E3 2005: New Driver announced

News - Atari series goes numero four

In Atari's biggest splash of the E3 show so far, the French publisher formerly known as Infogrames, has announced that Reflections are currently hard at work on a new Driver game, the fourth in the series. The previous outing, DRIV3R, proved somewhat of a mixed bag at launch with massively differing review scores inciting cries of conspiracy amid the controversy. Reflections' latest is being created for the PC, Xbox and PS2 for a debut in 2006. Tanner is once again expected to star.

"Backed by a distinct driving dynamic that gave rise to a completely new sub-category within the driving genre, and with millions of fans worldwide, it is no surprise that the Driver franchise is often called the 'father of action driving games'," gushed Marc Metis, senior vice president of Marketing. "With our next Driver game, we are concentrating on those qualities that defined the franchise and established it as a perennial best-seller."

Finely tuned vehicles and realistic AI are promised, as part of something of a return to the series' 'roots' - Atari distancing themselves from DRIV3R - veering towards the acclaimed original. Open-ended gameplay, structured by missions and plotlines should keep the game together, against the backdrop of a "photo-realistic New York" we're promised. Online play, for all formats, will feature as part of the release. A first for the Driver series. More on this as we get it.