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[Update] Sony Recommits To Driveclub PlayStation Plus Edition
Update: While Sony Computer Entertainment America has yet to respond to us, it seems that our European colleagues were able to make some headway. Following yesterday's equivocal quotes from PlayStation's European boss, Jim Ryan, Sony decided to be a bit more concrete.
Speaking with Eurogamer, Sony says that server capacity is still standing between PlayStation Plus members and the free, scaled down version of Driveclub. No release window has been mentioned.
Original Story:
Fall 2014 had a surprising number of games release with significant problems. The problem touched third-parties, as well as Sony and Microsoft directly. One such title was Sony’s Driveclub.
The title was originally slated for release alongside the PlayStation 4 in November 2013. It was delayed for nearly a year, and finally arrived to market on October 7.
Despite the delay, Sony still assured that the promised PlayStation Plus version was en route. That plan was pushed out once massive problems with Driveclub’s performance were revealed.
Now, PlayStation Europe president Jim Ryan is pulling back even further. In an interview with Metro, Ryan declines to commit that the free version is still coming.
When asked if the PlayStation Plus version is coming, Ryan says that it’s “still being looked at.” When pressed for a restatement of the guaranteed release, Ryan hedges. “I can’t say anything at this stage,” he says.
We’ve reached out to Sony Computer Entertainment America in hopes of getting a more comprehensive statement. President of worldwide studios Shuhei Yoshida commented directly on Driveclub’s problems and may have more to offer on the situation.
Our Take
At this point, delivering the PlayStation Plus version of Driveclub is about fulfilling a promise made in 2013. It likely won’t fulfill the goal of driving many additional sales at this point (at least not with out a strong marketing campaign to invite people to try it again).
What this could mean though, is that the full version of the game may arrive on PlayStation Plus sooner than it might otherwise have. This helps Sony by incentivizing DLC purchases, even it means forgoing full game purchases. Sony could save resource investment on the free version and go beyond fulfilling its original promise.
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