Report claims PS4 launch title Driveclub delayed until 2014
UPDATE: Sony confirms delay, announces new Plus bonuses.
UPDATE: Sony has confirmed the delay of PS4 launch title Driveclub delay until "early 2014" and announced details of new offers for PlayStation Plus subscribers who previously would have been able to play a free version of the game.
Indie title Contrast will now be offered for free at launch for Plus members, and Sony will grant an "open weekend" trial of Killzone Shadow Fall's multiplayer on 28th-29th December.
In a lengthy statement posted to both the US and EU PlayStation blogs, Sony Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida explained that Driveclub's postponement was due to the game simply needing more time.
"SCE Worldwide Studios and the team at Evolution Studios have made the difficult decision to delay the release of Driveclub and Driveclub PlayStation Plus Edition until early 2014," Yoshida said. "Driveclub will be a truly innovative, socially connected racing game, but the team requires more time in order to deliver on their vision - and I'm fully confident the game will surpass your expectations.
"This decision also affects PlayStation Plus members' Instant Game Collection for launch. To be clear, Driveclub PlayStation Plus Edition will still be part of the Instant Game Collection when it is released. For the PS4 launch, in addition to Resogun, I'm pleased to announce that Contrast, the highly anticipated game from Compulsion Games will also be available to PlayStation Plus members for free as part of Instant Game Collection. If you're not aware of Contrast, it will whisk you away to a surreal vaudevillian, film-noir inspired reality full of performance, intrigue, shadow-play and drama. I'm sure you'll agree that it is unlike anything you will have played before. We're also offering members access to an exclusive 'Open Weekend' trial of Killzone Shadow Fall multiplayer on December 28-29.
"We understand that the delay is disappointing news, but can assure you that the reason we have made this decision is to ensure that when Driveclub launches, it will realise the next-gen racing vision. And PlayStation 4 gamers will have no shortage of titles to play this year. At launch alone, we have Killzone Shadow Fall, Knack, Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, FIFA 14, Call of Duty: Ghosts, and Battlefield 4 to name but a few, as well as the incredible list of indie games coming to PS4.
"A broad portfolio of games will be available on PS4 before the end of the year, and with games such as inFamous Second Son, The Order 1886, Destiny, Watch Dogs and now Driveclub coming next year, the strength of the software line-up on PS4 is unprecedented.
"Driveclub is a really ambitious racing title and the game is looking stunning. The extra time we're giving the team means the visuals and overall experience are only going to get better. We can assure you that it will be worth the wait."
ORIGINAL STORY: PlayStation 4 launch title Driveclub has been delayed until next year, a report has claimed.
Rumours that the game would miss its PS4 launch date have been backed up by a Kotaku source that verified the game's release had indeed been postponed until 2014.
Sony has yet to respond to Eurogamer's multiple requests for comment.
Driveclub's delay would be a significant blow. A free version of the game had been promised at launch for all PlayStation Plus subscribers (albeit with a lesser number of cars and tracks). Should Sony confirm Driveclub's delay, it may need to rustle up a replacement offer for Plus customers.
The title was also a key showcase for the PlayStation 4's social features, with interaction between friends an integral part of its gameplay.
Developed by British studio Evolution of MotorStorm fame, Driveclub was unveiled during Sony's E3 2013 press conference as one of three major first-party titles available at the PS4 launch - the remaining two being Killzone: Shadow Fall and Knack.
This week has already seen the delay of Ubisoft's next-gen launch game Watch Dogs - a postponement that will have hit both Sony and Microsoft.
