14 DAY TRIAL // Driveclub, the upcoming PlayStation 4 exclusive racing game, is locked at 30 frames per second, which was met with some criticism from fans, and now the title's director attempts to defend the developer's choice.
A while back, Evolution Studios announced that the game would run at 30 frames per second, in order for them to render the world in more detail and to offer a truly next-gen visual experience, which, of course, was met with skepticism by some members of the gaming community.
In a recent interview with Red Bull, Driveclub Director Paul Rustchynsky urges players to try out the game before criticizing their decision, as the dev team has put a lot of effort into making sure that the game does not suffer from any input lag or FPS drop, which is something that not many 60 FPS games can boast, while looking its best on Sony' next-gen console.
"I can see why players assume that a higher frame rate means better quality, because in pretty much every other technical statistic the higher numbers directly translate to better performance and more detail," Rustchynsky says.
"With high frame rates though, you've got to sacrifice a lot of detail, and ultimately we're really satisfied that we've got a great balance of a racing game that looks stunning and plays beautifully," he adds.
Initially, Evolution Studios intended to deliver Driveclub running at 60 frames per second, which is probably the main reason its fans are now disappointed that the game went back to 30 FPS. However, he also notes that all the players who tried out their demo during this year's edition of the E3 gaming expo were pleasantly surprised by how well the game played.
"The real acid test for us was when we let thousands of gamers play our demo at E3 in Los Angeles this year, because everyone who cares about frame rate came away surprised and pleased with how fluid and responsive it feels when you're driving," Rustchynsky explains.
One of the key defining elements of the upcoming racing game will be its social focus, Driveclub going beyond what every other title has offered so far, attempting to present a more friendly and at the same time purposeful alternative to the "lonely and uninviting" atmosphere of Project CARS, Forza and Gran Turismo, where you only race for yourself, and the ultimate goal is ending the race in the first position.
After having been announced to be part of the PlayStation 4's launch lineup and then delayed, Driveclub is currently scheduled for launch on October 7, exclusively on Sony's next-gen computer entertainment system, the PlayStation 4.