A Survey of the 2014 Gamescape

Sports

Driveclub – Evolution Studios (PS4)
Homepage
TBA 2014

What is it?
The makers of MotorStorm are aiming at Grid 2 with their latest racer featuring fantastically rendered cars and social elements encouraging team play. They combined a number of different approaches spread across platforms such as the web to the PS Vita to test out different concepts that would bring players together in a racing game where they could manage teams and hit some of the “most breathtaking roads in the world”.

Carmageddon: Reincarnation – Stainless Games (Linux, OS X, PS4, Windows, XBO)
Homepage
Q1 2014

What is it?
Bumped into 2014, Stainless Steel’s death race is still on track thanks to fans coming out to support it on Kickstarter. It was moved into the next year due to an expanded scope for the game and will debut on Steam as part of its Early Access program which is essentially a pay-for-early-access beta. An infusion of $3.5 million USD from Les Edgar – Bullfrog founder, former EA VP, and Stainless Games shareholder – also helped. For those that spent hours racing about trying to turn opponents and pedestrians into skid marks while riding up on sidewalks instead of running a proper race, this is the game that we’ve been waiting for to make a comeback.

The Crew – Ivory Tower (PS4, Windows, XBO)
Homepage
Q3 2014

What is it?
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to be in a Fast and Furious film, this might come close. This racer aims to make the United States your playground as you try to infiltrate criminal crews as an underground racer in order to bring them down from within. Because you’ve got the US as your crime scene, the game boasts racing events covering off-roading, circuits, street racing, and scores of others scattered throughout the countryside and city streets from New York to Las Vegas and more. Multiplayer will allow you to drop in on crews and join them on a job or challenge rivals for the next score. You can also go solo if you want and tackle the 20 hour story by yourself.

Distance – Refract Studios (Linux, OS X, Windows)
Homepage
TBA 2014

What is it?
A group of DigiPen graduates are putting this racing game together as the spiritual successor to their student project, Nitronic Rush. And thanks to a successful Kickstarter, it was tentaively heading to PCs in 2013, now pushing into 2014. It features a mysterious city with a secret history and loading up your car with enough jumping, twisting, and acrobatic abilities to make Speed Racer green with envy allowing players to drive on nearly everything from roads to buildings. Multiplayer is also going to be built in along with editing tools.

Don Bradman Cricket 14 – Big Ant Studios (PS3, Windows, Xbox 360)
Facebook page
TBA 2014

What is it?
There’s something for cricket fans in 2014. It has “spent nearly five years in development” at Big Ant featuring a robust career mode, player creator, and will allow players to save a match in progress. New controls, stadiums, and a demo are also mentioned on this page at PlanetCricket dedicated to the game including a player editor beta available for download.

EA Sports UFC – EA Canada (PS4, XBO)
Homepage
May 5, 2014

What is it?
EA snagged the UFC license from THQ as it spiraled into financial trouble in 2013, scoring a multi-year deal for multiple releases. There isn’t a whole lot of information on what the first game will be like, but it promises stuff such as realistic likenesses, changing fighting styles and goals, exertion, full body deformations, dynamic strikes, and visible damage. It’s a lot of high bars they’ve set for themselves, so the real question is whether all of those elements will come together in a fun game or end up as another NBA Live 14.

Kinect Sports Rivals – Rare (XBO)
Homepage
Spring 2014

What is it?
Making use of the Xbox One’s enhanced Kinect sensor, the game will be able to “scan” you into the action, turning you into an onscreen avatar competing in a variety of virtual sports from climbing to bowling to jetski racing. Monthly challenges will also be made available and players will also be competing against friends online to show who is the best.

Mario Kart 8 – Nintendo (Wii U)
Homepage
Spring 2014

What is it?
It’s the first Mario Kart game for the Wii U featuring anti-gravity, highlight videos that can be shared in the Miiverse, competitive play, and a cast of characters to join in on the fun. A huge variety of vehicles from hang gliders to motorbikes will also be available for players to make this an amazing racing experience for Nintendo fans.

MLB 14: The Show – SCE San Diego Studio (PS Vita, PS3, PS4)
Homepage
Spring 2014

What is it?
MLB 14 will feature the ability to take your saved games to future versions of the game, a first for the series with the potential to create living dynasties of your favorite team ups and players based on your play style without having to start your franchise or seasons from scratch. Don’t feel like playing all 9 innings in the traditional way? A quick count system will speed things up if you want to spend only a short amount of time in a game. That and more are promised for the newest iteration of the popular baseball title from Sony’s studio.

Project CARS – Slightly Mad Studios (PS4, SteamOS, Wii U, Windows, XBO)
Homepage
TBA 2014

What is it?
Though pushed into 2014, this ambitious racing project is still going strong. Avoiding Kickstarter and crowd funding this project via Slightly Mad Studios’ own platform, interested players and their wallets could decide which “tool pack” tier to invest in offering different degrees of participation in developing the game ranging from replying to the developers in the forums to actually having their face and custom logo added to the game along with the potential to earn money from content they create themselves. They’re targeting everyone with this game featuring modes covering every sport, officially licensed cars, multiplayer, and much more.

Wii Fit U – Nintendo (Wii U)
Homepage
January 10, 2014

What is it?
A former “launch window” game, it’s finally slated for release in January more than a year after it was promised. It’s the Wii U version of the popular Wii Fit game that helped to keep launching a few more million Wiis into living room gyms everywhere. This time, it’ll make use of the gamepad tablet as an aid to monitor your workout progress whether it’s during yoga, dancing, and aerobic exercises. You’ll also be able to compare “Fit” data with friends to see how well your routine is stacking up.