DriveClub has had quite the journey, hasn't it? The ill-fated Evolution Studios produced this equally ill-fated PlayStation 4 exclusive racer, and to say it's had a rough time of it would be an understatement. Its time on the road has almost come to an end, as Sony has delisted the title from the PlayStation Store. More than that, the servers will be shut off from today. Those who still have DriveClub will be disconnected from the titular clubs, and will have to slide through the rain offline forever more.
One thing you can say for the game is that it's been at the beating heart of everything good and bad about this generation of consoles. Announced alongside the PS4 itself back in February 2013, DriveClub looked jaw-droppingly gorgeous from the very start. It was one of Sony's early flagship titles, along with Killzone: Shadow Fall, to really show off the power of its new machine. As with many of the Worldwide Studios teams, Evolution was aiming for something a little more serious for PS4. Motorstorm was raw, aggressive, and messy; DriveClub was more sophisticated, straight-faced, and better looking.
The developer also made it clear early that it had plans to support the game post-launch with plenty of additional content. "Ultimately, the game that you buy at launch will be the doorway to a wider experience that’s going to be fed week-on-week with brand new content,” came the comments from director Col Rodgers. “That’s all going to be free, and the experience of DriveClub when it comes out is going to be absolutely huge.” It was also intended for the game to be an early poster child for PlayStation Plus on PS4. A free version of the game with fewer cars and tracks would mean an instant community for this socially-led racing game.
Things started to go a little off-road when it was announced DriveClub would miss its PS4 launch day release date. It was delayed by several months, eventually launching in October of 2014. The time was filled with mouth-watering clips and affirmations from Sony that development was going well.
However, once the game did go live, things quickly fell apart. Significant server problems forced Sony to delay the freebie PS Plus edition of the game while Evolution rushed to fight the fires. It was a dreadful start for the racing game that championed online play, and the issues would persist for several weeks. Eventually, DriveClub did get back on track, but the damage had been done; the game's reputation was in tatters.
It would be a shame to remember DriveClub as a failure, though. Over the years, the racer slowly became one of the PS4's best, thanks to herculean efforts from the now-closed Evolution Studios. From implementing new weather types and replays to throwing in brand new tracks, cars, and events for free, the developer went above and beyond to try and regain the trust of its players. And, to be fair, the game ended up selling rather well, despite the problems.
This wasn't quite enough to save the studio, however. It was hit with heavy layoffs, and the remaining staff continued to push out game-changing patches. Eventually, the PS Plus edition of the game did release, and the months that followed would see DriveClub balloon in size and quality. It was gradually finding its potential with this newfangled 'Games as a Service' model.
Unfortunately, a huge blow was struck when Sony made the decision to close Evolution Studios entirely in March 2016. The team would go on to make DriveClub VR for the fledgling virtual reality tech, but that was the end of the studio's efforts on the game. DriveClub was finally the game it promised to be, but the company that made it happen was dissolved. Much of the team would go on to create Onrush for Codemasters, while others were migrated to other teams within Sony.
This largely concluded DriveClub's transformation, but what a transformation. It went from being that delayed PS4 launch game with all the server trouble to one of the console's best and brightest racers, with arguably the best value season pass on the system. The developer held on long enough to see its ambitions of a truly connected, social racing title come to fruition. For the years that followed Evolution's closure, the game continued to tick along in the background as a quietly brilliant PS4 exclusive.
As we said at the top of this, it's a pretty extraordinary journey, and one that's spanned the life of PS4. Again, you could say DriveClub draws parallels with nearly all the benefits and drawbacks of modern gaming. Reliance on online features meant the title stalled at the starting line, but countless patches and content updates meant it could slowly make a triumphant comeback.
Now, you'll no longer be able to purchase DriveClub digitally, and the online features so core to the experience are disabled. We've reached the end of the line, then, but anyone who owns the game can still hop into the driver's seat for some offline road trips. Will you miss this troubled PS4 racer now it's been written off? Wave the chequered flag in the comments below.
Comments 80
Shame. Really a great game, kinda surprised it is being de-listed. Kinda trashy to drop the servers, too, considering the game.
It's a shame that we never got a follow-up to this game this generation. I think it could have become the PS4's answer to Xbox's Forza Horizon series. Hopefully another Sony studio brings it back for PS5.
Still one of the best looking driving games on any platform out there.
RIP, Gran Turismo Sport is better, but I am sad for Evolution Studios
RIP. Amazing driving game, massively underrated. Whereas Forza and Gran Turismo were pretty much aiming for the same thing, Evolution just went and did their own thing, and it is more than worthy of sitting next to Forza Horizon 4 in my games collection.
I was really hoping that they were going to do a really cheap deal on all the dlc just before they delisted it. I cant even understand the reason behind removing it and all of the dlc from the store. It just doesnt make sence to but I'd be interested to find out why.
It is already gone from UK store.
Always sad when games are delisted, and especially when it's first-party games. This is one of the games I never got to try myself. I guess there's always the chance of finding a physical copy somewhere, but without any of the DLC.
Seems like it was delisted a day early though. At least I haven't been able to find it on PSN (DK store) just minutes ago.
@Kidfunkadelic83 Servers cost money to run and Sony don't want to pay for them. With the core of the experience designed around the online element - selling the game 'as is' but without the servers running would run in to trade descriptions issues. That's pretty much it really. Shame.
This is b****cks!!! Why aren't people rallying against this??? It can survive very well without live services. Or atleast Sony can get an external dev to patch that and Pro support into the game and just let it live. This is a really sad day. Evolution went down working on a game that now ceases to exist. Atleast the legacy of United Front and Pandemic lives on with Sleeping Dogs and Saboteur. I'll never buy a live service game from Sony ever again. They are simply the worst at supporting them.
I'll take the opportunity once again to boast about how awesome I am/was at Driveclub Bikes, and I challenge you all to beat some of my totally epic lap times. (before, you know, you cant.)
@shuvamg009 Rallying against it? As in, placards in the streets n that?
This was my reason for buying PS4. I pre-ordered Drive Club first then the PS4.
This is a game I loved just from the trailers. That playing other online without them having to be online at the same time excited me. The music played in my head all the time "Be here now" or as i called it by the hook in the song How Fast do you wanna go.
It seemed All the problems were getting this title to work online with Sony's PS4 servers. I cant help to feel this all falls on Sony.
This is a epic fail on Sony's part that seems to have slipped quietly
by.
Why are people so against transient gaming experiences? Can't something just be fun for a while, and then you move on with your life? Does everything have to be boxed up in a collectors edition with a statue and branded pencil case?
@KALofKRYPTON thanks for the info. It makes alot of sence really although it is a shame. Just went on the store to buy the dlc and DC bikes but it's all gone now.
@Kidfunkadelic83
$5 for all the DLC would be nice just like Xbox is doing with Forza 6 before its delist
@KnightWolf yeah would have been nice to have had a big banner on the store for the complete package for 10 quid or something. Would have atleast got them a few more quid and made some people that didnt know aware of the situation.
this is one of the reason i'm not a fan of online focused "live service" games, i still don't like that fact that at any moment they can pull the rug out from under you and the game you spent money on is no longer playable
they could at least offer something in recompense even if it's just a free theme or something
As far as I can tell it's already gone, the only stuff currently on the EU store (from the UK) is the theme, VR, and a free dlc bike.
I do think that the game could and should be reworked for sale as an offline and/or a local host game in some way.
I bought DriveClub twice as Im always interested to try new driving games, but it never really clicked we me as a fun racer for some reason, even on a second look. Picked up Wreckfest this week though, and that is looking to be my favourite PS4 racer so far.
Even offline only, it's still top 3 for me on PS4. Never really play online - in fact I don't think I even created a club. Definitely arcadey compared to GTS but .... gorgeous in a way GT isn't.
@kyleforrester87 Kinda meant on Twitter...
But I'm fine with on-street protest as well
Never was a fan of the game. I really wished they made another Motorstorm as that series was fairly unique and really fun.
@shuvamg009 Ahhh, gotcha. I'll go set up a government petition!
Amazing game... As long as I can play it offline, I'm mostly fine. Althought challenges were fun.
Whilst I don't own and no intention of buying (even less now), I can't believe that a game this old is being delisted and offline being turned off. It seems completely unacceptable! Has it been offered as a PS+ game? If not, then maybe Sony should of before de-listing and keep it going at least a year or two into the next gen.
I wonder if this will affect its Backwards Compatibility for all those who own the game??
Fun simcade racer, that ended up as a very enjoyable racing game overflowing with content - a shame it wasn't given away as a PSPlus free monthly game in it's final moments, or at least massively discounted.
I’m surprised they aren’t offering the dlc cars, levels and liveries for free...or at a discount at the very least.
"let's talk about PS4's Best Racer"
Fixed!
@BAMozzy i'm not sure if it was on PS+, i do remember it having a special PS+ Edition at or around launch but i can't remember what that entailed
Very pretty game and the weather effects were incredibly good but the handling was mostly atrocious, for a simcade racer it did neither side very well.
Single player is king. Every online multiplayer game dies eventually.
What about the VR version?
Haven't played it for a while, but absolutely love the game. Still the best racer on the platform for me.
I've got the Platinum for the base game, but I really need to get back on with Bikes as I still have one trophy to get which requires online... then the rest I can do in my own time.
@kacboy That goes as well, so if you want it you'll have to be quick.
Im playing through Driveclub again on this account. Amazing how much content got released for it.
Unfortunately, seems to be a trend that first-party racing games are being delisted for consoles. I just recently found out that there are multiple Forza titles that have been delisted on Xbox One as well, and Forza Motorsport 6 is next.
I still love DriveClub. The PS4 has been terrible for arcade racers, but this is still a superb one.
Delisting, licence duration etc are are scourge of consumers everywhere. Netflix constantly remove content, games are delisted due to music licenses, it’s extremely anti-consumer and it looks like it will get worse
This game should have gotten PS4pro support
@Ristar24 Interesting, it's probably the most fun I've ever had with a racing game. I am definitely looking forward to trying out Wreckfest, though, as an old Destruction Derby fan.
@Shigurui There is a real learning curve to the handling, but it is much better than you give it credit for. It just takes some investment.
I enjoyed this game a lot. It had it’s faults, but the point-to-point racing and asynchronous online play was fantastic.
Shame SONY got rid of Evolution Studios :-/ I don't get why. They made excellent driving games and this would of been another brilliant game developer to have for them. This game was excellent + they could of updated the MotorStorm games for the PS4(do the first one with Trophies to) and I would of bought it DAY 1 Oh well
Half the blame goes to the gamers who are just too impatient to sit this out with the developers. Many games that didn't quite made the initial quality checks eventually turned out fine.
@doctommaso - I platted the game, investment enough? The handling, in my opinion, was crap mate.
@Shigurui Fair enough! What would be a racing game that you would consider having good handling? Maybe we mean different things. For example, in Forza the cars go all over the road on simple turns and you have to brake way earlier than you would have to in real life. I’m just trying to get a sense of what you mean.
they should have made the game with lan support and released a complete edition at retail. now the game is unplayable and sadly goes to the digital junkyard.
@TheBuzz It’s not unplayable, offline is great. Still a shame, though.
I guess they base this on usage numbers which we have no idea about, but it still sucks.
In fact, given that PS5 is backwards-compatible, it seems to make even less sense to be switching servers off... especially if the new system doesn't have decent racer at launch.
@doctommaso - PGR4 is pretty much the perfect racer. All the PGR games were good, especially 2 but the 4th game was near perfect in my opinion.
@Frigate Especially since there's no Evolution any more, they don't really have anyone known for making this kind of racer, so they'd be relying on third parties.
For me personally, racing's been a little dire this gen all round. I used to be a GT fan, but haven't bothered with it since GT5 on PS3. I'm not overly interested in racing online due to the cheating which is endemic, so I never bothered with GT Sport, and the output from the likes of EA hasn't interested me either.
Other than DriveClub for my 'simcade' fix, I've only bothered with PCars and PCars 2, and they've not been touched much. I'd have loved a DriveClub 2 on PS4 or PS5. I suppose it's still possible as it's a Sony IP, but... who the hell would make it?
@Shigurui That’s one game I’m surprised that never got made BC on Xbox One, would of loved to have seen the original PGR get the X enhanced treatment with its photo-realistic graphics (for its time) before the series went with the cartoonish looks. I agree that PGR4 was the best in the series.
All that work and for what a game that had teething issues and what game hasnt, and then it's delisted and then it's servers are shut down yet it clearly has a following and some gamers who want it at a cheaper price which I don't think is a unreasonable request
@doctommaso I cant say why I couldnt get on with DriveClub, just didnt find the game fun somehow. SEGA Rally is still my benchmark for arcade racing, I really like Wreckfest though.
@Mega-Gazz
In order for sony to keep the game listed they would have to renew the licences with the car companies, which costs a pretty penny.
They have to do it every 5 yrs.
They should have had a final fire sale. Plenty of people would have picked up the dlc at the right price.
I went back to it last night for the first time in a while, as I still had some online-related trophies to get in the Bikes add-on.
Spent three hours running Time Trial laps, gradually shaving 10+ seconds off my time until I got under 1:28.500 for the trophy.
On my first laps, my times were around 1:38, and I felt I had no chance of getting it down my much more than 2 or 3 seconds, but I kept chasing the ghosts, modifying my lines, and the times started coming down.
I always found the game to be quite challenging, yet very rewarding. Although more arcade than sim, the handling is very consistent, and with practice you are always able to improve.
I got the Platinum for the main game ages ago. Now I only had 3 trophies left for the Bikes Platinum, and don't need to worry about the servers going offline.
@MaccaMUFC - I guess it's because of expired music licences, the PGR games had some hefty OST's, doubtful Microsoft would want to renew for a dead franchise. Not sure what you mean about going cartoonish. All the games went for a photo realistic look. Blur used a lot of neon but all the PGR games were pretty much grounded in reality.
Shame that Evolution got closed down - does seem rather myopic when you consider what they put in to turn this around.
Personally, I think Motorstorm: Pacific Rift is my favourite racer on PS3 (bar possibly the Sonic racing series) and to have brought that up to PS4 standards would've been awesome. Perhaps Sony could sell the rights onto CodeMasters and we could see something again but I somehow doubt it.
Best racer on PS4, bar none. Looked stunning, great range of offline and online features, and perfect handling balance between arcade/sim. So gutted we'll never get another one and that there's nothing else quite like it to replace it.
RIP #Driveclub... :_(
@kyleforrester87 Let me get this straight: I can still play my Atari games from the 1970s, but a 2014 release is getting snuffed out? Makes perfect sense to me.
@brachypelma22 glad you agree
@Mega-Gazz crazy thing actually is that they left
The game trailer from gamescom in the store and a ps4 theme en share factory options.
Grab the pitchforks!! But please stand 10 feet apart.
I thought it was pretty yawn but I don't really like racing games like this so 🤷♂️
I got a PS4 late, so experienced Drive Club (and No Man’s Sky) after it had been improved dramatically. Still my favourite racer on PS4.
Maybe they could have maybe released again on ps+ for next month and it might have gotten some players with the isolation. In not saying isolation shouldn't be the reason to living the game up but I reckon it would have been a nice free game I've seen videos of it and it looked fantastic especially the rain effects while driving
An amazing game, I feel one of the best racers I have played and turns out to be my most played game (as per the PS4 stats rundown) Just Imagine what Evolution could have done with the PS4 Pro.
@kyleforrester87 I think it's because when you purchase something you wish to use it when you like. However servers cost money to run, at least it can still be played off-line.
I own Drive Club, GT sport, and 3 need for Speeds on PS4. I enjoyed Drive Club the most of them all. Server issues is what held the game back. Drive Club may have made Sony improve PS4 servers to what they are today.
@Cycologist There were some cars tied to club level. Very good ones I might add, like BAC Mono or Pagani Zonda. I created a club... and added my second US account. Yes, I'm THAT anti-social.
@Speedy-R I purchase a chocolate bar, I eat it, enjoy it, and move on. Sometimes those experiences are just fine!
disgusting behaviour from Sony, I have zero respect for them for doing things like this
Still gutted Sony closed evolution. They were clearly talented developers and would have been good to keep them as a Sony worldwide studio.
@shuvamg009 I am with you on that. How does Microsoft support games with online abilities so long in their lifecycle but Sony has never been able to do the same? They really need to change this if they want people to truly invest in games like this in the long term. There are always games people like to go back to if they have positive online experiences in addition to overall experiences playing said game.
I've said it once, and I'll say it again...
Acquire 3 Fields Entertainment, get some of previous Evo devs back (tech ones especially and not Rushy plz) and give them time to bring their A game...
Oh, and just get rid of Jim effin' Ryan...
That guy is the sole reason for why Sony has done sooo badly in terms of FP studios in Europe...
a while ago i downloaded the demo for the game (which i cannot find anymore also) and i only used it in VR and it was amazing. I was gonna buy the game but i didnt check if VR was fully intergrated or slapped on like they did with GT sports.
Did it have full online VR ?
And with Rally 2.0 comming up that has a expansion for VR i think or that could just be for 1.0 and 2.0 has full VR standard maybe?
@kyleforrester87 but I like my chocolate to go old, white, with powdery specks.
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