms now. Luckily, between Kickstarter, Steam Early Access and all the great engines available for free nowadays, there’s never been a better time to create an indie studio to develop games. Good luck, Evolution!
The fate of Driveclub is no longer a mystery, as it's been revealed by Jamie Brayshaw, the community manager for the game, that it'll live on under the auspicious care of a team (hopefully bolstered by members of Evolution Studios) at PlayStation itself.
In an open letter to fans on Twitter, the Sr. Community Manager thanked the community and told us all that while Evolution Studios is no longer, the best is yet to come, of Driveclub and likely of the people from the now defunct studio. It's still not clear whether we'll see more, regular, DLC in the future or if the new team will be maintaining the servers and looking to fix bugs and glitches that come along. Whether or not there's still plans for a sequel, we don't know. That certainly shouldn't be ruled out regardless of the circumstances of the studio. The game was a success and the consolidation of the personnel could lead to rethinking that new game. Or more DLC and expansions.
This is good news for those that still quite enjoy the racing simulator, which happens to feature some of the best rain effects in any racing game on console.
Evolution Studios was closed yesterday following an internal review by Sony. Though the game itself has been very successful with over 2 million shipped units of the game, it was decided that changes needed to be made, though people will hopefully be cross-filled to other positions within Sony.
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