Grid 2 multiplayer modes, Rivals challenges detailed

Codemasters announced its multiplayer modes for GRID 2 today. The game includes a wide variety of race types, asynchronous races, a dedicated stat-tracking site, and featured match-ups against Rivals to keep you racing against online challengers.

The multiplayer modes include Race, Endurance, Drift, Touge, Checkpoint, Face Off, and Time Attack. You can also take part in Global Challenge events like Overtake and Power Lap. You'll be able to play with up to twelve racers online, or in two-player split-screen, and modify your car with a new livery editor. Codemasters also claims its new anti-griefing technology to group racers of like types together -- aggressive racers with other aggressive racers, and more clean drivers with like kinds.

The modes will use Codemasters' own RaceNet as the stat-tracking backbone, letting you check your races, rivals, community stats, leaderboard challenges, and Global Challenge events. Global Challenges are an asynchronous competitive mode that will refresh with up to nine new challenges every week. The developer is planning a dedicated mobile and tablet app launch near the game's release.

RaceNet will pair you up with Rivals. A Weekly Rival will be automatically selected to compete against, and the system promises to pick someone based on game ability and activity. A Social Rival will be selectable from your friends or players you've previously raced. Finally, a Custom Rival can be picked based on criteria like event type. You can also earn virtual "Followers" on RaceNet, or steal Followers from your Rivals by beating them in Global Challenges.

The game is due May 28 for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.