Eight new "top-spec" cars and two new multiplayer events will today be released as downloadable content for the PS3 and Xbox 360 editions of Codemaster's racer GRID.

Priced at 800 Microsoft Points ($10), the 8 Ball DLC will also contain four new achievements for the Xbox 360 version, each worth 25 Gamerpoints a piece.

As for the PC release of GRID, the studio said DLC details are coming "shortly."

Details on the cars, and the new achievements, are as follows:

THOSE "8 BALL" CARS IN FULL:
• McLaren F1 GTR - The McLaren F1 GTR wrote itself into the history books as the only GT car to ever win Le Mans outright in the... Read more

Codemasters today announced that its popular racing game Race Driver: GRID (PC, PS3, X360) will receive downloadable content later this fall. The "8 Ball" DLC will include two new multiplayer events, and eight new cars: the McLaren F1 GTR, TVR Cerbera Speed 12, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, Honda S2000, Nissan GT-R (S-G2008) , VW Nardo, Pontiac Firebird Trans AM and Volvo C30.

Additionally, the Xbox 360 version of the DLC will come with four more achievements for the game totalling a hundred points.

No pricing was announced, nor were plans for a PC release of the additional content. Codemasters did note that it will also release a V8 Supercars pack for the game later this year.

Codemasters has issued a new patch for Race Driver: GRID, updating the PC-DVD release of the game to version 1.2.

Among other things the patch fixes issues related to starting and quitting the game, adds the ability to play more offline events online, and offers a toggle to turn assists on or off when creating a new online game ... Read more

At FileShack you can find the first Racer Driver: GRID patch, updating the PC retail edition of the game.

The 190mb update offers network improvements and fixes, performance improvements, additional controller support and a fix for missing Force feedback on Windows Vista among other things.

The patch is also being released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360; you can read the multiplatform change notes after the break ... Read more

Codemasters has released a second Race Driver: GRID demo, sponsored by eBay Motors. The 690mb download features the eBay Motors Muscle Series and two tracks.

Race Driver: GRID is now available on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, with a Nintendo DS release following in August.

Following the release of a Race Driver: GRID demo for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, a demo for the PC version is available now as well. A 894mb download, the PC demo also includes three tracks and three cars. Race Driver: GRID will be released for PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS next month.

Now available in all Xbox Live regions is a demo for Race Driver: GRID, Codemasters' newest racing title. The demo includes three tracks, two cars, and online multiplayer support. Demos for other platforms are expected soon. Race Driver: GRID will be released for PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS this June.

UK publisher Codemasters today revealed that it has purchased Sega's UK Racing Studio. Previous owner Sega recently announced its intent to close the studio, citing a mandate to ensure each branch remained profitable.

The sole game to be developed and released by Sega Racing Studio was Sega Rally Revo (PC, PS3, X360, PSP) in 2007. The acquisition provides the company with the opportunity to work on such well-received Codemasters racing franchises as Colin McRae and Race Driver.

"In seizing this opportunity, we have created additional resources to escalate our plans in the racing segment," stated Codemasters chief executive Rod Cousens. "We hope to welcome more than 40 people to the company.

"We have enjoyed the full co-operation of our friends at Sega in making this happen," he continued. "It is good business for Codemasters, an exciting prospect and there will be more to come as we are not content to stand still."

The eBay Motors brand will be integrated into Race Driver: GRID (PC, PS3, X360, NDS) as a car and racetrack sponsor and as an in-game gameplay feature, publisher Codemasters announced today. The company also released a new trailer showcasing an eBay-branded car.

Gamers can buy and sell performance vehicles within the game via the virtual eBay Motors marketplace, which Codemasters says is the first time a real world internet application has been included as a core function in a racing title.

GRID is aimed for a June 3 release in North America.

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A gameplay trailer and a foursome of screenshots are now available from Race Driver: GRID, the upcoming racing game from Codemasters. Look for this one on PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS early summer.

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Announced earlier this year as Race Driver One, Codemasters has renamed its upcoming on-road racing title GRID for North American audiences and Race Driver: GRID for those in Europe.

Due out on PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 in mid-2008, GRID has players racing through various real-life locales in the United States, Europe, and Japan while sustaining realistic damage to their vehicles.

The latest evolution of Codemaster's TOCA Tour Driving and TOCA Race Driver franchises is being developed at Codemasters Studios by the team that handled the off-road rally effort Colin McRae: DiRT (PC, PS3, X360) and uses an enhanced version of DiRT's Neon game engine.

"This is not a game about collecting cars or spending all of your time in the front-end tuning suspension settings or designing liveries," noted chief game designer Ralph Fulton. "We want to make racing exciting again."