7 /10 18

Driveclub arrived in October 2014 as a launch-window exclusive that marked Evolution Studios’ reimagining of competitive racing. Rather than chasing pure simulation like Gran Turismo, the game straddles arcade and sim territories, introducing innovative club-based multiplayer that rewards team coordination over individual dominance. Its striking visual presentation and emphasis on social progression pushed the PS4’s early hardware capabilities. This review examines how Driveclub’s balance of accessibility and challenge defined PS4 racing for five years before server shutdown.

How to Play Driveclub

Driveclub strips racing to essentials: select a car, choose an event type, and compete against AI or live opponents. The handling model teaches players progressive skill through accessible controls that don’t punish aggression excessively. Three game modes structure your experience: Tour (campaign with tiered difficulty), Single Event (custom races), and Multiplayer (club challenges).

1. Controls – Standard racing gamepad layout. The handling feels responsive without demanding sim-level precision. Beginners can grip hard and still progress; veterans can master apex lines for time trial victories.
2. Progression – Driver XP unlocks cars and cosmetics. Club membership means your actions contribute to shared team levels, unlocking challenges and rewards collectively.
3. Combat/Mechanics – No combat; focus is contact racing. Rubberband AI provides consistent difficulty scaling. Event types include time trials, speed challenges, cornering precision tests, and drift competitions.
4. Tips – Master the racing line before attacking accelerator; study track layouts in time trials before racing AI; join an active club early to unlock bonus challenges.

Who Should Play Driveclub

Driveclub suits players seeking accessible, visually impressive racing without sim-racing complexity. Social gamers gain significant value from club dynamics. However, single-player enthusiasts and hardcore sim fans may feel limited by track variety and narrative absence.

• Console Racing Enthusiasts – Players who want Forza-like accessibility on PlayStation find their match here. The handling sits perfectly between arcade and simulation.
• Social/Club Gamers – The club system genuinely rewards cooperation. Clan members earn shared progression that unlocks unique challenges unavailable solo.
• Visual Showcase Seekers – Want to demonstrate PS4 graphical prowess? Dynamic weather, lighting effects, and photorealistic car models still impress nearly a decade later.
• Skip if – You demand offline-multiplayer split-screen, want narrative campaigns, or require 200+ track layouts. Server shutdown eliminated online multiplayer entirely.

Driveclub Platform Performance

Driveclub maintains consistent 1080p/30fps presentation across PS4 hardware. PS5 backward compatibility enables 60fps in boost mode, nearly doubling the original experience. No Pro patch existed at launch despite later announcements of support that never materialized.

Driveclub System Requirements

Being a PS4 exclusive, traditional PC system requirements do not apply. However, those seeking to play via PS4 emulation require substantial hardware. The game’s visual density demands strong GPU performance even on emulation platforms, as texture streaming and dynamic weather calculations stress processors.

Similar Games to Driveclub

Racing games balancing arcade accessibility with competitive depth often employ similar event variety and progression systems. Driveclub’s closest spiritual relatives share its emphasis on accessible controls over punishing difficulty curves. Club mechanics appear across many modern competitive racers, though Driveclub pioneered the concept on console in this era.

• Gran Turismo Sport – More simulation-focused with deeper mechanical customization, but slower-paced progression and less accessible learning curve than Driveclub’s friendly handling.
• Forza Horizon 4 – Open-world alternative offering greater exploration freedom and seasonal events, though less structured multiplayer cooperation than Driveclub clubs.
• Need for Speed Heat – Story-driven racer emphasizing street racing culture, providing narrative that Driveclub entirely lacks, though physics feel less refined.
• Ridge Racer – Classic arcade influence on Driveclub’s design philosophy; simpler handling and driftier physics for pure arcade enjoyment.

Driveclub vs Competitors

Racing game landscape circa 2014-2019 included diverse philosophies: Gran Turismo pursued simulation, Forza balanced arcade-sim spectrum, and Need for Speed emphasized narrative. Driveclub’s Metacritic positioning reflects critics’ appreciation for its graphical presentation and online community features, though limited track selection prevented higher scores. Comparison metrics reveal Driveclub’s strengths in visual fidelity and multiplayer systems versus competitors’ content depth.

Driveclub Story and World

Driveclub eschews traditional narrative, instead building world through stunning environmental design across five real-world regions: Scotland, Japan, Canada, Norway, and India. Each location features distinct visual identity, from Highland mists to Mount Fuji’s elevation to Canadian Rockies majesty. Dynamic weather systems transform track conditions—rain alters grip, fog reduces visibility, clear skies enable aggressive driving. The day-night cycle adds atmospheric progression without explicit storytelling. Rather than following characters, players invest in club identity and driver customization, making the world feel lived-in through community engagement rather than scripted narrative.

Driveclub Multiplayer and Online

Driveclub’s multiplayer architecture centered on club-based competition rather than traditional matchmaking. Players created or joined clubs representing their driving community, with collective club progression providing unique reward access unavailable to solo drivers. Unfortunately, Sony shut down servers March 31, 2020, eliminating all online functionality. Legacy remains available only offline, where single-player modes and local progression mechanics still function fully.

• Club Multiplayer – Teams earned fame through collective racing, unlocking club-specific challenges. Club level progression directly influenced member rewards and cosmetics.
• Social Leaderboards – Friends-based competitive systems displayed performance rankings, encouraging repeat track attempts to improve standing.
• Weekly Events – Limited-time challenges rotated content focus, motivating players to engage specific car classes or track types.
• Cross-Play – Not supported; PS4 exclusivity meant no platform integration with other systems.

Driveclub DLC and Expansions

Evolution Studios implemented aggressive post-launch content strategy, offering both free and premium vehicle packs. Free monthly vehicles released from October 2014 through June 2015 generated goodwill despite paid DLC criticism. Season Pass owners received 60% discount on planned content, significantly reducing per-car costs versus individual purchases. Final DLC arrived in November 2015, with server maintenance continuing until 2020 shutdown.

• Free Vehicle Pack – One new car monthly from October 2014-June 2015; total of 11 additional vehicles and tracks distributed free.
• Premium Car Packs – 38 additional vehicles across themed packs (Performance, Hyper, Japanese Tuning, etc.) priced individually or bundled.
• Season Pass – €24.99 pass provided 60% savings on full DLC year; valued at €75.84 if purchased à la carte.
• Track Expansions – DLC added 176 new events and 80 custom liveries, effectively expanding career content beyond base game.

Driveclub Community and Support

Evolution Studios maintained active development support throughout Driveclub’s operational period, addressing player feedback through regular patches and feature additions. Weather dynamics, photo modes, and club functionality received iterative improvements based on community requests. Post-launch support set PlayStation standards for racing communities, establishing framework for player-driven progression systems.

• Official Forums – PlayStation Community forums hosted development updates, patch notes, and server status announcements until 2020 shutdown.
• Discord and Reddit – Community subreddits (r/Driveclub) maintain active discussion of legacy gameplay, car setups, and track strategies despite server closure.
• Mod Support – No official mod support; emulation communities now develop texture and performance enhancements for PC via ShadPS4.
• Updates – Last major patch shipped November 2015; server maintenance continued until March 2020 final shutdown notification.