Driver (series)
A series of open-world driving and action-adventure games.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
The Driver series blends action-adventure gameplay with open-world driving. It was created by Reflections Interactive, now known as Ubisoft Reflections. The franchise was first published by GT Interactive, then by Infogrames and Atari, and later by Ubisoft. The first game, *Driver*, launched in 1999, and five main entries have followed, the most recent being *Driver: San Francisco* in 2011. Most of these games center on a fictional police officer named John Tanner. By February 2016, the series had sold over 20 million copies globally.
- First release
- 1999
- Latest main installment
- 2011
- Developer
- Reflections Interactive (now Ubisoft Reflections)
- Original publisher
- GT Interactive
- Genre
- Action-adventure and driving in open world environments
- Total sales
- Over 20 million units (as of February 2016)
- Number of main installments
- 5
Lore & Background
The Driver series began with the 1999 game Driver, released for the PlayStation in Europe on 25 June 1999 and in the U.S. on 30 June. It featured a former racecar driver turned undercover police detective named John Tanner, with a storyline inspired by 1960s/70s car chase movies such as Bullitt and The Driver, set in Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City. It was the best-selling game of the series. Driver 2 followed in 2000, adding a partner, Tobias Jones, and new cities including Chicago, Havana, Las Vegas, and Rio de Janeiro, along with the ability to exit the car and steal other vehicles. Driver 3, released in 2004, introduced firearms but received mixed or poor reviews. Driver: Parallel Lines (2006) broke from the Tanner storyline, featuring a criminal named TK in New York City across two time periods, 1978 and 2006. Driver: San Francisco (2011) returned to protagonist Tanner, now in a coma, and introduced a "Shift" mechanic allowing players to jump between cars; it received generally positive reviews and sold well.
Reader's Guide
The Driver series is significant for evolving the open-world driving genre, particularly through its early emphasis on cinematic car chases and free-roaming city exploration, which it helped pioneer alongside early Grand Theft Auto games. The series' core identity revolves around undercover police officer John Tanner, though later entries experimented with different protagonists and settings. Driver: San Francisco introduced the innovative "Shift" mechanic, allowing players to instantly switch between vehicles, which was a notable departure from traditional driving games. The series also influenced other Ubisoft titles; a Driver game in development at Ubisoft Montreal was partially reworked into the first Watch Dogs game, with Ubisoft Reflections handling driving portions. Despite mixed critical reception for some entries, the series maintained commercial viability, selling over 20 million units by 2016. Its legacy includes a planned film adaptation and a live-action series that was cancelled shortly after its 2021 announcement.
Did You Know?
- The first Driver game was inspired by 1960s/70s car chase movies such as Bullitt and The Driver.
- Driver 2 was the first game in the series to allow players to get out of the car and steal another vehicle.
- Driver: San Francisco's 'Shift' mechanic let players instantly switch to any car on the road.
- A Driver game in development at Ubisoft Montreal was partially reworked into the first Watch Dogs game.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Driver series and who made it?
The Driver franchise is a collection of open-world driving and action-adventure games in which players take on the role of a getaway driver. It was originally developed by Reflections Interactive (now Ubisoft Reflections) and first released in 1999.
Who is the main character in most Driver games?
John Tanner is the recurring protagonist across the majority of the series, typically portrayed as a highly skilled driver with ties to law enforcement. His backstory and motivations shift slightly from one entry to the next.
How many main games are in the Driver franchise?
Six main titles have been released, beginning with the original 1999 game and concluding with Driver: San Francisco in 2011. The series had sold more than 20 million copies worldwide by early 2016.
What makes Driver's gameplay different from other racing games?
Rather than centering on circuit racing, Driver weaves together open-world exploration, on-foot gunfights, and mission-based story progression with high-speed driving. Players navigate cities to complete jobs, pursue targets, and fight enemies both on foot and behind the wheel.
Why did the Driver series stop after 2011?
Driver: San Francisco in 2011 marked the last main entry, and Ubisoft has not announced a direct sequel since. The studio behind the franchise, now operating as Ubisoft Reflections, has shifted its development focus to other projects in the years that followed.
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