What happened to the free PlayStation Plus version of Driveclub that was supposed to be available to subscribers this week? According to game director Paul Rustchynsky it's being held back until the retail game's connectivity issues are ironed out.
Players are having trouble connecting to Driveclub's servers, and while the game can be played offline (thank goodness), the entire concept is deeply rooted in multiplayer racing, which does not work if the players can't reach the server. Prior to the game going on sale yesterday I connected to the servers fairly regularly. Since yesterday it's been more miss than hit.
In a Facebook post earlier today, Rustchynsky apologized for the server issues, assuring players they were being addressed over the coming days.
We are sorry if you are having a hard time getting online as we know many of you are. Please be aware that the game will automatically keep trying to connect you. Once you're online, you should have no further problems during your session.
Everyone at the studio is now working hard to get new updates ready for the game servers to improve connectivity. We will be rolling out these updates day by day and will keep you informed.
He goes on to says that in order to " help all Driveclub players who have the game already" they are holding back to PS Plus Edition and the My Driveclub app indefinitely.
It's a good call. The PS Plus Edition may be a light version of the game, but it still gives players access to online, and the last thing a game struggling with server issues needs another couple hundred thousand more users trying to connect.
We fully appreciate how frustrating this is for everyone. We want you to get online with your club because racing, challenging and having fun together is what the game is all about. We know that racing with your friends online is what you've been waiting for and we are doing everything we can to deliver that experience to you as soon as possible.