Codemasters Announces DiRT Showdown News

Seemingly not content with the runaway success of DiRT 3 earlier this year, Codemasters has now announced a spin-off to the series, DiRT Showdown which will be released for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC in May.

While Codies has traditionally blended arcade and sim elements in its driving games, DiRT Showdown is being positioned deep in arcade territory and sheds much of the authentic styling that lies at the series' roots.

Split across three separate disciplines – Racing, Destruction Derby, and Hoonigan – this new instalment will bring with it a touch more razzle-dazzle, evident in some of the pyrotechnics and fireworks displayed in the announcement trailer below.

Across the three modes, Racing will be a stunt-focused affair with plentiful ramps, obstacles, and multiple routes; Destruction Derby is as the name suggests (expect a large dose of what's shown below), and Hoonigan is similar to the Gymkhana events from DiRT 3 where freestyle driving tricks are ranked and scored.

It's been a tough couple of years for arcade games, with titles like Blur and Split/Second struggling at retail before leading to the closure of their respective studios, and this year's Need For Speed failing to even break into the top 10 of the UK charts for the first time in the series' history. Fingers crossed, then, that Codemasters can buck that trend and reinvigorate this classic genre.

“DiRT Showdown charges into the arcade racing space with a uniquely Codemasters feel,” said Mike Chapman, Senior Games Designer. “Whether players are using nitrous to boost, smashing into their opponents or pulling off stunts, DiRT Showdown’s fresh handling system and super-charged damage engine embed excitement into every event.”