November 20, 2008
THE KING OF OFF-ROAD RETURNS AS
CODEMASTERS ANNOUNCES COLIN MCRAE: DiRT 2
Rally legend honoured as game
takes inspiration from modern off-road events.
Codemasters® today announced that
Colin McRae: DiRT™2, the sequel to the acclaimed best-selling off-road racer of
2007, is now in development at Codemasters Studios for the PLAYSTATION®3
computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system
from Microsoft® and Games For Windows® LIVE with further editions for Wii™,
Nintendo DS™ and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system due for simultaneous release
in 2009.
The announcement marks confirmation
that the game will be headlined by Colin McRae, honouring the life of the rally
legend. Colin McRae, who consulted on the series for over ten years, tragically
died in a helicopter accident in September 2007. The decision to continue the
famous series bearing his name was made jointly between the McRae family and
Codemasters.
“Colin McRae was all about the
speed, the excitement and the entertainment of rally driving. Even when we first
worked with him over ten years ago, he captured a freedom and a spirit that
enthralled rally fans.” said Gavin Raeburn, senior executive producer at
Codemasters Studios. “Later his showmanship shone through in events such as the
X-games, the Dakar Rally and the Race of Champions. He could do things with a
car that no one else would and that’s where we’re taking the series with new
events at the extreme edge of rally and autosport. It will be a great tribute to
an incredible champion.”
Colin McRae: DiRT 2 will feature a
roster of contemporary off-road events, taking players to the most diverse and
challenging real-world environments. This World Tour will have players competing
in aggressive multi-car and intense solo races at extraordinary new locations,
from canyon racing and jungle trails to city stadium-based events.
“Rally has attracted new stars and a
new style that makes it more vibrant and exciting than ever before; it’s right
up there as a premium extreme sport, attracting fresh crowds and a new confident
attitude,” said Raeburn.
“Colin McRae: DiRT 2 mirrors this
new, exciting direction and, in a way, we’ll be throwing off some of the
shackles and constraints that real-world rallying has to abide by. We’re
pitching players against the most spectacular and dangerous environments in the
real world.”
To be powered by the third
generation of the EGO™ Engine’s award-winning racing game technology, Colin
McRae: DiRT 2 will benefit from tuned-up car-handling physics system and new
damage engine effects. It will also showcase a spectacular new level of visual
fidelity, with cars and tracks twice as detailed as those seen in Race Driver:
GRID.
Colin McRae: DiRT 2’s garage will
house a best-in-class collection of officially licensed rally cars and off-road
vehicles, specifically selected to deliver aggressive and fast paced racing.
Covering seven vehicle classes, players will be given the keys to powerful
vehicles right from the off. In Colin McRae: DiRT 2 the opening drive is the
Group N Subaru; essentially making the ultimate car from the original game the
starting point in the sequel and the rides just get even more impressive.
In addition to the World Tour, Colin
McRae: DiRT 2 will come complete with full online functionality that will be
core to the overall experience, with head-to-head competitive online play and
new social features to engage the racing community. Prepare for mud, gravel,
dust and dirt too in Colin McRae: DiRT 2, coming 2009. Sign up for the drive of
your life at
www.codemasters.com/dirt2.
