Distance is a 2018 racing game by Refract Studios for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation consoles. Following a crowdfunding campaign and an early access launch in 2014, it was released in September 2018 and is scheduled for release on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 in July 2024.

Distance
Steam coverart
Developer(s)Refract Studios
Publisher(s)Refract Studios
Director(s)Jordan Hemenway
EngineUnity
Platform(s)
Release
  • September 18, 2018
  • July 19, 2024 (PlayStation)
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay

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Distance is a racing game where the player controls a vehicle with the ability to fly.[1] Courses feature obstacles like gaps or saws.

Development and release

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Distance was developed by Refract Studios, founded by former DigiPen Institute of Technology students in Seattle.[2] The game is as a spiritual successor to Nitronic Rush, a student project developed at DigiPen and released in 2011, which intellectual property is owned by DigiPen.[3] In October 2012, Refract launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign seeking $125,000 for Distance.[4] It features the addition of a multiplayer mode compared to Nitronic Rush.[3]

The game was released into early access via Steam on December 9, 2014. A PlayStation 4 version was announced on December 2, 2014 and showcased at PlayStation Experience 2015 with PlayStation VR on December 4, 2015.[5][6] Distance was fully released for Windows on September 18, 2018.[7] PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 versions are scheduled for July 19, 2024.[8]

Reception

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The PC version of Distance received "mixed or average" reviews according to review aggregation website Metacritic.[12] Reviewing the early access version in September 2017, Ali Jones of PCGamesN found the multiplayer to be the best part due to the availability of thousands of courses.[13] Upon release in September 2018, Gamekult noted the delayed development and found it to be an exhilarating racing game.[10]

References

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  1. ^ Webster, Andrew (December 26, 2012). "Designing race cars of the future in 'Distance'". The Verge. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  2. ^ Zacny, Rob (April 24, 2014). "Distance: Oh hell yes". PCGamesN. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Mejia, Ozzie (October 22, 2012). "Distance: Making a spiritual successor to Nitronic Rush". Shacknews. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  4. ^ Matulef, Jeffrey (October 19, 2012). "Creators of superb free racing game Nitronic Rush take to Kickstarter for follow-up". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  5. ^ Barker, Sammy (December 2, 2014). "Distance Is the Eyeball Melting PS4 Racer You've Been Asking For". Push Square. Gamer Network. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  6. ^ "Distance announced for PlayStation VR". Gematsu. December 4, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  7. ^ Linken, André (August 9, 2018). "Distance: Indie-Racer verlässt nach vier Jahren die Early-Access-Phase". PC Games (in German). Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  8. ^ "Distance for PS5, PS4 launches July 9 [Update: Delayed to July 19]". Gematsu. July 8, 2024. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  9. ^ "Distance critic reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Test: Distance, le petit frère démoniaque de Trackmania". Gamekult (in French). September 21, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  11. ^ "Distance". CD-Action. December 2018. p. 70.
  12. ^ "Distance". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  13. ^ Jones, Ali (September 15, 2017). "Distance brings Rocket League-style acrobatics to the race track". PCGamesN. Retrieved July 12, 2024.

Further reading

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