Namco Bandai Announces Free-To-Play Ridge Racer Game

This new racing title will be coming to PlayStation 3 and PC sometime in 2013, and will be free-to-play, with the usual focus on in-game microtransactions.

The news came in a press release from Namco Bandai, which contains scant details about the project, entitled Ridge Racer Driftopia.

As you might expect, the game features a lot of...drifting, and will seek to monetize the experience through unspecified in-game purchases. Obviously, in a racing game, new tracks, cars, and upgrades seem to be logical choices.

Calson Choi, vice president of marketing and digital sales at Namco Bandai, said, "The free-to-play and digital gaming space presents an incredible opportunity for Namco Bandai Games to offer its illustrious roster of titles to a new and ever expanding audience. We're excited to have Ridge Racer Driftopia take Namco Bandai into this constantly growing sector."

Note: The screenshot above is NOT a shot from the new game. We've reached out to Namco Bandai about getting art and screens assets.