When people think of racing video games, they probably associate the genre with the cartoonish mayhem of theMario Kartgames or therealistic races found in theForzaserieson Xbox orGran Turismoseries onPlayStation. Despite these juggernaut franchises having massive fan bases, the genre contains some other contenders as well. One of these games trying to make an impression isKart Rider: Drift.
As part of thePlayStation State of Playfor October,Kart Rider: Driftwas revealed to be coming to PS4. While the game has not been officially confirmed for PS5, it will be available through backward compatibility. As the next installment in theKart Riderseries, players received a look at the free-to-play title. In addition to a trailer showcasing the manic racing action, a PlayStation Blog post provided details on an upcoming beta for PS4.
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According to the blog post, gamers can test outKart Rider: Driftduring an upcoming beta. While the game doesn’t launch until next year, the PS4 beta goes live on Wednesday, December 8. In addition, Nexon, the developer ofKart Rider: Drift, revealed that the beta supports online play, allowing gamers to race against other players across the globe.
The developer gave some additional details regarding the December 8 beta. During the beta, PS4 players will have the opportunity to check out 2 different game modes: Item Mode and Speed Mode. Item Mode lets players gain items during a race to “attack, defend, or support your allies in team-based races.” The developer noted that the beta will contain 15 items and hinted that more might come in the future. The other available mode, Speed Mode, focuses more on going fast. Using a boost gauge, players can utilize speed boosts to gain a competitive advantage in races.
During the December beta,PlayStationplayers will have access to 30 different tracks. From a ghostly graveyard to a molten lava field, players will find themselves racing across all types of terrain. In addition, the beta includes 7 playable characters with many outfits options. Furthermore, fans can play as new characters, such as Neo, Rex, and Marid. However, characters from previous entries in the series will be returning as well.
Some additional highlights for PlayStation fans were revealed as well. One of the features coming to the kart racer included support for crossplay, meaning that once the game launches, players from all available platforms,such as Xbox consolesand PC, can race against each other. In addition,Kart Rider: Driftsupports cross-progression.
WhileKart Rider: Driftmight never reach the stratospheric heights oftheMario Kartseries, it’s nice that gamers on consoles other than Nintendo have an alternative. It will be interesting to see player reception when the game arrives next year.
Kart Rider: Driftreleases on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in 2022.
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