Sony confirms DriveClub delay, game will miss PS4 launch

Following reports earlier this week, Sony has confirmed that DriveClub will miss PS4's launch. The Evolution Studios racer has been delayed into early 2014, as the team "requires more time in order to deliver on their vision."

The news comes via a post on the PlayStation Blog from President of Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida.

It reads: "SCE Worldwide Studios and the team at Evolution Studios have made the difficult decision to delay the release of DRIVECLUB and DRIVECLUB PlayStation Plus Edition until early 2014.

"This decision also affects PlayStation Plus members‘ Instant Game Collection for launch. To be clear, DRIVECLUB PlayStation Plus Edition will still be part of the Instant Game Collection when it is released. For the PS4 launch, in addition to Resogun, I’m pleased to announce that Contrast, the highly anticipated game from Compulsion Games will also be available to PlayStation Plus members for free as part of Instant Game Collection.

"We understand that the delay is disappointing news, but can assure you that the reason we have made this decision is to ensure that when DRIVECLUB launches, it will realize the next gen racing vision.

"DRIVECLUB is a really ambitious racing title and the game is looking stunning. The extra time we’re giving the team means the visuals and overall experience are only going to get better. We can assure you that it will be worth the wait."

The news deals a real blow to the PS4 launch line-up, following Ubisoft's announcement that Watch Dogs has also slipped. In terms of next-gen grunt, PS4 will now only have Killzone: Shadow Fall and Knack to show for itself. The loss of a racer is particularly difficult, as not only are they staples of a next-gen console release, but Xbox One has Forza Motorsport 5 ready to go.