DiRT Showdown | Demo and Game Release dates

Codemasters – or Codemasters Racing as they shall now be known as – announced the UK release date for DiRT Showdown as well as announcing the date the demo will be available.

The demo arrives on Xbox LIVE, PlayStation Network and PC on 1 May and will also include an invite to Cademasters new ‘Racenet’ – a community service which will be available over all future Codemasters Racing titles.

The game itself hits retail on 25 May in the UK, 24 May in Europe and 29 May in the US.  South Africa is currently unconfirmed, but we suspect it will be 25 May.

The following gameplay summary is courtesy of CVG

• Showdown is a new arcade racing game from the makers of the acclaimed DiRT series. Accessible, pick up and play controls combine with spectacular events and stunning graphics to deliver high octane, dive in and drive thrills from event one.

• DiRT Showdown features a mouth-watering selection of cars. Ken Block’s all new Gymkhana 4 HFHV Ford Fiesta debuts alongside a varied selection of vehicles across a range of classes. From saloons and muscle cars to pick-up trucks, hearses and vans, players will have a wide selection of cars to trick, race and destroy.

• Trade paint and use nitrous to speed past rivals in DiRT Showdown’s range of racing modes. Courses are littered with obstacles, pinch points, multiple-routes and ramps to deliver adrenaline fuelled racing across spectacular courses.

• Players will crash, smash and bash their way through a range of demolition derby themed events which pushes the EGO-powered damage engine to its spectacular limits.

• A new accessible handling system lets players let loose in free-roaming, freestyle stunt parks. Compounds flooded with obstacles play host to a range of new challenges, from performing trick runs to competitive stunt events, explorations challenges and more.

• Race through each championship until you make your way to the ‘Showdown’ finale. Each Showdown is held in a unique festival atmosphere where a frenzied party atmosphere, including pyrotechnics and lasers combine with DiRT Showdown’s high-octane driving gameplay.

• DiRT Showdown is purpose built for social gaming. Dedicated party games are available online and in split-screen perfect for sofa gaming with a low barrier to entry for friends where classics like ‘capture the flag’ and checkpoint challenges get the Showdown treatment.

• All new for DiRT Showdown, players can now issue Showdown Challenges so players can test themselves against their friends whether they are online or not.

• Every location in DIRT Showdown becomes a thrilling racing theatre, custom designed for players to perform on the perfect stage. From San Francisco to Miami, Nevada to Michigan, Tokyo to London, each of DIRT Showdown’s locations delivers a unique atmosphere for a wide range of events.

• Flashback becomes Crashback in DiRT Showdown – whenever a large crash happens, players can see ‘kill cams’ from several angles showing how the carnage unfolds. In single player events, gamers can also upload clips direct to YouTube.

To celebrate the announcement, a new ‘Ultimate Hoonigan’ video has been released which features the “spectacular tricks and stunts players can perform in DiRT Showdown’s Hoonigan game modes.”  Codemasters also announced a special ‘Hoonigan’ edition of DiRT Showdown for pre-order exclusively from Gamestation and Game.  Details are available in the Press Release below.

[hide-this-part Morelink=”Show Press Release:”]

All new ‘Ultimate Hoonigan’ gameplay video now playing at www.dirtgame.com. DiRT Showdown playable demo, due May 1st, will introduce RaceNet, the new online community hub for Codemasters Racing players

Thursday April 19th (2 PM UK) – Today Codemasters® announced that DiRT® Showdown™, the new all-action racing game from the award-winning DiRT series, will race into retail on May 25th*. DiRT Showdown will be the first game to launch on the company’s new publishing label Codemasters Racing** (See Notes).

To mark the news, Codemasters has released the ‘Ultimate Hoonigan’ gameplay video featuring the spectacular tricks and stunts players can perform in DiRT Showdown’s Hoonigan game modes. The video features Ken Block’s Ford Fiesta H.F.H.V Gymkhana 5 which features exclusively in DiRT Showdown, going head-to-head with a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X JUN, and is now playing at www.dirtgame.com. ;

Codemasters also announced that the playable demo of DiRT Showdown is due to launch worldwide from May 1st. The demo will feature a solo and multiplayer event and will be available from Xbox Live Marketplace, PlayStation Network and Steam on PC.

When the DiRT Showdown demo goes live, Codemasters will invite fans to join the free new online hub for Codemasters Racing games, RaceNet† (See Notes). RaceNet will launch in beta as an evolving interactive community platform for Codemasters Racing games and allow fans to track their Races, Rivals and Rewards.

A special ‘Hoonigan’ edition of DiRT Showdown is now available to pre-order exclusively from Gamestation and Game. Sporting unique packaging, the DiRT Showdown: Hoonigan Edition will include an in-game cash boost, an online XP multiplier plus Monster Energy liveries for the Kohler D350, Duke Coupe and Ford Fiesta Gymkhana 3 and Hoonigan liveries for the Holbrook Growler, Logan Vulture and Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X JUN(as seen in the ‘Ultimate Hoonigan’ video), redeemed via an online code.

DiRT Showdown will deliver a new world of competitive and combative racing as players race, crash and hoon their way to ‘Showdown’ finals on a chaotic tour of motorised mayhem when it launches May 25th for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and PC. For all the latest updates straight from the studio, crash over to www.dirtgame.com, www.facebook.com/dirtgame or follow the team at www.twitter.com/dirtgame. ;

ENDS

NOTES:

Release date:

• DiRT Showdown will launch May 24th across mainland Europe, May 25th in the UK and ship to stores across North America on May 29th.

Codemasters Racing:
**The new Codemasters Racing label signals Codemasters’ new razor focus upon the racing sector. Codemasters is uniquely positioned to deliver award-winning offerings across multiple platforms and genres, with simulation represented by the official FORMULA ONE games, off-road racing fans catered for by the DiRT series and action-packed street racing delivered by the GRID franchise. The Codemasters Racing label will become a symbol of quality for racing gamers, and launches with DiRT Showdown.

RaceNet:
†RaceNet will launch in BETA alongside the DiRT Showdown demo and will be a free new online extension for all Codemasters Racing games. Through RaceNet, players will be able to track their races, rewards and rivals. With a dedicated team and long-term vision, RaceNet will continually evolve to bring together Codemasters Racing games in one place. More details and features will be unveiled when DiRT Showdown launches.

DiRT Showdown:
DiRT Showdown will deliver a new world of competitive and combative racing as players race, crash and hoon their way to ‘Showdown’ finals on a chaotic tour of motorised mayhem. From San Francisco to Miami and London to Tokyo, players will dominate their rivals and wow the crowds on their way to becoming a driving superstar.
Pyrotechnics, lasers and thousands of fans give each venue a vibrant sports entertainment atmosphere, with the player taking centre stage. Over 50 different events across four championships will challenge gamers in a variety of conditions – sun, snow and rain – through the day and under the floodlights at night. DiRT Showdown will be Codemasters’ most connected game ever – split-screen multiplayer, eight-player online racing, on and off-line quick-fire party games and YouTube integration all come as standard. Players will also be able to issue ‘Showdown Challenges’ to compete with friends whether they are online or not.

[/hide-this-part]