Driver Video Game Series
A highly acclaimed series of games combining elements of car racing and action adventure game. The brand was created by Reflections Interactive studio (now Ubisoft Reflections), which oversees its development.
The series debuted in 1999 with the game Driver released for the PlayStation console (later conversions were prepared for PC and Game Boy Color console, among others). Inspired by the cult film Bullit (1968), the adventures of Detective John Tunner, delighted critics and gamers, which translated into high ratings in reviews and good sales results. Encouraged by the success, the developers prepared two slightly less successful sequels - Driver 2 (2000) i Driv3r (2004), porting the series to new hardware platforms, including Xbox and PlayStation 2 consoles. In 2006, the Reflections Interactive studio team, along with the brand Driver became the property of the Ubisoft corporation. This resulted in games released a year later Driver: Parallel Lines and Driver 76. A new chapter in the history of the series opened with the release of the game Driver: San Francisco in 2011, which, according to many fans, restored the series to its former glory.
In most games of the series Driver the main character is John Tanner, a police detective who unravels the structures of the Mafia. He tries to infiltrate the criminal underworld by taking on the role of a driver. The player's task is to gain the trust of gangsters, which requires participation in various actions requiring the use of cars or motorcycles.
The main asset of the series Driver is the unconventional gameplay, which is a mix of elements of arcade racing, adventure, action and even shooting games. The game generally takes place in an open world, which allows a lot of freedom in performing missions and exploring vast locations.
According to Ubisoft's calculations, by August 2011 the games in the series Driver had achieved sales of more than 16 million copies. The popularity of the brand has been recognized by filmmakers. Canadian film studio Cinespace is planning to make a cinematic adaptation.
Driver Series Evolution
2011
Driver: San Francisco
2011
Driver: Renegade
2007
Driver 76
2006
Driver: Parallel Lines
2004
DRIV3R
1999
Driver (1999)
Driver Speedboat Paradise
Racing
April 8, 2015
A mobile free-to-play arcade game. It is a spin-off of the series of open world car games Driver. Driver Speedboat Paradise enables the player to participate in speedboat races. The player assumes the role of a young fan of water races who agrees to help the main character of the series in taking down a mob from the inside. He participates in many illegal competitions with the criminals. Driver Speedboat Paradise offers thirty tracks located in such areas as Miami, Venice, Bahamas and Cancum city. The tracks are filled with containers with boosts and ramps that enable the challengers to perform high jumps. The game offers quite realistic physics that simulate the behavior of motorboats and water. A dynamic weather system that impacts the behavior of the boats is an additional attraction. The game also offers a development system that enables the user to improve his vehicle.
Driver: San Francisco
Racing
September 1, 2011
The fifth major installment of the popular series of racing action games developed since 1999. The title was created by the authors of the previous installments in the series, the Reflections Interactive studio which currently belongs to Ubisoft. The story of the game references the third chapter of the franchise in which the policeman John Tanner was fighting a gangster named Jericho. As the protagonist was chasing after the criminal, an accident occurred and Tanner was put into coma. The game takes place in the dreams of the protagonist. This allowed the developers to introduce some innovative solutions which impact the dynamics of the game. The game introduces Shift system which allows the player to switch between all vehicles in the range of sight almost completely freely. The developers recreated more than a hundred licensed vehicles and the game takes place in the giant virtual recreation of the city of San Francisco which has the size of 209 square miles. Polished driving system and damage system makes the game more realistic.
Driver: Renegade
Action
August 30, 2011
An action car game that takes full advantage of 3D technology. As John Tanner, we face dangerous criminals from New York City. As the story develops, embedded between the first and second parts of the Driver series, we buy new cars and improve our existing ones. The game has a huge, open world.
Driver 76
Adventure
May 8, 2007
Driver 76 is an item from the popular series of action games "Driver. Fans of fast driving and gangster climates can enjoy dynamic car and motorcycle chases, exploring the virtual city on foot, shooting with a variety of weapons and many other elements characteristic of this cycle.
Driver: Parallel Lines
Action
March 14, 2006
The fourth installment of the popular car series launched in 1999, allowing players to take on the role of the titular driver in the service of the mafia. After the critical reception of the third installment in the series, the developers from Reflections Interactive studio decided to modify the mechanics and diversify the story. The action takes place in two time horizons: in the present day and in the 70s. We meet the main character as an arrogant 18-year-old with above-average driving skills.
DRIV3R
Action
June 20, 2004
The next installment of the popular series of three-dimensional action games, launched in 1999 on the Sony PlayStation. Again, we are directing the actions of an uncompromising policeman named Tanner, who infiltrates criminal structures to destroy them from inside.
Driver 2 Advance
Racing
October 4, 2002
A pocket edition of one of the most acclaimed racers on PlayStation. We play the role of Tanner and join a number of missions, using many different vehicles.
Driver 2: Back on the Streets
Action
November 13, 2000
Continuation of the 1999 hit. This is an action game set in the open world of cars, in which the player takes on the role of a policeman acting under the cover. The missions focus mainly on impressive chases or the shortest possible route from A to B. A novelty in relation to the first part of the cycle is to allow the main hero to leave the vehicle he controls.
Driver (1999)
Racing
July 2, 1999
Inspired by classic films from the 60s and 70s of the last century, a racing game with feature elements. Players play the role of a secret police officer, who works out mafia structures by performing tasks commissioned by gangsters.
Driver Series News
Ubisoft's Iconic Series Set to Return, but Without a Screen Adaptation. The Company Is „Actively Working on Other Exciting Projects” Related to Driver Series
Ubisoft released bittersweet information about the future of the Driver series. It turns out that the planned film adaptation of the racing game series won't live to see fruition. However, the French studio doesn't intend to bury the iconic brand.
video games
Kamil Kleszyk
July 15, 2024
Driver San Francisco Grows; Ubisoft's Gem Got New Challenges and Crime System
Old-school Driver: San Francisco can still count on fan support. The game recently received a new version of the great modification called Felony Rework.
Files and Mods
Adrian Werner
November 26, 2023
Driver Will Return as Live-action Show
Ubisoft has revealed a plan to adapt the Driver series to TV screens. It is to take the form of a live-action series, exclusive to the streaming platform Binge.
video games
Michael Zegar
September 14, 2021
Watch Dogs Started Out as Driver Reboot
It turns out that Watch Dogs was supposed to be a completely different game. Ubisoft wanted the new title to be a reboot of the Driver series.
video games
Przemyslaw Dygas
May 25, 2021
REDRIVER 2 is Here; GTA's Competitor is Back After 20 Years
After 20 years, the competitor of the GTA series returns. Driver 2: Back on the Streets has lived to see a fan-made PC port in the form of REDRIVER 2. It streamlines many aspects of the gameplay and enables us to play on modern hardware.
video games
Paul Musiolik
November 17, 2020