The first two Driver games were fabulous (for their time). But the third - the pointlessly titled Driv3r - was second only to Angel of Darkness in bug-ridden, over hyped ineptitude. I remember the PR smokescreen that sprang up around Driv3r. At the time - 2004 - online review embargos were rare so the alarm bells started ringing as soon as the PR called up to stress how code wouldn't be given out unless reviews were held back until after the first print reviews hit. I can't remember which magazine gave it a decent review - bless 'em - but the true horror of the game quickly emerged as online and other print reviews appeared. This year's Driver: Parallel Lines - a return to some sort of form - was too late to restore the franchise's shattered reputation.
So today's news that Ubisoft has bought the IP and development studio (Reflections Interactive) from Atari is not that surprising. Atari is in a financial mess, while Ubisoft lacks a decent driving game. Whether a next-gen Driver can recapture ground lost to GTA and produce a Tomb Raider: Legend style reinvention remains to be seen. But at least Driver has a chance now.
