Slipstream, the popular outrun-styled racer, is marking its 5th anniversary in style with the announcement of a free expansion called “blue hour.” Developed by Brazilian indie developer Sandro Luiz de Paula, also known as “ansdor,” and published by Spanish indie publisher BlitWorks, Slipstream has garnered a dedicated fanbase over the years with its retro-inspired gameplay and vibrant pixel art graphics.
The upcoming expansion, “blue hour,” is set to arrive this Summer on all platforms, including Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox consoles, and PC. In addition, Slipstream will also receive native releases on the latest generation of consoles, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S|X. Players can look forward to a host of exciting new features, including three new cars, five tracks, five music tracks, and two game modes.
Sandro de Paula, the creator behind Slipstream, explains the inspiration behind the expansion’s name: “The blue hour is a brief period of the day, after the sunset but before the night when the sky takes on a deep blue tone. It’s a moment of natural beauty that happens every day. And as times of the day have always been a theme in Slipstream, in this expansion, I joined forces with Effoharkay and took the opportunity to explore it a little more.”
The expansion’s tracks are set in real-world locations across Europe, such as Marseille, Pompeii, Transylvania, Granada, and Edinburgh. Sandro de Paula has made significant improvements to the Slipstream engine since its initial release in 2018. The new tracks showcase these enhancements, with features like a fog system and dynamic lighting that allows cars’ headlights to illuminate the track in real-time. The expansion’s visual style pays homage to early 32-bit games, offering a refreshing artistic evolution from the original late 16-bit aesthetic.
Effoharkay, the composer responsible for Slipstream’s captivating soundtrack, aimed to maintain a consistent synthy vapor tone while exploring different instrument sounds. Drawing inspiration from racing games like Ridge Racer 4, Need for Speed, and Wipeout, Effoharkay crafted pulsing and diverse tracks, capturing the essence of electric club-ish racing tunes. The result is a captivating audio experience that complements the intense gameplay.
Slipstream, priced at $9.99 USD | 8.99 EUR, is already available on Xbox, PlayStation 4|5, and Nintendo Switch. Sandro Luiz de Paula’s four-year-long development journey culminated in a retro racing experience that harnesses the power of modern hardware. The combination of colorful pixel art graphics and a synth-pop and jazz fusion-inspired soundtrack by Effoharkay creates an immersive and nostalgic atmosphere.
With mechanics like drifting, rewinding, and slipstreaming, Slipstream offers strategic and challenging gameplay. Players can expect a thrilling race through various exotic locations, including cities, deserts, forests, mountains, and beaches. The smooth and constant 60 FPS gameplay further enhances the experience, providing a seamless and fluid racing adventure.
As Slipstream celebrates its 5th anniversary, the free expansion “blue hour” and the release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S|X promise to deliver even more excitement to fans of this retro-inspired arcade racer. Get ready to hit the virtual tracks and experience the thrill of Slipstream like never before!
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X
