The new Need for Speed meant to release this year will reportedly only be for current-gen hardware (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC) dropping the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the title.
Need for Speed has been pretty quiet since Need for Speed Heat with the series opting to take a break from the annual release cycle and is reported to release during the holiday season this year on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
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VentureBeat journalist Jeff Grubb spoke on his paywalled show Grubbsnax, Giantbomb, where he stated that developer Criterion alongside publisher EA will release the next instalment of the racing franchise in the holiday season this year – a similar release window as the previous title, Need for Speed Heat.
“Need for Speed is still coming this year… that’s true, that game should be coming in November. If you are a Need for Speed fan who has bought a next-gen console, here’s some news; it’s next-gen only. They are shifting to next-gen only.”
If what Grubb has to say is true then it alters what previous reports have suggested, that Need for Speed would only release in 2023 after Criterion Games was shifted to support Battlefield 2042. Criterion Games are still handling Need for Speed primarily according to EA which makes the idea of a November 2022 release date all the more intriguing. However, known industry insider Tom Henderson also claims that we could see the next instalment of the racing franchise in September/October 2022.
EA’s chief studio officer, Laura Miele, has previously confirmed that Criterion was still working on Need for Speed and that it would only release in March 2023 on both current and previous-gen consoles (PS5/4, Xbox One/Series X|S, and PC). Grubb also claims that the next title will take place in Miami though it would be strange to have two consecutive titles in the same environmental setting (Miami and Palm City are not too far away and much alike).
The upcoming Need for Speed’s development was handed back to Criterion Games after it was removed from Ghost Games which have made the previous four titles in the series. Criterion has been known for Need for Speed Hot Pursuit and Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2012).
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Source: VideoGamesChronicle
