Speaking to Develop, DriveClub game director Paul Rustchynsky said the game's new integrated social features aren't mere gimmicks.
He remarked:
“I don’t think gimmicks are the solution for any genre – there is only ever short-term gain to be had from them.
“But neither do I think these examples are gimmicks. Most are interesting, vibrant new features that are well integrated into the entire experience, that can change the entire dynamic of play. We just don’t do a good job of explaining to players why such features are transformative and why they’re a great reason to check out the driving genre again.”
Of course, it's no surprise that DriveClub is taking advantage of the PS4's social features such as the DualShock 4's share button which even Destiny develop Bungie has expressed enthusiasm for recently.
Rustchynsky also spoke about setpieces in racers commenting:
“With MotorStorm Apocalypse, we focused on the large-scale spectacle and really pushed the boundaries of environmental destruction.
“We could have just tightened up the handling and added more intricate details as a sequel to Pacific Rift, but instead we changed the formula and shook up the series to provide a fresh take on the visceral driving action. And I see no reason why we won’t see more of this within the racing genre this generation.”
Yesterday, he explained DriveClub's challenge system and how the game, which launches exclusively on PlayStation 4 in October, is about more than just winning.