Rivaling other established franchises in terms of awesomeness, Codemasters today announced that Race Driver: GRID will feature multiplayer content that features 32 online race events on 80 circuits at 15 intercontinental locations. The game will support up to 12-player events with full car damage, a first for its kind in racing games.

“Race Driver: GRID online is the ultimate expression of what the game is all about – incident-packed, aggressive, wheel-to-wheel racing,” said Ralph Fulton, Chief Game Designer, Race Driver: GRID. “Our wide range of motorsport disciplines, stunning locations and full damage 12-player races make for a uniquely spectacular race experience and our immersive new ranking system rewards player skill and deepens the challenge online.”

Players will be able to take their custom cars online and race in a large number of disciplines – from drifting around Yokohama Docks, charging through the streets of Detroit, and more. There will be a lobby system, as well as a slick voting system, allowing for gamers to find competitive races quickly.

As expected, the game will also feature an online ranking system that progresses the players’ progress as they advance from Junior Rookie to Legend, with experience points being awarded based on a wide range of achievements, from events won to beating higher ranked opponents.

The game is due for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 on May 30. A DS version will follow. Interested gamers can download playable demos from Xbox Live, PlayStation Network or file download sites for their respective platforms.