Tag: Evolution Studios
News Layoffs at Evolution Studios After Onrush Bombs
Senior staff ejected
The unluckiest developer in the world has been struck with a new round of layoffs, as Eurogamer.net reports that the team formerly known as Evolution Studios has let go a number of employees. Among the redundancies is Paul ‘Rushy’ Rustchynsky, the director of DriveClub and the face of the company in many ways. For those of...
News DriveClub's Urban Tracks Update Bids Fans a Fond Farewell
Road kill
DriveClub VR's urban tracks have been patched into the base game for free – and Evolution Studios has included a message of farewell in the version history. The complimentary update – which augments 15 new circuits – says: "Thanks for your support. Thanks for your commitment. Farewell and enjoy the game!" The patch weighs in at a...
News Evolution Studios Team Snapped Up by Codemasters
DriveClub dev not going down without a fight
Evolution Studios lives on – kind of! The Runcorn-based outfit, shuttered by Sony last month, has been snapped up by Codemasters, and will continue the legacy that it left off – albeit on a multiformat basis moving forwards. It's unclear whether it will retain the studio name – that doesn't appear...
Soapbox Evolution Studios Had Miserable Luck But Will Be Greatly Missed
Sammy Barker says goodbye to a dev with real identity
There are certain studios that get under your skin, irrespective of output. With the greatest of respect to all of the talented people at production powerhouses like Ubisoft Montreal and EA Canada, said developers don't really exude the kind of identifiable culture that's prevalent at Media...
News Sony Shuts Down DriveClub Developer Evolution Studios
Oh no
Sony's revealed a sucker punch today: Evolution Studios, the storied Runcorn-based developer behind DriveClub among numerous other PlayStation exclusives, has been shut down. The studio was downsized last year, but the ongoing success of DriveClub – along with the release of DriveClub Bikes and continued development of DriveClub VR –...
News DriveClub's Getting a Free Tour as Part of a New PS4 Update
Tons of other content, too
Evolution Studios may have been close to being shuttered, but that's not stopped the Runcorn-based developer from continuing to support DriveClub with a stupid amount of content. The racer's latest update – dubbed v1.14 for those keeping count – will add in a brand new event named the Startline Tour, which will be free...
News DriveClub's Now Rolling with Much Smoother PS4 Servers
Now where's that PlayStation Plus version?
We open every DriveClub article in exactly the same way: the launch was a disaster, but Evolution Studios really has worked astoundingly hard to regain gamers' trust since then. It's true, too: the DLC has been excellent, the copious new features have been very welcome, and the core game – in this...
News DriveClub Developer Evolution Studios to Lose Around Half of Workforce
Dark days
Evolution Studios will lose around 55 team members, sources have told Eurogamer.net. It was announced last week that the Runcorn-based outfit would be struck by layoffs, but now we have an idea of just how hard. The developer, which is currently supporting PlayStation 4 exclusive DriveClub, is roughly 100 staffers strong, so this will...
News DriveClub: PS Plus Edition Is the 'Next Step', Sony Ensures
Platform holder 'embarrassed' by launch
After one of the worst launches in recent memory, DriveClub finally resembles a working product. The racer’s challenges are back online, the weather has been implemented, and
News Evolution Studios Prepares Free Apologetic DriveClub DLC
PS4 exclusive's Season Pass extended
When a game launch goes as badly as DriveClub, the best that a developer can do is try to atone for the problems as diligently and as quickly as possible. While we’d perhaps argue that Evolution Studios shouldn’t be in this position in the first place, at least it’s trying to make things up to its fans. And...
Feature What's the Status of DriveClub on PS4 a Month After Release?
Car crash entertainment
DriveClub has undoubtedly been the biggest disappointment of the year. While you could make a case for the likes of Watch Dogs and Destiny failing to deliver on their pre-release hype, at least both titles launched in a playable state – the latter succeeding despite the entire gaming industry expecting
Rumour Is DriveClub's DLC Blazing a Trail to Japan?
If the game ever gets fixed
There’s been absolutely nothing kawaii about DriveClub’s disastrous launch, but the fact that the game’s good has made its issues all the more irritating. With new November DLC originally outlined in the developer’s post-release roadmap, we should be awaiting information on new vehicles and tracks right now –...
News Good News, PS4 Exclusive DriveClub Almost Works Now
Course corrected
It’s been quite literally a long and winding road since launch, but DriveClub is almost ready to race. Evolution Studios has spent the past ten or so days putting out flames on the game's servers, but has insisted on its Facebook page that “the majority of players should now be able to connect and play online??
News DriveClub Developer to Roll Out New Game Update to Improve Online Issues
"We're working around the clock"
Even though DriveClub’s issues are slowly edging into ‘unacceptable’ territory as far as we’re concerned, we suppose that developer Evolution Studios does at least deserve credit for providing updates on the game’s progress every 24 hours. That’s surely something, right? Sigh. Seriously, though, the...
News DriveClub Dev Considering Compensation Options for Disastrous Launch
Company had 'confidence' in servers
DriveClub actually performed pretty well in this week’s UK sales charts update, meaning that the racer sold reasonably at retail. That makes its launch issues all the more problematic, because, potentially, thousands of people are stuck with a game that doesn’t work as advertised. This has prompted game...
Feature What Do You Get in DriveClub: PS Plus Edition on PS4?
Fast and furious
DriveClub: PS Plus Edition is undoubtedly the highlight of October’s massive PlayStation Plus update, but you may be pondering what the free PlayStation 4 download actually includes. As the name indicates, this isn’t the full version of Evolution Studios’ next-gen racer, but a cut down copy designed to give you a taste of the...
News Don't Worry, PS4 Racer DriveClub Will Probably Include a Photo Mode
Snap happy
In a confirmation that’s got Push Square Towers salivating over another easy article, DriveClub’s director Paul Rustchynsky has revealed on Twitter that Evolution Studios is busy beavering away on a photo mode for its upcoming PlayStation 4 game. This feature has already proved a hit in
News PS4 Racer DriveClub Has an Eye for the Most Extraordinary Details
Like flocks of flamingos
DriveClub may not be commanding quite as much attention as you’d expect from a big PlayStation 4 exclusive right now, but we have a strong suspicion that that’s going to change when people get their hands on it. Expectations for the racer are low following its delay prior to the next-gen platform’s launch late last...
News Don't Worry, Girls Are Invited to DriveClub on PS4 Too
Scream if you wanna go faster
It’s taken what feels like an eternity, but DriveClub is finally on the home straight ahead of release – and it’s looking absolutely exceptional as a result. However, while developer Evolution Studios has been a little more forthcoming about the PlayStation 4 racer over the past few weeks, many details regarding...
News If You Want to Get Angry, Know That DriveClub Will Let You Pay for Cars
The end is nigh
The poor people at Evolution Studios must be near to tears at this point. While we’re big proponents of constructive criticism, the Runcorn-based developer appears to have been unfairly singled out in recent weeks. Fresh from finally attaching a release date to its PlayStation 4 exclusive racer DriveClub, the firm may have felt...
News Marvel at DriveClub's Delicious Dynamic Lighting in Fresh Gameplay Footage
Day to night
It’s the hook that's hard to communicate, but these brand new DriveClub gameplay videos do a decent job of demonstrating the upcoming PlayStation 4 exclusive’s dynamic lighting engine. The first clip shows a race taking place at midnight through until sunrise, while the second runs from dusk until dark. Depending on how you set it...
News Sony Reverses 'Inappropriate' DriveClub PS Plus Edition Terms
For the players
Sony hasn’t really put a foot wrong over the past year or so, but it did make a bit of a blunder with PlayStation Plus freebie DriveClub earlier in the week. For those out of the loop, it confirmed that while you’ll be able to tune up your complimentary copy of the PlayStation 4 exclusive for a
News There's a Downside to PS4 Racer DriveClub's Outrageous Visuals
Framerate fury
During the delay of PlayStation 4 exclusive racer DriveClub, the rumble of 60 frames-per-second was an ever-present fixture. The firm admitted over a year ago that it was “targeting” the benchmark, but it’s now put to bed any speculation regarding the figure, confirming that the game will run at 30FPS in full 1080p. Cue...
News Evolution: We've Captured the Soul of Every Car in DriveClub
Is that you, Yamauchi-san?
Evolution Studios’ soon to be re-revealed racer DriveClub already looks outstanding, but how will it sound? Even the most ardent Gran Turismo fan would agree that while developer Polyphony Digital generally captures the look of each vehicle that it renders, the weedy sound effects that it tends to employ can really break...
News PS4 Racer DriveClub to Be Re-Revealed in the Weeks Leading Up to E3
Pedal to the metal
Here’s one thing that they don’t teach you in marketing school: tease impending details about your delayed PlayStation 4 project on a Sunday night. Still, seeing as we’ve practically exhausted all of our DriveClub puns over the past six or so months, we’re thrilled to learn that developer Evolution Studios is edging ever...
News DriveClub Developer Evolution Studios Struck by Layoffs
Two other UK teams affected
We’re approaching the end of the fiscal year, which means that Sony’s still going through the process of downsizing some of its teams. Following redundancies at God of War developer Sony Santa Monica earlier in the month, the platform holder has now confirmed that there have been casualties at three of its British...
News DriveClub Drifts into Japan's PS4 Launch Lineup
Right around the bend
DriveClub’s delay may have been disappointing at the time, but it’s allowed Evolution Studios to transform the next generation racer into something special judging by the recent batch of trailers that the Runcorn-based studio’s released. Of course, that means that the conversation’s shifted to cons
News DriveClub Parks Up in Early 2014, Contrast Joins Instant Game Collection
Out of gas
Sony’s silence over the past couple of days has been telling, and it’s now officially stated that DriveClub will miss its PlayStation 4 launch day release date. Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida confirmed the bad news on the PlayStation Blog, explaining that developer Evolution Studios required more “time to deliver on its...
News You'll Be Racing Through India and Canada in DriveClub on PS4
Around the world in three laps
Evolution Studios promised that DriveClub would take us on a world tour when the PlayStation 4 launch title was first announced, but so far we’ve only got a glimpse at muggy old Scotland. That’s because the developer has been busy beavering away on some more exotic locations behind closed doors – including Canada...
News DriveClub Will Evolve with Brand New Content Beyond Launch
Back for a second lap
Evolution Studios does not intend to keep DriveClub parked up once the PlayStation 4 launch title is on store shelves. Chatting with VG247, director Col Rodgers explained that the company considers the next generation racer a service, which it intends to lavish with new content over time. “Ultimately, the game that you buy...
News DriveClub Will Occupy a Different Space on PS4 to Gran Turismo
Social racing
While the game appears to share a number of similarities with the Gran Turismo franchise, DriveClub developer Evolution Studios doesn’t foresee any crossover between the two brands. Speaking with EDGE, game director Matt Southern explained that the company is confident that its PlaySt
News Early PS4 Controller Prototypes Looked Like 'Something Bruce Wayne Would Carry'
No boomerang jokes, please
Sony may have relied on its pool of development talent to offer feedback on the hardware inside its next generation machine – but it also consulted developers such as Guerrilla Games to elicit feedback on the console’s controller, the DualShock 4. Speaking as part of an interview with EDGE magazine, Evolution...
News Evolution: PS4 Forced Us to 'Catch Up' on Advanced Graphics Technology
DriveClub developer had to get with the times
Evolution Studios may have spent the lion’s share of its segment of the PlayStation 4 press conference talking up the visual strides that it’s making with launch title DriveClub – but the developer has admitted that after a number of years spent in “PlayStation 3 land”, it took some time for...
News MotorStorm Series Sells Over 6 Million Units
Road to victory
Evolution Studios’ consistently compelling MotorStorm series has sold over 6 million units, Sony XDev Europe's Pete Smith has revealed. The executive cited the first-party developer as an example of a team with a clear focus during a panel at GDC Europe earlier today. The studio’s most recent title, MotorStorm RC, released on...
News Job Listings Hint at New MotorStorm Game
Next generation?
Evolution Studios may have faced a torrid time with the launch of MotorStorm: Apocalypse last year, but that’s not stopped the developer from dusting itself off and looking to the future. The Runcorn-based studio is currently hiring for its next project which, if two job listings are to be believed, is a new entry in the off-road...
News MotorStorm RC Pro-AM DLC Launches Tomorrow
Shove it
If you’ve (somehow) already managed to clear MotorStorm RC’s lengthy campaign, then you might be excited to learn that the game’s set to get its first DLC pack tomorrow. The Pro-AM festival includes 16 new events set across four circuits, each designed around a skate-park theme. The PR reads: Get ready for huge ramps, banked corners...
News MotorStorm RC Racing into North America on 6th March
Vroooom
Spoilers: MotorStorm RC is amazing. It’s not often those of us in Europe get special treatment, but when it comes to Evolution Studios’ new cross-platform RC racer we’ve been treated like Kings. That is to say we’ve been up since last night cursing the fact that we can’t beat any of our PSN rivals' high scores. Grrrr. Still, the...
News Evolution Studios Talks MotorStorm RC's Stunning Price
Micro-transaction
Sony left Nintendo sputtering in the dust when it announced the price points of first party download-only PlayStation Network titles for PS Vita last week. Most surprising was MotorStorm RC's emergence as the cheapest in the pack at just £4.79. Don't associate that price with a lack of content, though. MotorStorm RC contains 16...
News Competitive Play Races into MotorStorm RC
Evolution inspired by Autolog
MotorStorm RC’s heavily publicised cross-platform compatibility might not be quite what we had in mind when the game was first announced, but the title’s still shaping up to be a delightful downloadable treat. Nothing evidences that better than this brand new trailer, which shows off the game’s Playground – a...
Interview Evolution Studios - MotorStorm RC
Get to grips with the little guys
Vita won't be short on racing games at launch, but Evolution Studios' MotorStorm RC is doing something a bit different, downsizing the off-road series into remote-controlled cars. We recently got to speak to game director Paul Rustchynsky about cross-platform play, pricing and why Evolution made a mini MotorStorm...
News MotorStorm RC's Cross-Platform Play is Not Simultaneous
No Vita-PS3 head-to-head
The much-vaunted cross-platform play between PlayStation 3 and PS Vita features in MotorStorm RC, Evolution Studios' first handheld outing, but you can't race the two games against each other. We recently spoke to MotorStorm RC game director Paul Rustchynsky about the upcoming racer where he confirmed the PS3 and Vita owners...
News MotorStorm Boss Feared Apocalypse's Bad Fortune Would Spell The End Of Evolution
MotorStorm: Apocalypse's bad fortune is well documented
Not only did the brilliant post-apocalyptic racer have to contend with a real-world disaster, but it also launched during the worst of the PlayStation Network outage earlier in the year. Such a run of bad luck would have finished off most other developers, and for a while Evolution Studios'...
News MotorStorm RC Trailer Races into View
New details emerge
Yesterday we brought you news that a new MotorStorm title was screeching its way onto Vita and today we’ve got the scoop on what we’ll be seeing in this exciting new entry to the series. Where the latest instalment in the series, MotorStorm: Apocalypse went bigger than ever, MotorStorm RC does the exact opposite and makes the...
News Sony Announces MotorStorm RC For PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita
As speculated, Evolution Studios has lifted the lid on MotorStorm RC for PlayStation Network and PlayStation Vita
The game was announced moments ago at a special press event in London. The downloadable title's set to be a slight departure for the MotorStorm series, promising "a perfect combination of classic racing with really modern...
Rumour MotorStorm Racing Onto PlayStation Vita?
According our buddies over at TheSixthAxis, Sony is preparing to make a MotorStorm Vita related announcement at a swanky soirée in London tonight
The site points to inside whispers and the Twitter account of Evolution developer Paul Rustchynsky, who's been cheekily dropping hints about making a "special guest appearance" at the event all...
News Evolution Studios Reinvents MotorStorm: Apocalypse With Latest Patch
MotorStorm: Apocalypse had one of the most troubled launches we've ever had the misfortune to witness, but you can't fault developer Evolution Studio's commitment to ensuring the game stays populated and fresh
In its latest update, Evolution's touting Sony's favourite buzz-phrase: play, create, share. From Friday, MotorStorm: Apocalypse will allow...
News MotorStorm: Apocalypse After Party Update Released
Evolution Studios has revealed the first major update for MotorStorm: Apocalypse
Entitled the After Party update, the downloadable patch includes a brand new track called The Rock and a bunch of new single-player special events. Each event "sees you play as a distinguished character from the Festival, offering the grand sum of 120,000 chips if...
News MotorStorm Apocalypse Cancelled In Japan
Talk about bad luck: MotorStorm Apocalypse is a fantastic game that's been kicked while its down time after time again
First the release was delayed worldwide after the Japanese earthquake. Then it released with no marketing right in the middle of the PlayStation Network outage in North America. Now it's been outright cancelled in Japan. The team...
News MotorStorm: Apocalypse Smashes Up North America on May 3rd
We've been playing MotorStorm: Apocalypse for what feels like an eternity now
We got the game days before the disaster in Japan, which caused both the European and North American versions to be delayed. The game is now available in Europe, but Americans still have a few weeks to wait. At least the game now has an official date though, as Sony's...
News Evolution Studios Confirms MotorStorm: Apocalypse Steering Wheel Support
MotorStorm: Apocalypse's top-bod, Matt Southern, has confirmed in a Tweet that Evolution's bonkers off-road racer will be netting steering wheel support in an upcoming patch
Am I allowed to say MotorStorm: Apocalypse is going to have a free update to support Logitech wheels, and is truly amazing? No? Oops, he said. Hint: he was totally allowed...
