Free-to-play Ridge Racer Driftopia racing to the PS3 and PC this year

Riiidddgeee Racer! It’s about time that Namco Bandai revealed a new game in the fabled arcade racing series, except this we weren’t really expecting.

Ridge Racer Driftopia is a free-to-play new Ridge Racer title which is scheduled for a digital PS3 and PC release. Since it’s a free download, Namco Bandai plans on making money by selling in-game content such as vehicles, upgrades, abilities and whatnot. It’s an interesting idea which will hopefully work out for the company. A number of publishers have done quite well with similar free-to-play racing games, especially in the mobile space.

Take a look at the trailer to get a better idea of what Namco Bandai and developer Bugbear Entertainment has up their sleeves.

Ridge Racer Driftopia trailer:
[youtube_sc url=”Mnmeo3aOpzg” width=”600″]

Read on for the announcement.

 Leading video game publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc., today announced a new downloadable free-to-play title based on the smash hit RIDGE RACER franchise, RIDGE RACER Driftopia. The game is scheduled for release later in 2013 for the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and PCs.

?The free-to-play and digital gaming space presents an incredible opportunity for NAMCO BANDAI Games to offer its illustrious roster of titles to a new and ever expanding audience,? says Carlson Choi, Vice President of Marketing and Digital Sales at NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. ?We?re excited to have RIDGE RACER Driftopia take NAMCO BANDAI into this constantly growing sector.?

RIDGE RACER Driftopia will put the series? irresistible signature drifting right at the heart of the free-to-play gaming experience, with more details to be announced soon.

For more information about NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. and its entire line up of games, visit http://www.namcobandaigames.com/home.