*Update: You Will Keep PS+ Edition Content When PS+ Expires* Driveclub Retail Version vs. PS+ Edition Details
Update: It seems that Sony and Evolution Studio has been listening to fan feedback thankfully. Just a couple of days ago details was revealed for the PS+ Edition of Driveclub (free to PS+ subscribers). But a very unpopular decision was made that even if you upgraded from the free PS+ Edition and paid the £42.99/$49.99 for the full version of the game, you will not be able to access that paid content when your PS+ subscription ends.
Now courtesy of a tweet from Playstation Europe, they have confirmed that when your PS+ subscription ends, you WILL keep all the content that you have paid for. Now thankfully the choice to upgrade at the discounted price is making much more sense, an upgrade that may now interest me if it works out cheaper than buying from retail. You can check out the tweet below confirming this news.
UPDATE> If you have #DRIVECLUB PS+ Ed & upgrade, we’ll ensure you keep full game access even if your PS Plus runs out http://t.co/RIjDw6Mzzw
— PlayStation Europe (@PlayStationEU) May 9, 2014
Original Story: Just over a week or so ago we finally got a new set release date for the PS4 exclusive Driveclub, which will release on October 7th in North America, the 8th across Europe and the 10th in the UK . Initially Driveclub was set to be a PS4 launch title before its delay and with that launch was a planned PS+ Edition of the game that will be free to Playstation Plus subscribers. All we knew at the time is that the PS+ Edition will be a scaled down version of the retail release, ‘presumably’ (I use that word loosely) with the option to upgrade to the full version at a discounted price.
Well now Sony and Evolution Studios have released details and an accompanying trailer revealing the details for both versions of the game. In a nutshell the PS+ Edition will be free to subscribers, come with one location (India), with 11 tracks, 10 cars and will give you access to all the games modes. It’s hard to argue the content as subscribers won’t be getting charged for it, but I suppose this version of the game is something of a very generous demo.
The folks at Evolution Studios say that there’s so much content included in Driveclub, that they’ve chosen to release three update trailers to explain its rich content. Three trailers will be released this week, with the opening trailer comparing the full version of Driveclub vs. the PS+ Edition.
Here’s what the community manager of Evolution Studios Jamie Brayshaw had to say on the generous PS+ Edition of Driveclub:
If you choose to upgrade from the PS+ Edition you will have to make a onetime payment of $49.99/£42.99, which will give you access to all Driveclubs content which includes 5 locations, 55 tracks, 50 cars and 50 tour events. Oddly though despite paying the $49.99/£42.99, according to the Playstation Blog you will have access to all this content “as long as your Playstation Plus subscription remains active.”
I say this is odd, because normally when you pay a price for something of PS+, you get access to its content regardless of whether your subscription has expired or not. Normally it’s the games that you get for free that deny you access should your subscription run out.
Personally depending on the money situation at the time, I will likely take up the offer of the PS+ Edition of Driveclub, but rather than upgrading for the time being, I’d much prefer to buy the physical copy outright from a retailer. At least that way I’ll keep my game regardless of subscription and I can trade/sell the game if I choose. I find this decision to lock your content when your subscription ends very baffling, I will certainly be steering well clear of the upgraded digital version thank you very much!
The next Driveclub update will all be about the ‘Clubs’ and Friday’s update will be dedicated to the challenges of Driveclub. Driveclub will release in North America on October 7th, the 8th across Europe and the 10th in the UK.
Source: Playstation Blog.