OutRun racing onto 360, PS3

Sumo Digital-developed Online Arcade iteration of Sega's famed Ferrari franchise exclusive to Xbox in the US; release set for early 2009.

Sega has a wealth of vintage arcade hits to mine for new material. But as Alien Syndrome and Golden Axe: Beast Rider have shown, classic roots don't always make for critically acclaimed revivals.

Yep, that's OutRun.

One Sega nostalgia trip that has proven successful has been the publisher's resurrection of the OutRun franchise. Sega tapped Sumo Digital to handle development on the series, and the studio responded with such critical successes as 2004's OutRun2 for the Xbox and OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast for the Xbox, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and PC.

Sega is teaming up with Sumo Digital once more, this time to bring the OutRun series to the newest generation of consoles. The publisher announced today that Sumo Digital's OutRun Online Arcade will be released as a downloadable game for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 early next year. [UPDATE]: Unfortunately, a Sega representative told GameSpot that the PS3 edition of the game is currently only slated for a European release, leaving the Xbox 360 version as the only option for North American gamers.

Like the original, OutRun Online Arcade is a race through a variety of 15 US locales with branching routes. In keeping with the series' fixation on a specific brand of fast cars, OutRun Online Arcade also features a selection of 10 different Ferraris. As the game's name suggests, online multiplayer races will also be included, with support for up to six players per match.

Sega's partnership with Sumo Digital has extended beyond the OutRun games. The publisher also enlisted the Sheffield-based studio to produce Virtua Tennis: World Tour on the PlayStation Portable and this year's multiplatform Sega Superstars Tennis.

49 Comments

  • music_maniac1965

    Posted Feb 28, 2009 12:52 am PT

    C2C 2006 is certainly a splendid game, as is outrun 2. i still play them on my xbox 360. to bad no one is online with that game annymore. when i play one of the outrun games, the first thing i do is look if there's a game going on. hope the new outrun gets more online action !

  • GearhardBanger

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 12:03 pm PT

    C2C 2006 - sweet game. Yeah...Magical Sound Shower! Looking forward to this one big time!

  • TANUKI1975

    Posted Jan 6, 2009 9:36 am PT

    Hope its in 720dpi at least! LBP owning Outrun fans - check out my SEGA OUTRUN TRIBUTE level by tanuki75 Hope we eventually get HD versions of AFTERBURNER 2, SUPER HANG ON and SPACE HARRIER as i'm having to use old tech to play these

  • music_maniac1965

    Posted Jan 2, 2009 4:55 pm PT

    yeah, a brad new outrun would even be more fun, as i played this allready. but just to be able to behold all those coast to coast tracks in high definition is worth the asked price for me.

    surely a new outrun is welcomed by those who like the series. there's always hoping, as i never expected to see outrun on next gen as the sales figures for both outrun 2 and coast to coast where not that exelent, while the games are.... (well, at least for me. i never expected outrun 2 to be oh so close to its arcade version)

  • punkdsk8erdude

    Posted Jan 1, 2009 11:25 am PT

    this is pretty cool, and i may get it.
    but i would've loved to just see a brand new outrun!

  • NeleNel

    Posted Jan 1, 2009 7:42 am PT

    Magical Sound Shower. That's all I have to say.

  • codezer0

    Posted Dec 27, 2008 11:32 pm PT

    Why is it that this game will only be on 360 in the states? I would have rathered be able to play this on the ps3 instead so that I wouldn't have to uphold an XBL gold subscription.

  • music_maniac1965

    Posted Dec 26, 2008 4:55 pm PT

    superb news ! i hope they will later on also add the outrun 2 tracks, and the rest of the missing cars as coast to coast had 15 ferrari cars to burn the course with !

    lets hope sega releases some more cool arcade games. sega, come give us:

    turbo outrun (old arcade version)
    outrunners (old arcade version)
    virtua racing (arcade version)
    crazy taxi (arcade version)
    afterburner (the new arcade game version)
    daytona usa
    daytona usa 2
    sega rally 95
    sega rally 2
    scud race
    hang on (old arcade version)
    super hang on (old arcade version)

    these games would make me verry happy as i loved to play them at the arcade's when it was still alive.

  • TheArcade

    Posted Dec 24, 2008 9:54 am PT

    @lostn

    Do you think Microsoft is trying to get it exclusive to North America? That would be a hat trick if they manage to pull that off.

  • lostn

    Posted Dec 23, 2008 3:01 pm PT

    "Unfortunately, a Sega representative told GameSpot that the PS3 edition of the game is currently only slated for a European release, leaving the Xbox 360 version as the only option for North American gamers. "

    That's easy. Just import it. It's region free. Not sure why they wouldn't bother releasing it in the US, since it doesn't cost them anything to do so. Perhaps they are being paid in some other way?

  • tawagivercetti

    Posted Dec 20, 2008 7:20 pm PT

    Sweet...Outrun, I also want an updated Hang-On

  • xdeiri

    Posted Dec 19, 2008 11:41 pm PT

    oh i am about to cry

  • Michael324

    Posted Dec 19, 2008 10:19 am PT

    Sega should make a compilation of 3-D classics like Sega ages again.

  • blackace

    Posted Dec 19, 2008 8:29 am PT

    That's good news. OutRun has always been a good arcade racer. Games like Hang On, Daytona USA and Sega Rally were some of SEGA best driving games. I'd like to see an updated Daytona USA games on XBLA for online support. Remember the one on the Dreamcast where you could play online against 3 other gamers. Game was awesome. We need that on XBLA. I'd pay $10-$15 for it.

  • lamprey263

    Posted Dec 19, 2008 8:27 am PT

    good to hear it's a downloadable game, otherwise I figured it'd be a $10 bargain bin game a year after launch anyways... i just hope it's not one of those new trend $15 to $20 titles, that's going to get old quick

  • rikhan_z

    Posted Dec 19, 2008 2:40 am PT

    Hang On.. NOW... Bring it out... that news is excite me...
    along with this news... mix Hang on with outrun... do something with hang on.. I wanted HANG ON!

  • flyingteddy

    Posted Dec 19, 2008 2:25 am PT

    sweet, arcade action in your front room!

  • ukotranto

    Posted Dec 19, 2008 1:38 am PT

    Mmmmmm......Magical Sound Shower.......

  • NinjaMunkey01

    Posted Dec 19, 2008 1:15 am PT

    @ tidyspidey
    crazy taxi on XBL and PSN would be brilliant!

  • tidyspidey

    Posted Dec 19, 2008 12:59 am PT

    Outrun rocks - looking forward to being able to play it online.

    I'd like to see them do a Crazy Taxi on arcade too

  • Sillygostly

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 11:39 pm PT

    I recently bought OutRun 2: Coast to Coast for PC and I was extremely pi--ed that it had SECUROM... *grr*

    And the most aggravating part of all is that the game didn't work UNTIL I downloaded a crack. Oh, the irony. *rolls eyes*

    With that said, OutRun on Wii would be pretty sweet though.

  • TheArcade

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 10:47 pm PT

    @RandyAU93: YES!!!! Thunder Force FTW!

  • MegadethAndy

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 8:18 pm PT

    Yes, i agree with Scud Race.
    That was a great arcade game.

  • V-Nine

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 6:18 pm PT

    ...DITTO!....Dont forget Daytona USA 2: Battle on the edge and for sakes get Scud Race out already, Manx TT, Space Harrier(S), After Burner (PS2 remake), Ferrari F355..ect...ect...

  • ferrarimanf355

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 3:09 pm PT

    Daytona USA XBLA next kplzthx.

  • RandyAU93

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 2:13 pm PT

    Since everyone's doing shoot-em-ups again, maybe revisit the Thunder Force series next?

  • ZeppelinMk2

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 2:07 pm PT

    Sounds good. If I can afford it i'll likely get it.

  • starfoxmcleoud

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 1:58 pm PT

    Yes! YEEESSSSSSSS! OutRun was always a favorite, and I still play OutRun 2 in a gameroom over here and OutRun2006: Coast 2 Coast on my computer and marvel at the beautiful graphics! If they don't include wheel support for 360 i'm gonna be very disappointed! And I second the Crazy Taxi comment!!!

  • DrKill09

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 1:50 pm PT

    Cool! I love Out Run!

    Now all we need is a new Crazy Taxi, and Propeller Arena (the cancelled Dreamcast game) to be released on XBLA and the PSN.

  • gmagnus

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 1:36 pm PT

    Downloadable, good. Those retail games never packed enough bang for the buck. 99% chance I'll get it now.

  • p30

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 1:34 pm PT

    Finally the day i've been waiting for has arrived. Thank you sega.

    Also Crazy Taxi XBLA would be awesome.

  • enoslives7

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 1:26 pm PT

    yawn....that was game was cool back in the 80s

  • Generalmojo

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 1:26 pm PT

    Outrun...oh plz!

  • LanceVance87

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 1:17 pm PT

    blah, it's just a port of Outrun2006 for next-gen consoles, with online modes (just like Or2k6), achievements and hi-res graphics. no "remake", no "new game", no "revamped series".

  • janderdarkmoon

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 1:17 pm PT

    I still just want a REAL Shining Force and a REAL Phantasy Star. They where my favorite rpg's as a kid.

  • KingovGames

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 12:56 pm PT

    Couldn't be worse than NFS Undercrap

  • imperial_agent

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 12:22 pm PT

    hmmm.... new Sonic. new Golden Axe. Both awful. I wonder how well this will do.

  • jcloverboy

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 12:22 pm PT

    A new Streets Of Rage - still sidescrolling, will enhanced graphics (like Capcom's HD Remix Of Street Fighter) would make my day.

  • Kyran87

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 12:10 pm PT

    Streets Of Rage 3, Sonic 3, Sonic & Knuckles and Road Rash please.

  • Aurey

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 11:45 am PT

    Yay! This is one of my fave games for the Xbox, but the original Outrun 2 looked way better than 2006 for some reason... and of course it's better than Golden Axe, this one is just as fun and exciting as the original Outrun.

  • chikahiro94

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 11:33 am PT

    This is thrilling. A revamped Sega Rally would be great too

  • snarple_basic

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 11:13 am PT

    Yea that one thing I don't think sega could mess up!!!! I'm definetly interested in this. I have always like the old arcade machine and OutRun 2006 for the PS2 was great. I'm hoping Sumo Digital still has it in them to give us a great XBLA game.

  • TTDog

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 11:13 am PT

    Hoping its a better remake than Golden Axe... that was excrement.

  • ptpattycakes

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 11:13 am PT

    Cool, I was thinking about getting outrun 06' on ps2 the other day but ill just wait for this instead!!!

  • Sato2099

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 11:08 am PT

    Good oldschool arcade racing! I'm in!

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