Despite very discreet communication, the future opus of the Electronic Arts license is still expected for the end of the year.
Between the release at the beginning of the year of Grand Touring 7 and those of GRID Legends or F1 22, which confirms the return to form of the license, the year 2022 confirms that the racing game is still as popular as ever. And the trend could be confirmed a little more with the upcoming return of a cult license: Need for Speed. Appeared in 1994, the famous franchise must indeed return via a new opus. And recent leaks allow us to learn more about this future hit.
Gone is the mature atmosphere, make way for an adventure for young audiences
If we are to believe the information circulating with insistence on Reddit, and which link those already mentioned by insiders Tom Henderson and Jeff Grub, Electronic Arts would like with this new episode to pilot its license towards a more general public spirit. Despite arcade gameplay, several episodes of the saga highlight a fairly mature universe, with street races and clashes with the police. The first images that leaked on Reddit seem to confirm this desire to turn to a young audience, with a drawing style and cartoon-like visual effects. But in addition to the visuals, first information on this future episode has been revealed.
So the next Need for Speed would skip the drift and drag events, and mark the return of Speedcross. Side improvement of the vehicles, the software would propose a simplified system similar to that of Forza Horizon and its rating system, intended to make things easier for young audiences. Regarding the plot, the emphasis would be on inclusivity. A data that would remind Need For Speed Heatwith prominent female characters and greater cultural diversity.
Towards a release in December?
For this new episode, it should be remembered that the development team is mainly made up of new faces in order to bring a fresh look to the license, working hand in hand with only a few former employees of Criterion and Ghost. Like many hits like Fortnite or Warzone, or the long-awaited Splatoon 3, a follow-up would also be on the program. In the event of good sales, this could be a year or more, which implies the gradual arrival of new vehicles, zones and missions. Regarding the release date, an arrival for the year 2022 remains for the moment maintained. Not long ago, Jeff Grubb had teased the arrival of this new opus for the month of December. If this is confirmed, an announcement, or even a first trailer, should not delay.