Colin McRae: DiRT 2

October 22nd 2009 (11am EST | 3pm UK) – Codemasters® today revealed the DirectX 11-powered Games for Windows Live edition of Colin McRae: DiRT 2 at Microsoft Corp.’s New York Windows 7 Launch Event. Codemasters also announced that the Games for Windows Live version of the highly-anticipated racer will be shipping on December 1st in North America and releasing on December 3rd through EPAC territories with a December 4th street date in the UK.

Following the critical and commercial success of the console editions of Colin McRae: DiRT 2, Codemasters Studios has integrated the wealth of new performance enhancing features available in DirectX 11 in the Games for Windows Live edition. Colin McRae: DiRT 2 will deliver the definitive off-road experience and its launch will herald a new generation of games powered by the superior DirectX 11 technologies.

Gamers can preview Colin McRae: DiRT 2 as powered by DirectX 11 in gameplay and tech videos now showing at www.dirt2game.com.

“The opportunity to enter into a strategic relationship with Microsoft to fuse key DirectX 11 technologies with Codemasters’ EGO™ Engine and set the new standard in race gaming on home computers was irresistible,” said Bryan Marshall, chief technical officer, Codemasters. “By taking advantage of the DirectX 11 feature set included in Windows 7, including hardware tessellation, multi-threading and Shader Model 5.0, we will deliver the most immersive and realistic off-road racing experience yet and set the technical benchmark in the genre.”

Codemasters will take advantage of DirectX 11 features to add to the realism of the racing environment. Hardware tessellation will further improve the appearance of water and other surfaces as well as crowd animations. The performance of Shader Model 5.0 will aid in creating an even richer 3D experience, enhancing key image quality parameters such as depth of field, ambient occlusion and shadows. These DirectX 11 features, and many others, combine to deliver the most exciting and visceral racing experience yet.

“By working together with Codemasters to deliver early access to DirectX11 technologies for the Games for Windows Live edition of Colin McRae: DiRT 2, we are able today to demonstrate the new levels of immersive gameplay and visual performance gamers can experience in Windows 7,” said Mike Ybarra, general manager of Windows Product Management at Microsoft. “Through our strategic relationship and the delivery of the DirectX 11 feature set, we are confident Codemasters will lead the way in the development of the next generation of PC games.”

Colin McRae: DiRT 2 Games for Windows Live edition supporting DirectX 11 technology is set to ship on December 1st in North America and releasing on December 3rd through EPAC territories with a December 4th street date in the UK. Editions for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Wii™, Nintendo DS™ and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system are in stores now. For the latest videos and information, accelerate over to www.dirt2game.com.

ENDS

VIDEO ASSETS:

Colin McRae: DiRT 2 DirectX 11 gameplay and tech videos are available as press assets from www.codemasters.com/mediabank - search: ‘DiRT 2’

ABOUT COLIN McRAE™: DiRT™ 2

As the sequel to the acclaimed racer of 2007, Colin McRae DiRT 2 is set to take off-road racing games to a new level, with benchmark tech, thrilling new race types, big event atmosphere, stunning locations, a new breed of off-roading heroes and a peerless line-up of super-charged speed machines. Promising a thrilling race experience and an extreme sports attitude that borrows from snowboarding and skateboarding culture, Colin McRae DiRT 2 will take players on a World Tour to diverse and challenging real-world environments to compete in contemporary off-road events.

Specifically selected to deliver aggressive and fast paced racing, Colin McRae DiRT 2’s garage will house a best-in-class collection of officially licensed rally cars and off-road vehicles; covering seven vehicle classes, players will be given the keys to powerful machines right from the off. Colin McRae DiRT 2 will come complete with full online functionality that will be core to the overall experience, with head-to-head competitive online play and new social features to engage the racing community. Prepare for mud, gravel, dust and dirt too in Colin McRae DiRT 2.

Titling information:

To be titled “Colin McRae: DiRT 2” in all territories outside of North America where the game will be published as ‘DiRT 2’.

ABOUT CODEMASTERS

Codemasters is a leading developer and publisher of best-selling interactive entertainment products for a global audience across multiple gaming platforms and channels. Established in 1986, the company’s dominant brands include Colin McRae DiRT, Race Driver GRID, Overlord and Operation Flashpoint; the company retains the exclusive worldwide video game rights to FORMULA 1. Codemasters is headquartered in Warwickshire UK, with North American operations based in Universal City, Calif. The company also maintains operations in Japan, Germany, France, Spain, Benelux and Malaysia. Codemasters receives over two million visitors to its web site every month, discover why at www.codemasters.com

All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners.

Codemasters is a registered trademark owned by The Codemasters Software Company. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. “PlayStation”, “PLAYSTATION” and “PS” Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Trademarks are property of their respective owners. NINTENDO DS, Wii AND THE Wii LOGO ARE TRADEMARKS OF NINTENDO.