Sony revealed recently that Driveclub, the Evolution Studios-developed racing simulator, would be delisted from the PlayStation Store later this year. This included the base game, Driveclub VR, and Driveclub Bikes, but the company also confirmed that servers would also be shut down in March 2020. As per former director Paul Rustchynsky on Twitter, this is fairly standard for most racing games in the industry.

Rustchynsky, who directed Onrush at Codemasters before joining Slightly Mad Studios, revealed on Twitter, “To be clear the game, like most racing games, it is being delisted for licensing reasons. It’s standard practice across the industry for ~5yr deals, so buy it before it’s gone forever.”

It also may not be entirely easy to extend the licensing due to cost. “Deals will vary game to game and with different manufacturers. It is possible to get longer deals or extend them, but the cost of licensing cars shouldn’t be underestimated,” said Rustchynsky.

What about the closure of servers though, something which falls squarely on Sony’s shoulders? Rustchynsky said that servers are a “different matter” and that “The sale of the item is what gets restricted after the agreed terms expire. Servers will just be a business decision.‏”

While it is a shame, Sony could be seeing more success from Polyphony Digital’s Gran Turismo Sport and diminishing returns from Driveclub. Whatever the case may be, you have until August 31st, 2019 to pick up Driveclub from the PlayStation Store.

To be clear the game, like most racing games, it is being delisted for licensing reasons. It's standard practice across the industry for ~5yr deals, so buy it before it's gone forever.

— Paul Rustchynsky (@Rushy33) March 31, 2019

Deals will vary game to game and with different manufacturers. It is possible to get longer deals or extend them, but the cost of licensing cars shouldn't be underestimated.

— Paul Rustchynsky (@Rushy33) March 31, 2019

Well the servers are a different matter, the sale of the item is what gets restricted after the agreed terms expire. Servers will just be a business decision.

— Paul Rustchynsky (@Rushy33) March 31, 2019

Sony has announced that Driveclub, Evolution Studios’ racing sim that released in 2014, will be delisted from the PlayStation Store on August 31st, 2019. This will apply to the base game, Driveclub VR, and Driveclub Bikes. Furthermore, servers for these titles will be shut down on March 31st, 2020.

As Sony states here, online features like creating your own events, competing in leaderboards, representing your club, engaging in multiplayer (which includes events), and challenges will be unavailable. The season pass also can’t be used online. That being said, all single-player and offline modes are playable, which extends to season pass content.

Again though, if you want to pick up any of the games along with their DLC and season passes, you have until August 31st, 2019 to do so. In other news, Sony also announced that online services for StarBlood Arena would be disabled on July 25th, 2019. Given the game’s online focus, that means it will be unplayable after that.

DriveClub is one of the best examples we have of a game as a service- the game launched to critical lambasting and general player antipathy back in 2014, but thanks to consistent updates, it has since turned itself around, and is currently one of the better racing games on the market.

These updates come once every month (at the very least). Today, March’s update was released, and like with previous updates to the game, it’s a pretty hefty one, adding a fair amount to the game:

• New Drift Mode scoring: Fast and precise drifts now earn much bigger scores. Going off track, driving slowly or colliding with walls will result in a penalty to prevent exploits.
• All Drift Mode leaderboards will be reset in the days following the update to ensure they offer a level playing field.
• 25 new Elite Levels have been added (new cap is 60).
• 25 new Driver Levels have been added (new cap is 120) with new livery rewards to unlock along the way.
• 35 new Club Levels have been added (new cap is 120) with new livery rewards to unlock along the way.
• The game menus have been updated with new ‪#‎PS4share‬ imagery to showcase some of our most loved #PS4share photo mode snaps. Keep them coming!
• The loading screen for DRIVECLUB now shows off an awesome new #PS4share community photo collage made up of thousands of your pictures.
• The loading screen for DRIVECLUB BIKES also shows off an awesome new #PS4share community photo collage made up of thousands of your pictures.
• Includes general improvements for game performance, stability and usability.

In addition to the new update, Evolution Studios also detailed the new DLC that would be coming to the game this month, including the Finish Line expansion that will launch on March 22.

MARCH STORE UPDATE (COMING MARCH 22ND):

• Free Superbike for everybody: Aprilia RSV4 RF ABS.
• New “Finish Line” Expansion Pack featuring 6 events, 5 Trophies and 2 new cars: Koeniggsegg Regera & Jaguar XJ220.» New “MV Agusta” Expansion Pack featuring 6 events, 5 Trophies and 2 new Bikes: MV Agusta Brutale 1090 Corsa & MV Agusta F4RC.

DriveClub was developed by Evolution Studios, and is available exclusively for the PlayStation 4.

While DriveClub has been bringing a number of new features to the game, including a brand new game in DriveClub Bikes, the game has still had problems here and there. One big problem that apparently isn’t going to be fixed anytime soon is the lack of custom rims. The game’s director, Paul Rustchynsky was recently on Twitter where he was asked what the prospects of ever bringing custom rims to the game were. Unforunately, fans of the game got an answer they aren’t going to be happy about.

While not providing a ton of explanation, he responded, “there won’t be selectable rims I’m afraid.” The issues that players have noticed that apparently can be fixed is that there have been some server issues popping up. The director was asked whether or not there was an actual ETA when it comes to the multiplayer servers. He responded that his company has been “working with Sony to fix the issue, hopefully all will be resolved within 24hrs.” Considering that tweet went out on February 28, it would appear as though there should be some fixes in the works by now. If there aren’t the problems might be bigger than the developers even realized.

Lastly the game director was asked what his company was doing about the cheaters. While he responded that they were going to be looking into doing something about that very issue, it doesn’t appear it’s at the top of their list. Instead, the developers are working hard on the game’s Drift Mode for next month.

DriveClub Bikes has a brand new video showing off gameplay featuring the new Suzuki expansion. This new expansion pack is landing for the game on Tuesday and is going to have six additional Tour events, a grand total of five new PSN Trophies and two brand new bikes, which are the the Suzuki GSX-R1000 SE and the Suzuki GSX-S1000 ABS.

This new content is all highlighted in the new video, showing off the trademark impressive graphics of the original DriveClub but instead of watching cars go around and around, it’s bikes in this new trailer. The impressive part of this new content is that it shows Evolution Studios is more than willing to put some real effort into this game. The content isn’t huge, which is why it will cost about $5 total. At the same time, six new events, along with the new bikes and the ones that were already in the game, there’s plenty to do.

Check out the video below, and know that you’ll be able to check out the content first hand on Tuesday, February 23.

It’s been a big week for Driveclub as Sony has pushed the racing game front and center in a number of different ways as part of its Paris Games Week presentation. Yesterday the company unveiled and released Drive Club Bikes. The company also apparently showed off a VR version of Driveclub behind closed doors and early reports are indicating it’s looking pretty darn good. Eurogamer reports that this VR prototype runs at 60fps and features a BAC Mono running a circuit race around one of the base game’s India tracks.

Sony’s Shuhei Yoshida also tweeted that while the game does indeed run at 60 fps, it is actually transferred to 120fps when its being converted and sent to the VR helmet. Furthermore, it appears that this particular technique is one that is used and will be used by all the major VR tech companies. This process is called asynchronous time-warp. This also allows for the very latest positional tracking data in order to make the VR game seem that much more impressive.

Evolution studios said that Driveclub VR is nothing more than a prototype right now but it seems as though the company does think it might eventually be coming to consumers at some point. After a shaky start, the updates that have been released for Driveclub have been pretty good. Obviously an update that would move the game to VR is a ways off, but could be amazing.

Thanks, EuroGamer.

DriveClub is getting a brand new expansion. It’s called DriveClub Bikes, and it will include some superfast superbikes (the fastest in the world), as well as an all new campaign, all new maps, and all new multiplayer game modes tailored and balanced specifically towards the new two wheelers.

I have to say, this makes it sound pretty exciting to me- I grew up playing Road Rash and Motocross Madness, and have long wanted a modern age bike racing game that isn’t a simulator. DriveClub’s driving model makes it seem as though it will be perfect for bikes, too.

DriveClub Bikes will be available as both, a standalone expansion, as well as an addition to the base game. It is out right now, at this moment, on the PlayStation Store for the PS4, so if you are a DriveClub fan (and there are over 2 million of them!), don’t wait, and go and grab the expansion right now!

Stay tuned to GamingBolt for more news and coverage from Paris Games Week.