According to the PlayStation Europe Blog, WipEout HD's upcoming game-altering DLC, entitled Fury, is in final QA testing. Answering a short list of questions submitted by blog regulars, WipEout HD game director Tony Buckley and producer Paul Tweedle noted the expansion was in the "final phase" of testing and promised release information would be announced (via the PlayStation Blog) after it completes the process. Fury is set to add a laundry list of content, including 8 tracks, 13 ship models and 3 game modes, to the popular anti-grav racer.

[Via CVG]

PS3's downloadable antigrav racer, WipEout HD, is getting its first bit of DLC. Attendees at E3 will be able to try out "Fury," the first expansion pack for the game. Included in the upcoming pack are 8 new tracks, 13 new ships and 3 new game modes. A patch will also add new trophies, a "re-styled front-end" and improved multiplayer functionality.

One of the new modes being reintroduced to WipEout HD is the "Eliminator" mode, last seen in PSP's Pulse. This combat-centric mode gives favor to killing instead of racing. It's one of our favorite modes from WipEout Pulse, so we're glad to see it make a comeback.

In addition, the upcoming Fury DLC will add "Zone Battle," a multiplayer twist on the classic "Zone" concept. In this new mode, players will be able to acquire zone pads and choose between a speed or health boost. Opponents will be able to drop zone barriers, a deadlier WipEout interpretation of Mario Kart's banana peel. Finally, the "Detonator" mode has players shooting at mines while trying to try through 14 different stages. We'll be giving you a full hands-on report on "Fury" later this week.

One of the fastest, melt-your-face (and your pants) racing experiences is getting a supercharged boost tomorrow (April 8). WipEout HD update V1.3 is set to introduce a host of new options to futuristic racing fans, including the ability to easily invite friends into games and an online podium that details the top-three racers after an event or tournament.

The update also introduces online badges for all participants -- regardless of finishing position, players have the chance to win one of 33 online badges in recognition of how they preformed in the race. Whether players who use the edge of the track for guidance like bowling alley gutter bumpers are "badge worthy" is still unclear.

The V1.3 update also introduces a Spectator Mode for race latecomers. If an event is underway when a player connects they will be able to watch the race unfold from various camera angles and are added to the game lobby during the next session. A full list of features, plus new online match customization options, are after the break.

"But all my games are already in 3D!" you exclaim, quick to accuse Joystiq of being "bias" and desperate to downplay the PlayStation 3's magnificent graphical capabilities. Rest assured, dear reader, that this post concerns real three dee, the kind that leaps off the screen and subtly mocks you for donning a pair of silly, silly glasses.

Ars Technica had a brief glimpse at some new 3D technology on display at Sony's CES booth and came away impressed. Though a Sony representative remained mum on specifications and insisted that it was merely "a look at what 3D could look like if Sony decided to move in this direction," the effect on PlayStation 3 games proved most enticing. After peering through "a dorky set of black glasses" at Wipeout HD, post author Ben Kuchera noted, "I was ready to whip out my credit card right there."

Late last year, a stereoscopic 3D Certification and Advocacy group claimed that Sony was fully intending to support 3D stereoscope technology, in both movies and games, in 2009. In the interest of embracing as many dimensions as possible, we sincerely hope the CES showing manages to draw out a few more credit cards. (But not from tech journalists -- those are usually maxed out.)

Thought playing Gran Turismo 5 in 2160p wasn't insane enough? Then how about playing it in 3D? How about combining the two ... er, we're getting a little too excited about the future here -- let's get back on track. At CES in Las Vegas, Sony had been showing off some 3D tech tie-ins for the PS3, displaying WipEout HD and Gran Turismo 5 Prologue running in true 3D.

Ars Technica went through the whole orgasmic experience recounting it as "one of the best demos of 3D technology [they] have ever seen." But hold your horses, folks; Sony says it's all for show ... for now. "We're not going to talk about specifications," said a Sony rep. "This is just a look at what 3D could look like if Sony decided to move in this direction."

The black shades the gent is wearing in the picture is the 3D goggles for gameplay. It's not as dorky as Ars thinks it is ... imagine wearing those horrid red/blue specs, ew! The blur screen is no doubt an effect of the 3D and, well, we're dying (as much as you are) to know what it actually was like. Guess we'll never know for quite some time.

[Thanks Julian A. and Erico316!]

From the "Did you know?" department comes an interesting tidbit regarding Sony's internal development studios -- specifically, the two behind last year's Wipeout HD (Liverpool Studio) and Motorstorm: Pacific Rift (Evolution Studios). According to veep of Worldwide Studios Europe, Michael Denny, it is Sony's intention to fully merge the teams, which already share a management structure and resources, in a single geographic location.

"Each studio has its own internal concepting group which will always be looking at new opportunities and new IPs," Denny told GI.biz, "and we'll continue to extend and innovate within our existing franchises as well." The move won't happen "overnight," but the synergy that would result is sure to be beneficial to off- and hovering-slightly-above-road racing fans. We only hope that the two studios don't fall into the same trap Team Joystiq does whenever united under one roof: hours upon hours wasted looking at funny cat videos.

Sony's just informed us that WipEout HD's been a pretty big success story. It is SCEE's best, and fastest, selling PSN download for the month of November. But SCEE's still not happy. It wants more people to enjoy the game, so it's releasing a demo version onto the European store next week. On Christmas Eve, to be precise

The demo will include a single track from the game. Once you've played that through you'll then be given a preview of all the other tracks. If that sufficiently tickles your fancy, you can buy the full version directly from the demo for a temporary reduced price. SCEE doesn't say what the cheaper price is, exactly. Only that it will return to its normal price on January 8th. We're betting this lower price and demo will persuade a good number of people, drunk on festive cheer, to part with their cash.

WipEout HD is hard. If you've played the game, you probably know that and, if the newest patch is anything to go by, the developers at Studio Liverpool have also realized this. Updating the game to version 1.20, which will happen as soon as you start the game, will make getting medals in campaign mode a lot easier. You can now change the difficulty setting within campaign mode to novice, skilled or elite, just like in other modes. This changes the medal requirements, making completing the game a much simpler experience.

It also means the difficulty ramp for the game is far less steep, as you can blitz through on novice, then change up to skilled and then, eventually elite. The medals look different for each difficulty, so you can clearly see on which mode you've completed each task. This doesn't help with the most difficult trophies, but at least completing the game is actually possible for normal humans. So, if you haven't played WipEout HD for a while, give it another go. You might get sucked in all over again -- we certainly did.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Sony has deployed a patch for WipEout HD onto European servers, and presumably will do the same later today in North America, fixing freezing issues that have affected players with over 50 friends. Admittedly, we were rather fond of the "glitch," though it's probably time we let go of our petty grudge against the in-crowd of our adolescent years (note to self: avoid awkward confrontations at next high school reunion politely decline the Jägerbombs). Still, there's some glee to be gleaned from the update. According to the description:

"If at any time you have had over 50 users in your friends list whilst playing Wipeout it is possible that your saved data has become corrupted. If this situation applies to you, we strongly recommend once this update has installed you quit the game and delete your saved data using the saved data utility in the XMB, then relaunch the game to create a new profile. Deleting your Saved Data will not affect your collected trophies or online records, but will reset your campaign mode progress, team loyalties, and in-game settings." [Emphasis ours.]

See? Popularity doesn't always get you ahead in life.

Update: The patch has been released in North America.

WipEout HD has now been patched in order to fix the common game freezing problem among PSN users with over 50 friends. Currently this patch is available for the European version only, though we would expect it to go live in America very soon. The patch notes, which can be retrieved from within the game, state that your save file needs to be deleted after the patch has been installed for the fix to take affect. This means your lap times, team loyalties and other single-player stats and options will be lost.

Your trophies and leaderboard scores, however, won't be lost. If you've been sidestepping the issue by playing whilst signed out of the PSN, starting again is no doubt quite an annoyance. Don't get too upset, though, at least you can now play online with your friends. That's worth starting the campaign mode all over again, right?

[Thanks Stoo]

Maintaining 1080p and 60fps is no easy feat. In fact, many games in this generation can barely pump out 720p graphics, as seen by upscaling tricks used by titles like Haze, Halo 3 and Grand Theft Auto IV. However, WipEout HD is one of the few games that maintains 1080p at a silky smooth 60fps. How were they able to do that?

Inside the Digital Foundry once again examined the pure pixel count of WipEout HD. What they found is interesting. The game does, for the most part, run in full 1080p. However, when the action becomes too intense, the game will downscale the resolution. It appears the PS3 figures out exactly what resolution the game needs to run at frame-by-frame to ensure the game's 60fps count is never broken. "Rather than introduce dropped frames, slow down or other unsavoury effects, the number of pixels being rendered drops and the PS3's horizontal hardware scaler is invoked to make up the difference. It's an intriguing solution that works with limited impact on the overall look of the game"

It appears the lowest resolution WipEout can render in is 1280x1080, which is still a 50% increase over 720p. The end result is something gamers, regardless of their AV tech knowledge, can truly appreciate.

[Thanks, kzin!]

Though critical reaction to WipEout HD has been extremely positive so far, reports are beginning to crop up of two major qualms players have with the hyperactive racer. The first of which is, of course, the game's arbitrarily intErcappEd titlE -- the second is a bug that causes the game to freeze or crash for some players. These crashes may not pick their victims at random, however, as members of the European PlayStation forums have deduced that they only strike down PSN users with over 50 e-quaintences on their friends lists.

It's not clear whether or not this is actually the case, though certain sociable so-and-sos on our Blu-ray-enabled sister site, PS3 Fanboy, have experienced the freezes (which can apparently be remedied by signing out of PSN while playing). Sony has yet to comment on the veracity of this claim, though they are currently looking into the issue. Until then, we'll be thanking our lucky stars for our lifelong, soul-crushing unpopularity.

[Thanks, Lee.]

Wow! Bravo to the NeoGAF forum for creating this incredible custom soundtrack for WipEout HD. While the PSN game offers an excellent soundtrack as-is, it's refreshing to have this new collection of tunes to listen to while racing down these futuristic tracks. The soundtrack was created by a very talented group of NeoGAFers: "We're a bunch of NeoGAF posters who make electronic music. Some of us veterans, some of us amateurs, but we all share a passion for videogames and electronic music."

We're offering a mirror download here on PS3 Fanboy to show our support for the project. But, make sure you check out NeoGAF for the full credits list. Download here, and check out instructions on how to use it in the game after the cut.

We're not talking the type of crashing you'd normally associate with WipEout, this is far more frustrating. Since the European PSN Store was updated earlier today we've been hearing reports of people experiencing crashes and game freezing whilst playing WipEout HD. Members of the official European PlayStation forums think they might have the answer. It seems to only be happening to the more sociable PSN users; those with over fifty friends in their friends lists.

There's no word on a fix, other than signing out of the PlayStation Network while you're playing. Obviously, this will prevent you from playing online. PlayStation Forum moderators are looking into the issue as a matter of urgency and hopefully we'll see a solution soon. We've experienced the freezing ourselves (and yes, our friends list is massive, thanks for asking), but an official cause hasn't been confirmed by anything other than anecdotal evidence at this stage.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Yup, random capitalization in titles is still annoying -- especially in game titles.

On that note, it's a big week for the PSN update. WipEout HD makes its debut, along with several other downloadable titles, including Mega Man 9. The PSP gets some games to download and there's several content packs for Buzz! on PS3. Check out the full list after the break.

A list of this week's super-size serving of goodies found in the European PSN update can be found over at PS3 Fanboy.