PS3 Informer

Which New Island Will Host Test Drive Unlimited 2?

In its first outing, Test Drive Unlimited gave players unfettered access to a life-sized virtual island of Oahu. Now that Atari has announced a sequel to its open world online driving simulator, we wonder where the new game will take place. Atari has provided precious little detail about the setting for Test Drive Unlimited 2, other than to state that it will take place on a new island. Let's explore some possibilities for real-world locations that may host the upcoming game.

The obvious (but least interesting choice) would be another island in the Hawaiian archipelago. That leaves Maui, Kauai, and the big island among the possibilities. There are four lesser-known islands in the Hawaiian chain, but they are smaller and not developed enough to host something like a supercar rally. The Big Island, with its massive size and volcanic geography, would be a pretty cool choice.

A more likely possibility is that Atari will want to branch out to a new location, while still retaining the American vibe from the first game. That means a Caribbean island would be a perfect location. Major contenders include Aruba, Antigua, or the Bahamas. Cuba would be a great choice, but we hear that Fidel has imposed a communist dictatorship which is unfriendly to the notion of laying down rubber in a Bugatti Veyron.

A final zone to consider would be some of the gorgeous islands in the South Pacific / Asia region like Bali, Fiji, and Tahiti. These exotic and tropical islands spring to mind whenever one actively considers 'paradise', but they might not have the infrastructure, wealth or political stability to really play host to our supercar fantasies.

Whatever island Atari Chooses, we can be sure that Test Drive Unlimited 2 will push the envelope in terms or realism, connectivity and detail.

According to Atari, Test Drive Unlimited 2 will expand on the Massively Open Online Racing(r) formula established in the first game. Unlike any other driving game, TDU2 blends the open world experience with realistic vehicles and performance dynamics and for the first time, TDU2 features vehicle damage, weather effects, day and night cycles, and a vibrant online community to compete against.

Test Drive Unlimited 2 will continue to blend the single player and multiplayer experiences, creating a dynamic world of unique content and challenges. Test Drive Unlimited 2 is "always live," with automatic updates and seamless online/offline integration. A revamped single player narrative mode can be played offline or as part of the multiplayer experience.

Players will be able to define their online persona through the customization of their vehicles, and the acquisition of property, clothing and all the accoutrements of a luxurious car-based lifestyle. All-new race types, vehicle classes, environmental challenges, locations and much more promise to make this sequel even better than the original.

Test Drive Unlimited 2 will feature some of the most exotic cars in the world.