Sony confirmed the heavily rumoured delay of Evolution Studio’s PS4 Launch title Driveclub, pushing the game into a early 2014 release. Sony Worldwide Studios chief Shuhei Yoshida stated that “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 realize the next-gen racing vision.”
This is the second Next Gen Launch title to be delayed this week, as Ubisoft announced that they will be delaying the highly anticipated Watch_Dogs to an early 2014 release for additional polishing on all consoles. Ubisoft’s Next Gen Racer, The Crew, was also delayed as well.
These two delays have cause some problems for Sony as multiple retailers had Watch_Dogs bundled with the PS4 console and a watered down version of Driveclub would be free to Playstation Plus members at launch.
EBGames/Gamestop and Amazon have made a statement that they will honour the pre-order bundles of the PS4 and Watch_Dogs. While Sony announced that another game will be taking Driveclub’s spot on the PSPlus Free game list, Vaudevillian puzzle-platformer Contrast will join Resogun as the two free PS4 titles when the console launches.
Yoshida also wanted to put fears to rest about the rest of the launch line up stating that Killzone Shadow Fall, Knack, Assassin’s Creed 4, FIFA 14, Call of Duty: Ghosts, and Battlefield 4 as some of the remaining PS4 launch games. “A broad portfolio of games will be available on PS4 before the end of the year,” he added, “And with games such Infamous Second Son, The Order 1886, Destiny, Watch Dogsand now Driveclub coming next year, the strength of the software line-up on PS4 is unprecedented.”