Split/Second demo on Xbox Live

By Robert Purchese Published 26 April, 2010

From Pure-maker Black Rock Studio.

Disney and Black Rock Studio have put a demo of Split/Second on Xbox Live Marketplace.

You can queue the 808MB file for download on the Xbox.com website.

Available in the sampler is the Airport Terminal map in single-player mode. This is three laps long.

British developer Black Rock was responsible for arcade off-road racer Pure. New game Split/Second, set in the future, follows competitive and life-threatening racing as part of a mega-budget television show.

The key gameplay feature, aside from going really fast, is being able to tear down huge chunks of scenery in spectacular fashion by using charged power-ups.

Split/Second is due out for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 on 21st May. Eurogamer's extensive coverage of Split/Second can be found below.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (44) Latest comment 2 years ago

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

  • agparrot #1 2 years ago

    So it sounds like the same demo we played at the Expo, back in October?

    Would have been nice to have something new, or something Multiplayer, like Blur, but this is better than nothing, and I highly recommend any arcade racer fans, who don't worry too much about realism or any number of other things, to give it a spin. It was nice, if it *is* the same one, which it sounds like.

  • Beano #2 2 years ago

    Looking forward to try this - could be fun :)

    Hopefully not a letdown like the Blur beta.

  • mfnick #3 2 years ago

    YES!!!

    Cant wait to get home & try this out.

  • Moonprince #4 2 years ago

    Gold account only?

  • Rictor001 #5 2 years ago

    same track as EG expo but the game is very differnet now - framerate is solid and the visuals have come on no end

  • cianchristopher #6 2 years ago

    Didn't they change the name to Split/Second: Velocity?

    The boxart would indicate so...

  • muscleblade #7 2 years ago

    I need to try this tonight.

  • myiagros #8 2 years ago

    I loved Pure, but this looks too much like a cross between Burnout & Full Auto, for my tastes.

    I will try the demo though, as that was really the thing which sold me on Pure, which hadn't previously been on my shopping list.
    Edited by 1 at 26/04/10 @ 14:03

  • Phattso #9 2 years ago

    Great demo - only a somewhat stuffed May release schedule may knock this down my 'to buy' list a few places.

  • Vroom #10 2 years ago

    The one goddam day I'm not in the friken country!

    /queues and sighs

  • BillMurray #11 2 years ago

    Is this a single player demo or multi?

  • BBIAJ #12 2 years ago

    Loving it!

    Single player only though I'm afraid...

  • wizlon #13 2 years ago

    This has just made my day!! Wahooo!!

  • homerramone #14 2 years ago

    Interested in this - but 8 players... think im gonna prefer blur.

    Wouldve preferred an online demo too.
    Edited by 1 at 26/04/10 @ 14:26

  • Bealsy #15 2 years ago

    As above comments - surprised there's no online demo. Blur multiplayer is ahead of this for me though - 20 player is just manic fun. Already pre-ordered Blur too (",)

    edit - Voted down for liking Blur?
    Edited by 2 at 26/04/10 @ 15:10

  • Freek #16 2 years ago

    Higher player count does not automatically mean more fun, nor does less players automatically mean less fun. It all depends on how the game plays and what the balance is.

  • HermitUK #17 2 years ago

    Whatever happened to the PC release of this? All the previews and the actual game's website still list the PC as a platform, but pre orders for the PC version disappeared from pretty much every retailer earlier in the month.

    Still, loved this at EG. Will have to get round to downloading the 360 demo.

  • MaxHughes #18 2 years ago

    Looks like Black Rock have finally ditched the stupid subtitle "Velocity", it's not on the demo anywhere or even on the marketplace. \o/

  • asphaltcowboy #19 2 years ago

    It's the same track as we played at the Expo, but it's super-polished now. Fantastic stuff - can't wait for the full version! Day 1!

  • stueyg87 #20 2 years ago

    This was one of the games that stood out at the EG Expo for me. A mixture of all types of racing games in 1 and destructable environments was something different from the norm

  • Seabeast #21 2 years ago

    I have tried the demo and it's very average, the cars are heavy, cornering is quite poor and everything just feels really freakin' slow.

    I love racing games, but this is a classic 6/10 racer, so thats a 7/10 on Eurogamer.

    Blur > Split/Second

  • peterfll #22 2 years ago

    I played it. I liked it!

    And I'm thankful it's a single player demo. Some of us are quite anti-social and aren't interested in playing with others.

  • ColdShoulder #23 2 years ago

    What is point?


    I'll try it, but no multi player is lame and without trying online I won't be buying this over Blur. Which was awesome.

  • MontyBrewster #24 2 years ago

    Forget about the comparisons with blur, this is old school burnout (a good thing), they've even nicked the music.

    Just wish there were more than 8 cars on track, flatout ultimate carnage managed 12 with loads of crazy physics going on. Still a definite purchase tho.

  • OldK1ngCole #25 2 years ago

    Queued up on Xbox.com, can't wait to get home and give this a shot.

  • MontyBrewster #26 2 years ago

    @ Seabeast

    Try the bumper cam if it feels slow, that gives a much better sense of speed.

    As for cornering, just like ridge racer, drifting is your friend and fills the power play bar too.

  • LosCapitan #27 2 years ago

    Hmmm. I didn't like this much.

    I think it's the design I don't like: It drives like Burnout (and I agree: that's a good thing) but then the power-plays should be more fun. As it is, you don't really feel like it's something you've done with skill: just click a button when prompted. At least with Burnout it felt ilke you were doing the take-downs yourself...

    It feels a bit like a mainstream film: lots of bright, flashy things, but I left with a bit of an empty feeling...

    May be just me.

  • SUNDANSS #28 2 years ago

    Just played it. It looks good but the singleplayer demo feels like the AI cars are on rails and you don't get a very exciting race.
    It just copies Mario Kart, and Mario Kart seems much better. However playing with your mates though could make it worth a purchase as you relive your old kart racing days in the 21st century.

  • Sniper_007 #29 2 years ago

    Does anyone know if this is the same demo as at the Expo last year? Although it was good it did have noticeable frame rate issues back then so I'd like to see a more solid build hopefully?

    Going to download it anyway, but may not have chance to try it until the weekend :(

  • Beano #30 2 years ago

    I really like the demo - a lot better than Blur and more like Burnout. Unfortunately not 60fps but still very nice and looks to be a fun arcade racer with a twist. Crossing fingers for the full game :)'

  • Shwing #31 2 years ago

    Have to say, enjoying this SO MUCH MORE than the Blur demo.
    To me Blur feels more like it should be an XBLA release. Of course these views are all based on the current demos, and there is always a chance this may change.
    Definitely going to keep an eye on this game!

  • castertroy #32 2 years ago

    Thought the demo was great just seeing that plane crash on the last lap was amazing . The only downside is that it was a little slow thought it might of been abut faster, still a great game

  • Scrumhalf #33 2 years ago

    Fantastic - had it pre-ordered, but definitely leaving this one on :)

    It is slow to start with - but with a bit of drafting and no crashing, it gets up to speed and then it is a real "in the zone" racer just like the original Burnout, but better.

  • neems #34 2 years ago

    Gonna have to echo the Hermit, I'm worried about the way the PC version seems to have disappeared from pre-order lists. I tried googling it, but I can't find any info either way.

  • scumbag007 #35 2 years ago


    fact of the matter is they are both worthy games- mod nation might be better than both

    i really enjoyed the demo but it's a shame not to see something new. the airport level has been around since E3- the recent trailer of downtown is stunning.

    split second's world kicks the shit out of blur which is really really bland. the cars in blur look better but who wants to drive round a fantasy world in a ford focus...i'm torn but i'll probably go for split second as i already have mario kart
    Edited by 3 at 27/04/10 @ 08:14

  • asphaltcowboy #36 2 years ago

    @scumbag007 Rat or not, this quote is amazing:

    "Burnout Paradise - brilliant for the first hour or so and then it trails off, very very quickly."

    HAHAHAAAAAAHAHAAAHHAHAAAAAAHAHAHAAHAAAHAHA! Muppet.

  • scumbag007 #37 2 years ago

    @ asphaltcowboy

    i couldn't agree more- i put it down after 30 minutes...paradise wasn't for me

  • easedale1 #38 2 years ago

    Can't wait to give this a try! Pure was one of the best racers I've played, so the pedigrees good :)

  • neems #39 2 years ago

    I found Burnout paradise a bit boring as well. It just didn't click somehow.

  • BBIAJ #40 2 years ago

    @ Thought_Criminal:

    There are actually 12 locations, as quite clearly stated after 3 attempts at the demo, or when you decide to quit.

  • asphaltcowboy #41 2 years ago

    "What? I got bored of Burnout Paradise. Is that a crime?"

    @Thought_Criminal: Yes.

  • TJP75 #42 2 years ago

    Quite fun this Split/Second demo but not quite the knockout I was hoping it to be.

    Graphics are nice, although there is a bluriness about them (and I'm not referring to the Bizarre game) that reminds me of SBK '09's fuzzy graphics. The sense of speed is also missing, even when playing using the bumper camera.

    While not a day one purchase, I'll look at buying this once the price drops down.

  • muscleblade #43 2 years ago

    I liked it. But it felt a little heavy compared to Burnout. I loved Burnout Revenge so i want this. Didnt like Burnout paradise as much sadly.

  • fiery_jackass #44 2 years ago

    chalk another one up for "disappointed". Didn't feel even remotely involved with the handling, didn't feel that there was any skill involved (straight through in 1st for first (and only) two races), didn't feel a smidgeon of excitement. It's a shame because it's clear that a lot of effort has gone into it and the crashing plane looked really good.

    ah well.