Criterion Games is back in the development of Need for Speed - you can find out more here.
There are many secrets about the new Need for Speed. We know it’s in development by Criterion Games and … that’s about it. Unfortunately, we probably won’t hear much about Need For Speed 2022 until E3.
NFS Heat was released in 2019 and was the final game in the long-running series. It was warmly received, but that didn’t stop EA from closing Ghost Games and maintaining the keys to Criterion, the developer behind the Burnout games, Hot Pursuit 2010 and Most Wanted 2012.
Heat was arguably the best NFS game in years, thanks to its intense police persecution, thorough customization, and risk-reward money system. Heat’s post-release updates left a lot to be desired, however.
After the start of Heat, the roster was expanded to include a small handful of cars. A March 2020 black market update added an Aston Martin DB11 Volante and McLaren F1, but most updates have fixed bugs instead of adding new gameplay features and content to keep players busy.
With Criterion Games back in the driver’s seat, we very much hope that the next NFS will revive the franchise. But when will we find out more about the new NFS?
The sound of silence
We expect to hear a lot about Need For Speed 2022 at E3 at the earliest.
Finally, traditionally new NFS games will be revealed at E3 in June. The 2015 restart of Need for Speed was shown for the first time at E3 2015. Payback was also featured at E3 2017 with a gameplay trailer depicting a Fast & Furious Highway Heist.
Criterion Games is back in the development of Need for Speed
NFS Heat, on the other hand, was mostly absent at the EA Play E3 conference in 2019. Instead, Heat was announced a few months later in an unveiling trailer released on August 14, 2019.
With the public show canceled, E3 2022 will almost certainly be a purely digital event. EA hasn’t yet announced its plans for this year’s E3.
Last year’s EA Play conference took place on July 18, 2021, about a month after the E3 conferences. This year’s EA Play could be shown during E3 in June or July like last year to give more attention to EA’s titles.
In any case, Criterion’s new NFS should be shown this summer to get the hype train rolling.
Need for Speed release date 2022
Criterion’s new NFS game was originally scheduled to be released between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022 in 2022. However, NFS development was halted when Criterion Games joined DICE to complete development of Battlefield 2042. As a result, Criterions NFS was unceremoniously delayed.
Criterion’s new NFS will feature the impeccably detailed car models
According to previous games in the series, the new NFS will likely be released in November 2022, just in time for Christmas. 2022 will be a crowded year for racing games, so NFS needs to stand out from the crowd.
Need for Speed 2022 platforms
So far EA has confirmed that the new NFS game will be released on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X | S. However, a cross-generational release on PS4 and Xbox One with downgraded graphics appears to be maximizing sales. Thanks to the more powerful hardware, the graphics of NFS on PS5 and Xbox Series X | S are significantly improved.
Could Criterion NFS develop Underground 3? We definitely hope so
In 2020, a short teaser video showing a Porsche 911 GT3 RS and a Nissan 180SX previewed the game’s impeccably detailed car models. Modifications to the cars such as aftermarket wings and bright paintwork indicate that customization will also play an important role in the new NFS. NFS Underground fans will no doubt like this.
Criterion Games has already restarted Hot Pursuit and Most Wanted – could underground be next? We’ll have to wait and see, but fans have been begging for NFS Underground 3 for years.
Given Criterion’s history with Hot Pursuit and Most Wanted, police chases could make a comeback and we won’t be surprised if the new NFS takes place in a big open world.
We can’t wait to find out what Criterion is cooking for NFS this year. In the meantime, check out the 5 things we’d like to see in the new Need for Speed.
