Need for Speed ​​Unbound – Everything you need to know about EA’s stylish racing game

The Need for Speed ​​series has been around since 1994 and has spanned multiple consoles, mobile phones, and PCs, culminating in Need for Speed ​​Heat 2019. A few years have passed, and the publisher Electronic Arts presented the latest game in the series Need for Speed ​​​​Unbound. This is the first release since EA decided to bring it back from Ghost Games (which is now back as a support studio) to Criterion Games, the team behind the acclaimed Hot Pursuit and Most Wanted installments. A few months after that news, EA confirmed that a new entry was in development.

Development of Need for Speed ​​​​Unbound was stopped in 2021 when EA has been temporarily called in by Criterion Games to help DICE with Battlefield 2042 on the eve of the launch of the game. However, it has since recovered and we now have just over a month until it becomes available. Let’s discuss what we really know about Unbound before it hits physical and virtual store shelves.

Release date, pricing, platforms

Need for Speed ​​​​Unbound will be released on December 2, 2022, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store, and the Origin store. Pre-orders are open right now, and the game retails for a base price of $69.99. Pre-orders will give players the following:

• Unique control effect
• Unique number plate
• Unique banner and sticker
• $150,000 in multiplayer

A deluxe edition of Need for Speed ​​​​Unbound, Palace Edition is also available. Players who purchase the Palace Edition gain access to the following:

• The game
• Four “Incredibly Intense Custom Cars”
• New gas driving effects
• A set of stickers and license plates on the theme of Mashman
• Exclusive character pose and banners
• A special clothing pack with 20 unique items
• (on pre-order) Unique control effect
• (when pre-ordered) Unique license plate
• (on pre-order) Unique banner and sticker
• (on pre-order) $150,000 in multiplayer

Need for Speed ​​Unbound’s Palace Edition will cost you $79.99 at the store you plan to purchase it from. Unfortunately, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One users will have to sit this game out as there will be no last-gen versions in development.

System requirements and PC specifications

PC players will want to take note, as the Epic Games Store page for Need for Speed ​​Unbound has the required and recommended hardware for the game. To even run Need for Speed ​​​​Unbound, you need the following specifications:

• OS – Windows 10 64-bit
• Processor – Ryzen 5 2600, Core i5-8600
• Memory – 8GB
• Storage – 50GB
• Direct X version 124
• GPU – RX 570, GTX 1050 Ti

Meanwhile, the recommended game specs are as follows:

• OS – Windows 10 64-bit
• Processor – Ryzen 5 3600, Core i7-8700
• Memory – 16GB
• Storage – 50GB
• Direct X version 12
• GPU – Radeon RX5700 (8GB), GeForce RTX 2070 (8GB)

Visiting Need for Speed ​​​​Unbound Steam page will show that the game has NVIDIA DLSS support for higher frame rates and resolutions, although we don’t yet know if it’s DLSS 2 or DLSS 3. The game will also support HDR10 displays. Variable refresh rate support is available in PC builds of the game, allowing for less screen tearing and smoother image quality.

Gameplay and car details

The first details of the game were leaked by Jeff Greb, who is mentioned that the aesthetics of the game will be borrowed from the anime. This proved to be true when the game was introduced, which showcases a combination of realistic styling and anime effects from the cars (although these can be disabled). The character models are also shaded, and the overall visuals are heavily inspired by graffiti.

Some time after the first showing of the game, EA revealed an extensive list of the game’s cars, which can be seen on this link. Inside, you’ll find a variety of brands including Chevrolet, Dodge, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini and more that will be available for players to drive and unlock throughout the game (although given the presentation and art style, the fact that cars like Toyota AE86 Lack of Trueno is downright criminal).

A total of 143 vehicles will be available to players at launch (excluding the four unique vehicles in the Palace Edition). In terms of gameplay, there’s risk and reward in every race (or world ride, really) that players take part in. Certain actions during the week in the game will result in high payouts or high buy-ins, and players will also be able to place bets against other racers.

Police chases are clearly making a comeback as they can find you and chase you around the game world. If the game’s trailers are anything to go by, the police are a bit more polished and aggressive than in games like NFS Heat or Most Wanted 2012. In any case, it’s unclear whether the police will have weapons like spike strips or electromagnetic charges in their arsenal (though roadblocks are returning).

The fictional Lakeshore City is based on Chicago. The heating system from Need for Speed ​​will also return.

Trailers

Need for Speed ​​​​Unbound has released several trailers since its announcement, which you can see below.

Official trailer.

Risk and Reward Official Trailer.

Stay tuned for more details and information about Need for Speed ​​Unbound to be released by Electronic Arts.