PSN OutRun is exclusive to Europe

By Oli Welsh Published 14 April, 2009

Out this week for EUR 10, 800 MSP.

SEGA has confirmed that OutRun Online Arcade will be released on the PlayStation Network on Thursday this week, just one day after it arrives on Xbox Live Arcade - but in Europe only.

The game will cost 10 euros on PSN, and 800 Microsoft Points (GBP 6.80 / EUR 9.60 ) on XBLA. North American PS3 owners will just have to go without.

OutRun Online Arcade is the latest in a long series of arcade and home versions of SEGA AM2's classic 2003 racer, OutRun 2. In this case, it's a fairly straight port of the 2004 OutRun 2 SP arcade game (which appeared on home consoles as part of OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast, are you still with us?) with an added online multiplayer mode and high-definition graphics. As with the previous home versions, the port was handled by the UK's Sumo Digital.

We've been power-sliding, air-punching and magical-sound-showering around this sunny nonsense all weekend, so expect a review very soon.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (50) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Eraysor #1 3 years ago

    That's a little retarded of Sony considering how good Outrun is, and the fact that it's not even a physical product.

  • Xerx3s #2 3 years ago

    Exclusive is the new spin word for 'it hasn't passed the local QA tests yet'. ;)

  • Cappy #3 3 years ago

    'Exclusives' must be getting more expensive now that the user bases are growing, hence the emergence of bizarre regional exclusivity such as this and Final Fantasy XIII.

  • Widge #4 3 years ago

    I'm in the process of securing an exclusivity deal on Tekken 6 for the Shetland Islands

  • Banksy #5 3 years ago

    So that's... £7.99 on PSN UK, yeah?

  • FeralUK #6 3 years ago

    @banksy

    It will cost more than on XBLA guaranteed!

  • dpb135 #7 3 years ago

    Got worried there, thought it was the vice versa of USA and exclusive in Europe to PSN and not coming to XBLA in Europe.....phew, thought I was going to be forced to buy the PSN version but will still be getting 360 one

  • Monkey_Puncher #8 3 years ago

    Same here Dpb, I was ahout to spit blood when I read that that titles.

  • Ryze #9 3 years ago

    GET IN, people! Let us know who's in on the first night!

    Outrun Racers Club

    /waits

  • Toothball #10 3 years ago

    I've been eagerly awaiting this since it was announced. Work tomorrow is going to be a long day.

  • oreillymj #11 3 years ago

    @Xerx3s - Actually Exclusive is the new word meaning that Microsoft paid Sega to withhold it from the US hoping that it drives more gamers to it's system. They don't care who they screw over.

    Luckily these guys don't have a monopoly on game systems yet. Hopefully they never will.

  • peterfll #12 3 years ago

    Exclusive = the new Restricted?

  • cawley1 #13 3 years ago

    Been waiting for this one, now only to decided which one to buy it on - regardless, it won't be as good as the standup Daytona I bought off eBay a couple of weeks ago for £19.90!!! It does have a mental flickering 3D graphics fault, but some bloke in the US can fix it when I get round to sending it off, and it is in great 'nic and still fully playable (won't have a go if I had epilepsy, though...)

    Mind you, if Sega had bothered to release Daytona on any system since Dreamcast, with proper controls, I woldn't have had to get three mates round to help me lug it into my shed, though!

    Nice to know that US PS3 owners are going to have to dick around with Entropay to get Outrun on their machine! Big FO to Microsoft for locking the exclusivity, totally wrong, they are behaving just like Nintendo back in the NES days...

  • menage #14 3 years ago

    Hey, that's decent pricing for once.

  • Xerx3s #15 3 years ago

    oreillymj: You really truly believe that eh? I suppose the fact that ms has one unified QA while sony does it region based might not have anything to do with it? Your blood rage fight the power attitude seems to blind you from the most simple fact that it is highly unlike and just plain dumb to assume that ms somehow secured an exclusive deal for one day (!) in Europe.

    ¬_¬

  • miiiguel #16 3 years ago

    @ orreily: let's bankrupt the mega-corp!!! Compling code is the r0x0rz!!!!

  • Quak #17 3 years ago

    The video's left and right sound is reversed - might wanna check your capture setup!

  • Cappy #18 3 years ago

    If it was a Q&A holdup it would be Europe last. SCEA have the least stringent Q&A of all the regions, I've lost count of the buggy titles they've passed, you only have to look at the recent version of SOCOM which they passed compared to the version Europe got.

  • miiiguel #19 3 years ago

    on-topic: Xbox World UK reviewed it, and they said it is not all that. Worse (much) than 2006's Cost to Coast.

  • Cappy #20 3 years ago

    Well yes, for anybody with OutRun 2006 - Coast 2 Coast this isn't an essential purchase, especially since I can already play that version on my PS3. The online play could be fun though.

  • Les #21 3 years ago

    Shouldn't it say that the downloadable Outrun is exclusive to 360 in the US?! I mean, the reason that it won't be available in the US on PS3 surely has something to do with one party giving money to the other. With a European version complete, the cost of making a US version is negligible so Sega would be foolish to not release it there. Any PSN sale would mean additional money at practically no marginal cost (as the cut to Sony for PSN sales is variable as well).

  • Ryze #22 3 years ago

    @miiiguel

    Looks like they were moaning more about there not being any new content. For 2006 owners, there's less content in Online Arcade.

    I'm after the 720P 60fps visuals, and the 6 player XBLA online racing with the X360 community. It's only a lack of online competition that stops me from getting better at this game.

    Hopefully the 360 wheel is well supprted also - as I'll be eager to grab one for this.

    See you all tomorrow night.

    ryz

  • miiiguel #23 3 years ago

    @ Ryze, yes, that was mostly it. They're suspecting that additional content will be released (at a price). Thx for the invite. Guess I'll see you in a Ferrari, soon.

  • Tomnd #24 3 years ago

    yay helping Europe get out of the ressession that little bit quicker. Screw you rest of world!

  • Dead_Man_Typing #25 3 years ago

    Only 800 points!?

    Sega be praised! I heard that the game only has the Outrun Coast to Coast levels, which would be pretty lame since even Outrun 2 Coast to Coast had the original Outrun 2 levels. That would've made a 1200 point price very hard to swallow, 800 points is a no brainer for an HD version of one of my favourite arcade experiences.

    Why it's exclusive to Europe on PSN isn't too hard to understand, the guys at SUMO Digital are based in the UK. So we get it first, because they like us. It's about time the Euro PSN got something before the American store.

  • redneon Verified Programmer, SUMO Digital #26 3 years ago

    I can't believe there are people here who genuinely believe that the reason it's exclusive to 360 in the US is because Microsoft paid for exclusivity. As superb as Outrun is it just wouldn't be worth an exclusivity deal for Microsoft.

    Maybe, just maybe, Sony didn't want it in the US?

  • Der_tolle_Emil #27 3 years ago

    Maybe, just maybe, Sony didn't want it in the US?

    Yeah, Sony don't want money. Are you serious? I have no idea why this game is 'exclusive' to Europe (for now?) but I'm pretty sure that Sony would be more than happy to sell this on PSN.

  • miiiguel #28 3 years ago

    Or maybe Sega decided that they didn't want to pay Sony to put it on PSN US ?

    http://mu ltiplayerblog.mtv.com/2009/03/2...

  • GreyBeard #29 3 years ago

    Its a paid exclusive by Microsoft in the US. Probably for 6 months or so.

    What's the big deal?



  • madgerald Verified Studio Head of PR & Marketing, Colossal Games LTD #30 3 years ago

    Guys,
    I'm trying to find out why it is a no-show on US PSN - I don't believe this is because of some exclusivity though.

    I'm going to chase-down my American colleague for an answer.

  • PrivateJoker #31 3 years ago

    Xerex3s....

    You're wrong.Oriellymj is actually right. Do some proper investigating.

  • pollster #32 3 years ago

    I know that the original USA PS3's will run the PS2 version of outrun (ps2 hardware built in).
    However my launch PAL PS3 will not run it (it gets as far as the selection screen, then crashes) thanks to Sony's software emulation, which they no-longer appear to be supporting.
    Maybe this is one reason why it isnt coming out in the states on the PS3.

  • Dodgymat #33 3 years ago

    Gotta love all the unfounded accusations of ''paid MS exclusivity"

    It's purely to do with Ferrari and the licensing of said vehicles, nothing to do with MS whatsoever. Outrun 2006 C2C on Xbox only saw a limited release in USA for exactly the same reason. Anyone that thinks MS would consider for a second that it would be a good idea to pay for exclusivity for one region on an 800 point arcade game is clearly brain dead. That means people like you GreyBeard and oreillymj !

    Get real, everybody with half a brain knows it would be a waste of money considering how easy it is to buy different regions' content on PS3.

    Jokers... so quick to speak up, just a shame it's bullshit that comes out. Think before you do it again and embarrass yourselves further.

  • PrivateJoker #34 3 years ago

    @Dodgymat

    You just embarressed yourself dude...

  • zarglu #35 3 years ago

    > I have no idea why this game is 'exclusive' to Europe

    Really? It's just MS monopoly money at work being used to buy exclusivity. Like the majority (if not the entirety) of 360 exclusive releases.

    @Dodgymat:

    How much did they pay you for that post? I wouldn't mind getting my share of the MS tax back too!
    Edited by 1 at 14/04/09 @ 15:54

  • Les #36 3 years ago

    "Gotta love all the unfounded accusations of ''paid MS exclusivity" "

    First, MS paying for exclusivity is not a crime so voicing a suspicion about it is not an accusation as there's no value judgment in that. The fact that you personally imply one doesn't change that.

    Second, there's simply no reason for Sega to not release it in the US when European code (which still includes the UK to my knowledge) is available from a pure business POV. The additional cost of a find and replace on the 's' to turn it into a 'z' will probably be negligible so any additional revenue from the US is basically extra profit (as additional costs are close to nothing). Maybe other legal issues play a role but without them being clear, the assumption that MS struck an exclusivity deal is a very reasonable one given the current state of video gaming.

    Another view of the situation could be that the reporter didn't do his work properly and the actual position of Sega is that the US release is TBD. In that case the assumption that it hasn't yet passed Q&A would be a better assumption (as in general when there's money handed out for timed exclusivity, the version for the other platform is not to be mentioned at all before a predetermined date).
    Edited by 1 at 14/04/09 @ 15:59

  • metallicorphan #37 3 years ago

    LOL..blameing MS....haha...yes only people in Europe can have it on the PSN,like that would have anything to do with MS

  • Ryze #38 3 years ago

    ^ Oh Jesus, the Sonycocktards are out in force all of a sudden...

  • NinjaWilliams #39 3 years ago

    Well US peops will just have to get a UK/Europ PSN pts card den eh?!!! ;)

  • PrivateJoker #40 3 years ago

    @Ryze

    Better than being a Microsoft fisting cunt.

  • mr_ruberfon #41 3 years ago

    NO, it's exactly the same, idiot

  • PrivateJoker #42 3 years ago

    In your oponion maybe, but I don't agree cus' of all the years reading these sites, it's the Xbots who are the worst, imo.

  • redneon Verified Programmer, SUMO Digital #43 3 years ago

    @PrivateJoker:

    And that observation wouldn't be slightly biased now, would it? ;)

  • oreillymj #44 3 years ago

    @Dodgymat

    Sorry I'll run all my future posts by you first for clearance. Fuckwit.

  • Dodgymat #45 3 years ago

    oreillymj "Microsoft paid Sega to withhold it from the US hoping that it drives more gamers to it's system"

    With irrational and unfounded comments like that, clearly sir, you are the fuckwit.

  • PrivateJoker #46 3 years ago

    @redneon

    Actually, not at all, since I used to own a 360 until March last year and before that an xbox...

    I've never owned a PS2.

    I had a fucking Gamecube before the Xbox and currently game on PS3, PC, PSP, and the iPhone.

    I have nothing against the 360, meaning I don't regret owning it, but never look back and think I wish I still had it, but it's the pathetic xbot fanboys whom bring it down I'm afraid....And yes I'm aware there are the same stupid juvenile cunts on the PS3....But I definitely aint biased against either.

    This pathetic console war has gone on far too long but you only have to look back at The Beatles and The Rolling Stones 40+ yrs ago when there were two camps and woe behold anyone who was for one and against the other....


    It's juvinile, banal and pointless but I'm afraid it will still be going on with the next gen of consoles and so on.

    It means nothing if you like one console more than another. Neither are better than the next, FACT!!!!!!!!!! What actually matters is, is iif you are getting enjoyment out of your investment..... Simple really but soooooo misunderstood.

    You will always have your Farti's and your Apogees or whatever their names are, cunts is what they really are cus' they suck the enjoyment out of it.

    Fuck it, who cares....Chelsea won, fuck yea!!!!!!!!!!!
    Edited by 1 at 14/04/09 @ 22:18

  • Ryze #47 3 years ago

    ^ cock

  • PrivateJoker #48 3 years ago

    @Ryze

    Cock


    easy to say but meaningless unless you back it up ..

    Looks like another easy cunt to add to the ignore list.

    Just goes to show that if you make a completely unbiased opinion there is still an immature fuckwit of a wanker who has to show up and post something irrellevant and inconsequential.

    But, you are doing me the service of filtering out the wheat from the chaff.

    Now do the rest of the world a favour and open the cooker, turn the gas on, and stick your head in....30 mins later....dead cock...done!

  • redneon Verified Programmer, SUMO Digital #49 3 years ago

    @PrivateJoker:

    I actually wanted Liverpool to win :( Though, that may have something to do with me being a northerner (see, slightly biased). I'm not a Liverpool fan, however. Sheffield Wednesday be my team!

    Superb game, though!
    Edited by 1 at 15/04/09 @ 08:18

  • Widge #50 3 years ago

    and Chelsea LOSE