Sony announced Friday that Evolution Studios will delay the launch of Driveclub until 2014.
The game was supposed to be a launch title for the PlayStation 4, which drops in North America on Nov. 15. The team-based racing game was developed with input about vehicle exteriors and interiors from car companies around the world. "The result is staggeringly immersive and visceral. This isn't cockpit view; this is first-person-racing," Evolution said earlier this year.
The team apparently needs some more time bringing that to life. "We understand that the delay is disappointing news, but can assure you that the reason we have made this decision is to ensure that when Driveclub launches, it will realize the next-gen racing vision," Shuhei Yoshida, president of Sony Computer Entertainment's Worldwide Studios, said in a blog post. "Driveclub is a really ambitious racing title and the game is looking stunning. The extra time we're giving the team means the visuals and overall experience are only going to get better. We can assure you that it will be worth the wait."
The game was also set to be included in the PS4 Instant Game Collection, which provides free games to PlayStation Plus members each month. Yoshida said that Driveclub will still be added to the Instant Game Collection when it's released, but for now, Sony will replace Driveclub with Contrast from Compulsion Games (trailer below) and Resogun.
"If you're not aware of Contrast, it will whisk you away to a surreal vaudevillian, film-noir inspired reality full of performance, intrigue, shadow-play and drama," he wrote.
On launch day, the PS4 is still scheduled to support Killzone Shadow Fall, Knack, Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag, FIFA 14, Call of Duty: Ghosts, and Battlefield 4, among others. See the slideshow above for more.
"A broad portfolio of games will be available on PS4 before the end of the year, and with games such as inFAMOUS Second Son, The Order 1886, Destiny, Watch Dogs and now Driveclub coming next year, the strength of the software line-up on PS4 is unprecedented," Yoshida said.
Driveclub is still available for pre-order for $59.99.
Sony's announcement comes shortly after Ubisoft said it would push the release of Watch Dogs and The Crew.