Driveclub’s Dynamic Weather Revealed

A lot has been made of Driveclub’s dynamic weather effects, which will be added to the game some time after it launches October 7 on PS4. This is our first chance to check them out, however.

As you can see in the above video, rain seems to have a noticeable effect on handling.

Evolution Studios Art Director Alex Perkins told PlayStation Blog the goal behind the weather system was to help make Driveclub as “immersive as possible.”

 “We’ve developed a powerful engine that has the capability to model the entire environment in stunning detail; from each cloud that makes up our living skies, to every crest and fall in the tarmac beneath your wheels. From there, we’re breathing additional life into the environments by developing the earth’s atmosphere around it. Originally we focused on authentic lighting and skies as the tool for you to customize stunning backdrops for fun challenges with your friends. Now, we’re developing a dynamic weather system that plays into all of this, adding another powerful tool to your arsenal.”

The cloud cover and conditions you choose will dictate how much snow and rain will fall. The wind direction and speed determines where snow will settle. Then when it stops, the temperature and height of the sun governs how quickly clouds evaporate and roads dry out. We’re really striving for consistency in every detail just like we have done with everything else in the game,” Perkins said.

Perkins said the weather in the game can be extreme, and it will change “dynamically and unpredictably” during races. He promised everything from light drizzles to torrential downpours, thunderstorms, and blizzards, and that the weather also has an effect on both handling and visibility during the races.

Weather conditions will be customizable in player created races, Perkins said, with more details about that feature to be released closer to launch.

It will be interesting to see how Driveclub’s system stacks up to Forza Horizon 2, another upcoming racing game that’s putting a lot of focus on weather effects.