Need for Speed: Unbound is the long-awaited follow-up to 2019’s NFS: Heat, and an entry in the long-running racing game series that opts for a more stylized approach in terms of visuals. Its release date reveal generated a good amount hype around the title, which isn’t all that surprising, considering its bold new look.
Although there’s a lot of flash to it, the title isn’t lacking in the usual varied assortment of cars to unlock, races to participate in, and cops to outsmart and outrun. Read on below for everything we know about NFS: Unbound, including details about its release date, gameplay, and more.
Need for Speed: Unbound Release Date
Need for Speed: Unbound has locked down its release date to December 2, 2022. EA Play Pro subscribers on PC can play it starting with November 29, 2022, while those subscribed to the service’s base version can try up to 10 hours of the racing game starting on the same date.
Need for Speed: Unbound Story
Set in Lakeshore City, Need for Speed: Unbound’s story revolves around The Grand, which is described as the “ultimate street racing challenge.” You have 4 weeks to earn enough money to make it to the qualifiers, before showing off your skills and custom cars as you race to win the big prize.
Need for Speed: Unbound Gameplay
The path to winning The Grand in Need for Speed: Unbound sees you tackling various race types, customizing vehicles while constantly growing your collection, and attempting to outsmart and outrun the Police who, as usual, aren’t too fond of street racers.
NFS: Unbound promises separate campaigns for single-player and multiplayer alongside new escape mechanics that should refresh the series’ cop chase sequences. Its car list boasts no less than 143 vehicles.
You’ll get to choose from “hundreds of cosmetic items,” including new driving effects that highlight the game’s rather unique art style, which blends realistic renditions of cars with stylized driving effects inspired by graffiti art.
“Tags come to life when you deploy your boosting powers; which are earned through actions like drifting, jumps and near misses, and appear as dramatic, customizable effects that paint the surrounding world, including illustrative lines that etch around the curves of your car,” the developer explains.
You’ll get to choose between a plethora of different effects but can also turn them off, with the exception of your car’s basic tail smoke and trail lights.
Need for Speed: Unbound’s Meetups allow you to show off your style to other players, which you can also challenge to races online. The title is confirmed to also feature a freeroam component, which is perfect when you feel like learning the best routes to get around Lakeshore.
The title’s PC version is compatible with HDR10, features double the simulation rate of its predecessor, and will launch with support for both variable refresh rate and Nvidia DLSS. Developer Criterion Games also plans to support the title post-launch with free updates.
Where can I buy Need for Speed: Unbound and how much does it cost?
Need for Speed: Unbound is slated to release on PC, via both Steam and the Epic Games Store, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5. You can pick up its standard edition for the price of $69.99/€69.99 or your regional equivalent.
The Palace Edition includes some additional goodies – four custom cars, a clothing pack, driving effect, decals and license plate, character pose, and banner artwork – and will set you back $79.99/€79.99 or your regional equivalent.
Need for Speed: Unbound Trailer
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