High-speed stunt racer Distance finally releases on PS4 and PS5 this month

Vibrant colours, flashing lights and pulverising sense of speed – Distance is distinctive in its approach to driving games.

As a result, it’s hard to draw direct comparisons between contemporaries. Perhaps the time trial-based nature of level structures is akin in a small way to Trackmania, the aesthetic at times like Wipeout HD Fury.

But really, Distance is its own thing, especially thanks to the boost (balanced with temperature), jump, flight and thruster mechanics mixed with online leaderboards.

Created by independent studio Refract, its creation story is long and tortuous. It began with a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2012, then entered early access in 2014 before finally releasing on PC in 2018.

Now, in 2024, it will be released for both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.

Included is the central story mode, which challenges increasing in required dexterity as you progress – presumably not blinking, such is the concentration required. An arcade mode with the aforementioned leaderboards sits alongside the campaign, plus there is a four-player split-screen multiplayer and ‘ Trackmogrify’ random track generation.

Different vehicle types can be unlocked, such as a motorcycle or bubble car.

Both PS4 and PS5 players can enjoy reactive controller lighting, and those on the newer device also receive activity progress tracking and gamepad haptic feedback. 60fps is expected on both consoles, with a 1080p resolution on the older device and native 4K on the newer.

What’s not present, compared to the PC, is the level editor and subsequent Steam Workshop support. However, some of the developer’s favourite creations will be bundled in as part of the PlayStation version’s base content.

Perhaps, then, a more notable omission is online multiplier.

“While we have collectively spent a ton of time working on online multiplayer for PlayStation consoles, a series of unfortunate technical hurdles have led to it not being feasible for release at this time,” said developer Jordan Hemenway at Refrac Studios.

This was due, in part, to a requirement of certification being a newer version of game engine technology Unity. Sadly, the prior multiplayer work was not easily transferable to the later platform iterations, it transpires – details are on the developer’s blog.

Distance will make a long-awaited console debut on 19th July 2024 for $19.99 / €19.99.