EA announces
Need for Speed
Rivals, a new installment in their motorsports series that will race
onto Windows PCs and last-gen consoles on November 19th and onto next-gen
consoles (not so fast, WiiU) at some point after that. The
Need For Speed website has a
teaser trailer, more
details on the game, and where to preorder. Here's the
announcement:
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – May 23, 2013 – Electronic Arts Inc.
(NASDAQ: EA), today announced Need for Speed™ Rivals, an action/racing game
created by an inspired new development team, using a powerful engine and
delivering next-generation gameplay. Need for Speed Rivals is being developed by
EA’s newest studio Ghost Games, who bring new thinking and innovation to the
Need for Speed franchise in partnership with the expert racing team at Criterion
Games. Built on the Frostbite™ 3 game engine, Need for Speed Rivals captures the
adrenaline and intensity of the street’s ultimate rivalry between cops and
racers, in a stunning open road environment. Need for Speed Rivals is coming to
Xbox 360® game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PlayStation®3
computer entertainment system and PC on November 19, 2013 and will also be
released on Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from
Microsoft, and PlayStation 4 later this year.
In Need for Speed Rivals, gamers play as either a cop or racer, where each side
of the law has its own set of high stakes challenges, rewards and consequences.
As a racer, the goal is to become infamous for taking risks behind the wheel and
capturing your most intense escapes on video for the world to see. The more cops
players evade, the more Speed Points they collect, enabling them to unlock new
cars and items. Keep raising the stakes race after race to become an ever-more
valuable target to the cops – but risk losing it all if busted. As a cop,
players work together as part of a team in pursuit of racers, earning prominence
and rising in the ranks of the Police Force with every bust. Achieving higher
ranks unlocks new police only cars and more powerful pursuit tech.
Ghost Games also announced today the long-awaited return of Ferrari to the Need
for Speed franchise. For the first time in seven years, gamers can get behind
the wheel of some of the most luxurious, desirable automobiles on the planet,
including the F12berlinetta. Spokesperson Stefano Saporetti, Head of Brand
Operations in Ferrari added, “We are back in the Need For Speed franchise,
starting with Need for Speed Rivals, as we want the fans of this world famous
and award winning racing game saga to be able again to feel the excitement of
the Ferrari Brand and cars.”
At the heart of Need for Speed Rivals is AllDrive, an innovative new online
feature that allows gamers to seamlessly transition from playing alone, to
playing with friends, eliminating the line between single player and
multiplayer. Players will have to keep one eye on their rearview mirror as
friends will be able to enter and exit races on-the-fly, creating a world where
no two events will ever be the same.
“The Need for Speed franchise has been an industry leader bringing social
competition to the forefront in games,” said Marcus Nilsson, Executive Producer,
Ghost Games. “For the first time, players will have the freedom to seamlessly go
from single player to co-op to multiplayer. In Need for Speed Rivals we are
creating one game experience with one progression, where the freedom to play
with friends is more fluid and accessible than ever before.”
Need for Speed Rivals pushes the limits of racing games with all-new and
improved features:
- Next-Gen Racing – Redview County is brought to
life with stunning, next-generation detail and weather effects that force
drivers to master the elements, as well as the competition.
- Need for Speed Network Powered by Autolog – Gamers
can compare stats and challenge their friends anytime, anywhere and then
easily share their accomplishments with both friends and rivals.
- Personalization – Drivers customize their ride
with fresh paintjobs, custom license plates, liveries, decals, rims, and
performance upgrades.
- Pursuit and Evasion Tech – Street racing explodes
with 11 upgradeable gadgets including turbo boosts, jammers and EMPs for
racers, and shockwaves, roadblocks and helicopters for cops.
Players eager to bust racers from day one can pre-order Need for Speed Rivals
at participating retailers and receive the Need for Speed Rivals Ultimate Cop
Pack at no additional cost*. This pack offers exclusive access to a powerful
collection of items including the Nissan GT-R Black Edition cop car, advanced
pursuit technology, and a custom livery.
To view the first Need for Speed Rivals teaser trailer, please visit
www.needforspeed.com. To join the
conversation on Need for Speed Rivals, please visit
http://www.facebook.com/needforspeed, follow us on Twitter® at
www.twitter.com/needforspeed
and #NeedforSpeed, or sign up for the official Need for Speed newsletter at
www.needforspeed.com. Press assets for
Need for Speed Rivals are available at
http://info.ea.com.
* Conditions and restrictions apply. See
http://store.origin.com/store/ea/en_US/pd/productID.257622000 for
details.