By: Max Cannon
2015's Need For Speed is revving up for a return with a light teaser image and a return to an offline world.
The Next Gear For Need For Speed
Need For Speed is a beloved gaming franchise that seemed to be at peak popularity in the middle of the PS2/Xbox/Gamecube era of gaming -- my favorite entry being the original cross-generational 2005 version of Need for Speed Most Wanted for Xbox 360. Following the path first treat in 2015's reboot of the franchise, simply titled Need for Speed, we're seeing our first looks at the follow-up through a very light teaser and blog post.
The newest image to tease Need for Speed, with the sunset setting of Most Wanted.Courtesy of Ghost Games
In a post from developer Ghost Games, the next Need For Speed 's design philosophy is outlined.
"By now many of you will have heard the talk that a new game is in development here at Ghost Games. We’re happy to announce that by the end of 2017 you will be playing a new Need for Speed game.
We’ll have a lot more details to share as we get closer to EA PLAY in June. In the meantime, we can share a few details about various aspects of Need for Speed, what they mean to you, to us as developers, and to the franchise as a whole.
Let’s finish on one of the biggest discussion points around the last game: always-online. To say that this is a topic you're passionate about would be an understatement, and whenever there’s a topic that gathers as much attention and feedback from you as this did, we take note.
So, when release day rolls around for the next Need for Speed, you will be able to play through a single player experience completely offline. Before you ask, and we know you will, this does mean you will be able to pause the game."
While gorgeous, little issues added up to prevent 2015's game from taking off.Courtesy of Ghost Games
Fixing Their Mistakes With EA Play
This statement is calming the fears of those upset with the previous entry in the franchise, getting back behind the wheel and removing the barriers to playing online is absolutely the right call. Surprisingly, this game is going to have a 2017 release that has snuck up on us about of nowhere -- a move that was really popularized with Fallout 4 in 2015.
EA Play's 2017 announcement/invitation.Courtesy of EA
Much less surprisingly, we'll see the game at this year's EA Play near E3 2017. In recent years, EA Games have decided to distance themselves from E3's shows and instead have a press conference separately from the rest of the mainstream. Except it's at nearly the same exact time and place that it would've been at E3. Expect more information from us during this year's wave of E3 information.
While Need for Speed will undoubtedly be a competent racing game but the odds of it beating my favorite Kart racer of the year... oh boy those odds are slim.
Have Your Say!
Are you a racing fan? Do you have any fond memories of Need For Speed? Share your comments below!
