Sony Can’t Guarantee DriveClub PS+ Edition Will Release (Updated)

Update:

Sony has confirmed to Eurogamer that it is still planning to release the free, PlayStation Plus edition of DriveClub. This confirmation was made in response to a recent Metro interview with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe head Jim Ryan, as he could not guarantee that the PS Plus edition of DriveClub would launch after its retail version suffered from various server issues and was met with underwhelming reception.

"We are continually working on improving the server capacity to enable us to launch the PS Plus Edition as quickly as possible," a Sony representative said. "Although currently we do not have an update regarding the timing for the launch."

Original Story:

Things are looking bleak for the free-to-download version of DriveClub originally meant for PlayStation Plus subscribers.

In an interview with Metro's GameCentral, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe President and CEO Jim Ryan said some disheartening words in regards to the PlayStation Plus version of DriveClub. While DriveClub had a formal release this past October, a free version of the game was supposed to come out for PlayStation Plus subscribers that would have less content than its retail counterpart. DriveClub's ride to release was certainly not a smooth one.

Evolution Studios was hit with a staggering number of layoffs in early 2014 and DriveClub's original Creative Director, Col Rodgers, stepped down from the project shortly after. As a result, DriveClub's release was significantly delayed. Upon its debut, DriveClub was met with lukewarm reception due to its numerous server issues. Nevertheless, we're still hoping that we get that PlayStation Plus version of DriveClub.

Here's what Jim Ryan said in his interview at GameCentral:

GC: Can you talk precisely about what changes occurred after the Driveclub launch? Did you put new QA policies in place? Did you tell third parties to clean up their own act?

JR: We have two roles to play, right? We are a publisher of content in our own right and we are the platform holder who overlays a level of what is called format QA. Obviously the lessons that we learnt in the context of Driveclub were many and painful, and will be applied internally in the context of every first party title that we publish going forward.

PR guy: Have you played Driveclub recently?

GC: I don’t really like serious racing games, so I don’t personally have much of an opinion about the game itself.

PR guy: If you play it now it’s really living up to its expectations.

GC: I understand that you did a lot better than some in addressing the situation, but that was still three months. And… is there still going to be the free PlayStation Plus version?

JR: That’s still being looked at.

GC: You can’t guarantee that it will ever happen?

JR: I can’t say anything at this stage.

Instead of making the PlayStation Plus version of DriveClub, perhaps Sony should just bite the bullet and make the digital version of DriveClub one of the PS Plus' free games of the month. Then again, this is what happens when you rain pink slips onto a studio just months before it was to finish out a major title.