Driveclub Finally Gets a Release Date

Sony announced today an Oct. 7 and 8 (for America and Europe, respectively) release date for the long-anticipated Driveclub. Originally set to be a launch title, Driveclub was delayed at the last minute. Earlier this year, the team behind it, Evolution Studios, was hit with layoffs.

The announcement, which comes via Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide President, Shuhei Yoshida, doesn’t shy away from the problems the game has been subject to over the last year or so.

We planned for the game to be ready for early 2014 and are committed to delivering on our ambitious promise of creating a truly innovative, socially connected racing game.

The problem with being ambitious is you have to be prepared to accept there will be challenges along the way. What DRIVECLUB offers has not been previously achieved in this category, and, because of this, the team needed more time to give you the game you’re waiting for.

The trailer gives us a much clearer idea of what to expect when the actual game hits this fall. It’s definitely more like GRID than it is like Forza Motorsport or Gran Turismo. There’s a heavy focus on style in the trailer, complete with stylish 3D menu elements. The trailer shows off drifting and downhill night driving, so it’s definitely more of a street racing sort of game than a circuit racer.

What the trailer doesn’t do a great job showing us is how the social elements will play into the game. The social aspect is talked up any time Sony mentions the game, but how exactly it’ll play into the game is still unclear.