DRIVECLUB PlayStation Plus Edition Details (Updated)

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DRIVECLUB PlayStation Plus Edition Details (Updated)
Update 2: We know many of you were looking forward to playing the promised PS Plus Edition and we are truly sorry for the delay. Our first priority is to provide you with the best possible experience while playing DRIVECLUB. With the high volume of new players and additional server load the PS Plus Edition is anticipated to bring, we are currently not confident that we can guarantee the best online experience. Until we can ensure that everyone can enjoy the full social connected online experience, we will be postponing the release of the PS Plus Edition until further notice.
UPDATE: Our priority for DRIVECLUB is to enable you to play and enjoy everything it has to offer and PlayStation recognises that the prior plan for DRIVECLUB entitlement for the upgrade to the PS Plus edition was not appropriate. As a result, we have adjusted the PlayStation Plus terms for DRIVECLUB.

Now, If you intend on downloading DRIVECLUB PlayStation Plus Edition, and upgrading to the full game experience, you will have access to the full game even if your PlayStation Plus subscription runs out.

Last week we announced the release date for PS4’s first socially connected racing game – DRIVECLUB.

The response we’ve seen to the trailer is seriously overwhelming, and it’s time for some more news.

Welcome to the first of three DRIVECLUB updates this week. DRIVECLUB PlayStation Plus Edition has been a hot topic since its announce, so today’s video (the first of three) should answer most of your questions about the actual content included in this edition compared to the Blu-ray version.

One of the recurring questions we keep seeing is about the scale of the PlayStation Plus Edition. The simple answer is that with an active PlayStation Plus subscription, you can download DRIVECLUB PlayStation Plus Edition, which comes with one location (India), 11 tracks, 10 cars and access to all game modes.

But why did we choose to offer this particular selection of the game to PlayStation Plus subscribers for free?

DRIVECLUB is inherently next gen. It’s about accessibility for all and building a community of gamers who love online play. DRIVECLUB PlayStation Plus Edition is designed to be a quick and easy way for gamers all over the world to join the DRIVECLUB community. You can take part in all the game modes, set, send and compete in challenges, and race online against others in the DRIVECLUB community.

We think you’ll have a lot of fun playing DRIVECLUB once it launches on October 7th, digitally via the PlayStation store and on Blu-ray at your local retailer. If you’re an active PlayStation Plus subscriber and have been playing the PlayStation Plus Edition, but decide you want the full DRIVECLUB experience, you can purchase a one-time upgrade for $49.99. This will give you access to all five locations, 55 tracks, 50 cars and all 50 tour events, as long as your PlayStation Plus subscription remains active.

If you’re not an active PlayStation Plus member, you can still get DRIVECLUB via the PlayStation Store or your local retailer on Blu-ray.

Stay tuned because there’s more content coming tomorrow with the ‘Clubs’ video, explaining why they’re crucial to making DRIVECLUB distinctly different.

Friday’s episode is all about challenges – why we love ‘em, what they give you and importantly, how they’ll make the game infinitely more networked and fun to play in your Club.

Over and out.

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406 Comments

  • Wow I never thought I’d see the day a ps plus discount for something I purchase wouldn’t be active if I don’t have plus.

    I truly reccomend getting rid of this idea I will not support this rental idea.

    I’m paying you for plus and as a member I’m offered discounts and I expect them to be just that. If I buy something I expect it to be mine forever.

    Bad idea sony. Please don’t become a bunch of greedy jerks.

  • Just to be clear, the way this looks you’re testing the water with ps plus discounts and the idea of ownership. DO NOT CONSIDER THIS PERMANENTLY!!! If this is how it’s going to be in the future I’ll never buy something off the psn again. I will not support shady business moves like this.

  • They know they messed up…notice how they didn’t post anything else on the blog today nor respond to anyone? Lol #sonycorporategreedfail

  • Please Sony, either make the upgrade to the PS+ version cheaper or let us keep the game even if our PS+ subscription expire. Thanks for considering the opinion of your community and your fans!

  • ThumbsOfSteel74

    @GStylez1980: My friend, you’re absolutely right about that quote I referenced. The way it was worded led me to a potentially false conclusion…but the problem was only that I bet on the wrong horse.

    www(dot)gamespot(dot)com/articles/driveclub-ps-plus-edition-will-offer-discounted-upgrade/1100-6413950/

    “When you upgrade from the PS+ Edition you get the full digital edition which doesn’t require a PS+ subscription,” Rustchynsky said, but explained that “you can earn the Platinum trophy in the PS+ Edition, remember it’s the full game minus a few cars/tracks.”

    The quote is there. No misunderstanding, no misreading; it is what it is. And it only gets worse.

    https://blog.eu.playstation.com/2014/05/07/whats-included-driveclub-playstation-plus-edition/

    At least the EU blog got a Sony rep for a while.

    I love Sony’s products, and I will continue supporting them here and elsewhere. But this is too much.

  • ThumbsOfSteel74

    @GStylez1980: My friend, you’re absolutely right about that quote I referenced. The way it was worded led me to a potentially false conclusion…but the problem was only that I bet on the wrong horse.

    www(dot)gamespot(dot)com/articles/driveclub-ps-plus-edition-will-offer-discounted-upgrade/1100-6413950/

    “When you upgrade from the PS+ Edition you get the full digital edition which doesn’t require a PS+ subscription,” Rustchynsky said, but explained that “you can earn the Platinum trophy in the PS+ Edition, remember it’s the full game minus a few cars/tracks.”

    The quote is there. No misunderstanding, no misreading; it is what it is. And it only gets worse.

    blog(dot)eu(dot)playstation(dot)com/2014/05/07/whats-included-driveclub-playstation-plus-edition/

    At least the EU blog got a Sony rep for a while.

    I love Sony’s products, and I will continue supporting them here and elsewhere. But this is too much.

  • #204 – That article is outdated, from Sept. 2013.

  • Nevermind, I understand what you were saying now.

  • TrueRadiantFree

    Seriously that upgrade thing is trash, did they make a mistake in writing the article? Anyway, guys Blu-Ray for me lol, thanks Evolution for 50 tracks and not 10 for the full version haha!

  • Come on Sony, you know this is ridiculous. For the past 4 years this has not been the case, if you pay for it you keep it, you know that, I know that and looking at the comments here all the users with PS+ know it too. This is predatory behaviour and should stop now.

  • If I understand correctly, I can pay $50 for a digital version, but will lose rights to play it if I let my PS Plus subscription lapse. That is an awful deal and surprising this was greenlit by Sony. The game is coming out nearly a year after it was supposed to and then this “deal” is announced. Driveclub is officially off my radar. I love Sony, but this is a weird move.

  • So i pay $50 for the “upgrade” and i still lose the game if my subscription expires? Must be the worse deal ever offered by Sony and PS+. Unless it is a prank or something..

  • Not a prank, it’s made clear in the video above. This isn’t a miscommunication, it’s a new policy that I’m hoping doesn’t become a model used in future PS4 versions of “free” PS+ games.

  • Will not support this trash policy.

    I refused to support the few games on PS3 that locked to a specific user or forced online checks.
    Will continue to refuse to support a product that blatantly rips us off. $50 is not a simple DLC package!

    I hope this game fails in a major flaming ball to make sure this crap never happens again.

  • I gotta throw my 2 cents in too. I appreciate it being on the IGC but the G stands for games, not demos. If people don’t speak up about this it will become the Instant Demo Collection.

  • Losing the game after paying $50 for it is a really gross and anti-consumer policy. Won’t be buying.

    You guys should know better than this. Ugh.

  • That policy is a major FAIL. Time to re-think that policy SONY. Who in their right mind would go for that over $10? Epic FAIL. Try again SONY. Thanks but no thanks. I plan on being completely involved in DESTINY come oct 7th anyway.

  • From IGN in September 2013:
    Design director Paul Rustchynsky posted on NeoGAF to say that the PS Plus version will be available “well into the new year” and that “there will be a discount to upgrade to the full digital edition from the PS+ edition.”
    “When you upgrade from the PS+ Edition you get the full digital edition which doesn’t require a PS+ subscription,” Rustchynsky said, but explained that “you can earn the Platinum trophy in the PS+ Edition, remember it’s the full game minus a few cars/tracks.”

    In February 2014, Rustchynsky stealth edited his NeoGAF post to no longer mention the PS+ requirement part. He then today posts on twitter that he’s trying to get clarification of the policy when he clearly knew it in February!

  • I still can’t believe how some executives and developers thought this upgrade scheme was a good idea. As someone who is interested in checking out Driveclub, I hope Sony fixes the upgrade system to get the full game when buying out the “upgrade” instead of just basically a licence to have access to the game.

  • SamuraiPizzaDog

    I’ll be buying my Sony published games used and cheap if this is how you’re going to treat your customers. For shame.

  • This is gonna flop terribly, I bet the only ones upgrading the PS+ version are the people that are liking it in this comment section!
    Bad move Sony, bad move… I feel insulted by this…

  • There have been some very good points brought up by people on this blog post… For one… Look how they have chosen to not respond to any of our comments… Despite how upset the community is. This worries me… It makes me feel like this is NOT a matter of bad wording… Which leaves me to believe you (Sony) think you can actually get away with this crap.

    Our plus purchases have ALWAYS been ours for good despite of membership status… If we pay even a cent on a discounted title it’s ours. Now your trying to tell us that a purchase (not a freebie) is still a RENTAL? And a 50 dollar purchase no less? If this is indeed the case I guarantee this is only the beginning… It’s no coincidence a policy like this would be rolled out on such an up and coming anticipated game. Think about it people.

  • This does not bode well, your heading down a very very dark path and treating your customers and playstation subscribers like this is more than insulting. I hope you (Sony) are listening to the outrage you see here… Take it in… Cause this will not stand. There maybe some who are mesmerized by the game and be willing to deal with whatever unfair practices you deal them but I think the majority of us would just rather turn around and buy a retail copy for ten dollars more and not have to worry about your scam.

    I thought you (Sony) learned from Microsoft on how NOT to treat their customers… I’m starting to think I was wrong. I’m hoping this is just a big misunderstanding. It had better be.

  • After dangling this carrot in front of PS+ PS4 owners for half a year of delays, now we don’t actually even get the full game as we were originally promised? What a joke and *seriously* shady marketing.

  • TOTAL FAIL TOTAL. People don’t you buy this game on PS STORE with your PS+ active, just buy the damn media…..

  • @222 Nahela.

    I agree with what most of everyone is saying. however you are wrong about them promising the full game on plus. They have always stated from day one that it was the “ps plus edition” of drive club and that it would include less cars and tracks. Drive club being released on plus the same day as the full retail release is actually unprecedented in plus because usually retail games have been out for awhile before they come to plus as a free download. So yeah, it is BS that they are saying you have to remain a member in order to keep the 50 dollar upgrade version but you are wrong in saying they promised the full game originally.

  • @223 You can buy the full game on the store with ps+ for 60 bucks. It’s not a ps+ discount in the traditional sense like that. You can either buy the game digitally for 60. Or you can download the plus edition and then upgrade it for 50 bucks. They are separate things. However I whole heartedly disagree with the policy on this.

  • ” If you’re an active PlayStation Plus subscriber and have been playing the PlayStation Plus Edition, but decide you want the full DRIVECLUB experience, you can purchase a one-time upgrade for $49.99. This will give you access to all five locations, 55 tracks, 50 cars and all 50 tour events, as long as your PlayStation Plus subscription remains active.”

    Dumbest thing I’ve seen. Mostly the “as long as your PS+ Subscription remains active.

    I’m sorry Sony part of PS+ is to offer discounts on items and keep the product even after the subscription is over if you paid for said item. How is offering us a 10 dollar discount on a PS+ Edition change that if all you’re doing is unlocking the full game.

    I think your marketing guys bumped their head or some got confused when they posted this.

  • ThumbsOfSteel74

    The good:

    – People are already looking at ways of dealing with this on their own terms: buying retail only, buying used only, downloading the Plus version with no upgrade, refusing to even DL the Plus version, etc.
    – Sony may yet change its tune on this. I imagine much of the fan rage could still be quieted by: lowering the price, giving away additional content to Plus, and/or most of all taking away the Plus requirement to keep the upgrade.

    The bad:

    – Even after this uproar, many will be fooled in October if nothing changes. Not everyone follows this blog or reads these comments. “Wait…so the thing I paid $50 for ISN’T really mine?!!11!11!11!!eleven”
    – It’s been pointed out that 50 cars is a pretty low number for a full release, fueling speculation that several DLC packs will be ready to roll out at launch.
    – This:

    i(dot)imgur(dot)com/ZnLnMub.png

  • Project CARS is coming in the same time frame, so I will just check demo of DriveClub (aka PS+ edition) and be done with it

  • It would be dumb paying a PS+ subscription and $50,- and lose access to something you bought. Never seen this on PS+, hope it doesn’t stick. If it does, you have one customer less, #dealwithit $ony

  • What a joke. Those who upgrade should be able to keep playing regardless if they don’t have the subscription anymore!

  • PrimeroIncognito

    Am I missing something? This doesn’t seem to be anything bad, or new.

    Wasn’t it already understood that the Plus (free) version would be a stripped down version of the game, lacking the full feature set of the retail version?

    And, so, if you unlock the fully-featured game THROUGH THE PLUS VERSION, it’s $10 cheaper than the standard retail version… this is a good deal for ANYONE WHO ALREADY KNOWS AHEAD OF TIME that they’re going to remain a Plus subscriber for life.

    You”ll get the same game, but for $10 less than someone who buys the retail version on day one that isn’t sure that they want to remain subscribed to Plus long-term.

    In a way, it appears to be a small reward for loyal Plus subscribers.

  • WTF ? Sony plz !! Since PS+ was introduced you always keep the games you bought through discounts. IT WAS ONE OF YOUR SELLING POINT FOR PS+ (Keep the games you bought even after your PS+ sub ends) Why on earth would you change that now ? I can see that you treat the upgrade of DriveClub as an DLC but that is a super dumb move. 50$/€ for a DLC is insane. Change that ASAP ! Why not go the old route and offer all PS+ members a 10$ discount on the full game ?!? It´s so much easier and not shady as **** like this. Please Sony if you want more PS+ subscribes then offer VALUE not RESTRICTIONS ! Don´t go the MS route to lock everything behind a paywall, even full games which i pay 50 freaking dollars for !

  • Yeah you are missing something. I’m not surprised. They are testing the waters. If this is an acceptable business model then they will give plus members demos for their IGC in the upcoming years and give you the option to buy the full games if you want them. Nevermind the fact that the IGC has never been a platform for demos. Nevermind the fact that when you buy something with your plus discount (which this example of drive club is as well) that you keep it forever regardless of your plus subscription. Nevermind the fact that last year Sony was making fun of Microsoft for almost the exact same DRM policy where the XBone was supposed to check in every so often to make sure you’re the owner of the disc/digital. Funny how this is just another variant of the always on DRM check that they won over so many gamers by pretending to be against

    Basically you’re missing the fact that this is a new and very restrictive form of DRM and while it can be argued that you don’t really own anything purchased digitally, there is no argument on this. You will never own your copy of this game if you buy it with your plus discount

  • PrimeroIncognito

    I understand the point about potentially losing what you paid for, but that might have been worded incorrectly. However, even if it is what it sounds like, so what. There are ways around it. You don’t have to let it affect you. At the end of the day, it’s just another option for purchasing the game. I swear, you guys are professional victims. You act so helpless all the time.

    Just take the approach that works best for you.

    If you have plans to stay subbed to Plus long-term, this whole thing is a non-issue. It’s like getting a $10 day-1 discount on the full game.

    If you want this game, but don’t want to stay tied to Plus, buy the standard version. You lose nothing.

    If you don’t want to pay anything, but still want to play, download the free stripped-down version that was announced to be stripped-down a long time ago. Nothing new here.

  • Every time that you guys think that a new restriction is OK saying that you plan on keeping your subscription up anyway we all give up just a little more of our rights as consumers. “It’s OK if I always have to be connected to the internet.” “It’s OK if my console checks in every day to make sure I really own the content I’m playing.” “It’s OK if I need to maintain a paid subscription so that I’m able to continue to use games that I PAID FOR.” “It’s OK if I need to do a retinal scan to play my games.” “It’s OK if I need to run a DNA check before playing to make sure I’m the rightful owner”…………

    Sure that may be an exaggeration, but this will be an escalating problem. This is the exact same thing that happened in the US after 9/11. “It’s OK if I lose all my freedoms as long as I feel safe.” “It’s OK if the government monitors my email and internet activity as long as I feel safe.” “It’s OK if the government keeps a massive database on it’s citizens activities even though they weren’t accused of any crime or went through due process”

    As long as we feel safe……….

  • I’m pretty sure this game is only playable online, which explains the need to have a PS Plus subscription. And since 80% of games these days have some sort of online component, why would you let your subscription lapse?

  • You guys know you can buy this game at retail stores and on PSN… You don’t have to “upgrade” at all.

  • PrimeroIncognito

    @ Bahumat

    Oh that’s right… you’re the guy who likes to pretend that WILD SPECULATION is equivalent to reality.

    Just like you did on the Harmonix Kickstarter post, your main points (and I use the term “points” very loosely with you) were all about how “we can’t let these greedy corporations get away with this now or else they’ll rape us in the future OMGOGMGOGMOLG!!!!”

    I’ll explain it to you this way… Speaking for myself, I know that I’ll always stay subbed to Plus. Therefore, when I get a PS4, if I still want DRIVECLUB, I’ll gladly take the Plus version upgrade for $49 and save $10 off the standard price, knowing I’ll never lose access to anything I purchased.

    It’s a non-issue for anyone who’s going to stay locked in with Plus. It’s just another option.

    If you don’t feel loyal to Plus, but still want the game and all the content within, just buy the standard version. You just gotta know where you stand ahead of time, that’s all. So, what’s the problem?

  • The reason they are tying your PS Plus subscription to the “upgrade” is because it’s being treated as DLC, not an actual full game purchase. The game is also made to be played online (I don’t think there is an offline mode), and that also requires a PS Plus subscription.

  • It is not playable only online. Sure, it has an online focus, but it’s been stated by the publisher that there is a single player mode.

    Why would I let my subscription lapse? I never play any game online. I never cared for playing with random 12 year olds. If I want to play multiplayer I do it the old fashioned way and invite my friends over for some games, pizza and beer. This is the first year I had plus and it will be the last. I had it for the Instant Game Collection which has gone downhill drastically over the last few months compared to the last few years. I also had it for the discounts sine I mainly buy everything I do want to play instead of waiting on the IGC. Everything up to this point that I’ve bought with my plus discount is mine forever as long as the Sony servers are active. This is something completely different. They’re asking people to buy it with their plus discount, but then they say you can’t keep it for the single player part of the game if you let your plus subscription lapse. I’m honestly surprised that there’s anyone that doesn’t find this practice offensive

  • But this upgrade is being treated as glorified DLC, not a full game purchase. Free games don’t remain playable once your subscription lapses, including DLC.

  • And you can buy the game on Blu-ray. You don’t have to use the PS Plus version at all. It’s not like this game is only available on PS Plus.

    Once again people are whining over nothing.

  • PrimeroIncognito

    Dude, you’re completely oblivious to reality if you think all that spying stuff wasn’t happening before 9/11.

    9/11 just enabled the corrupt ruling class to go just a little more public with their agenda. Bit by bit…

    My grandmother used to work for AT&T as a switchboard operator way back in the 40s, and she told me how even back then, if they wanted to, they could listen in on any call that came through. And if someone in management was in cahoots with the FBI, and they had reason to believe criminal activity was being planned and passed through the wires, they could sit in their office and monitor calls through the patch bay all day long. None of this stuff is new. It has always been possible. The masses just didn’t know about it until recently.

    Anything electronic can be hacked. ANYTHING. And they’ve known about that since the beginning. Don’t fool yourself into thinking there’s anything new under the sun. It has all been done before…

  • And I agree that the “Instant Game Collection” on PS4 is severely lacking. I’ve been thinking about just buying a PS3 and getting rid of my PS4. I don’t see much coming to PS4 in the near future to justify my purchase. Sony is taking too long with making games, and they haven’t announced anything exciting since launch.

  • Dude, the 9/11 example was just colorful language so that some people could see one slippery slope and compare it to this slippery slope. Don’t focus on it. It’s unrelated to the problem at hand

    @PS_man1984 – yes they are treating it as DLC, but the problem is that DLC purchase is in fact the full game. It’s a game purchase – NOT DLC

  • PrimeroIncognito

    It’s funny that you used the word “restriction”, Bahumat.

    What happened here is the opposite. ANOTHER OPTION opened up.

    The good ol’ standard ways of purchasing games that we’ve grown accustomed to is still available here. Nothing was taken away. What “restriction” are you talking about?

    I swear, you just want to be a victim!

  • How many people are going to read this blog? When the game comes out they’ll see it on the store for the discount and just buy that one not knowing of the new restriction placed on it. These people will be screwed over if they let their subscription lapse.

    I’m not playing the victim. I just look at more possibilities than some people do. Some people seem to be happy with whatever they’re given and whatever is decided to be taken away

    I have no interest in discussing this with you. I have no interest in arguing with you. I’ve said it before that you are just a tiresome human being and I do not wish to engage you in some kind of nightly internet battle. I don’t agree with you. You don’t agree with me. That’s fine. It is what it is. There’s no need for us to do this every night

  • Thanks for all the responses, Sony. I am again asking what happened to the PS Plus freebie that was supposed to be the full game “minus a few cars and tracks”. The quote is from the current game’s director from last Fall.

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