Need for Speed: Heat Announced By EA, Due Out On November 8

Is Need for Speed back? Fans of the series are hopeful with the announcement of a new game in the long-running racing franchise, and developer Ghost Games will be trying their best not to disappoint – but there’s still Electronic Arts to content with. Despite this, I’m cautiously optimistic for Need for Speed: Heat, revealed a few days ago by the publisher. The announcement and reveal came with a trailer, which is a very mixed bag for me – check it out below if you haven’t already to see what to expect from this newest title.

I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that the title card shown felt a bit out of place once you get into the nitty-gritty of the trailer. I came in expecting something akin to synthwave beats, neon lights and other 80s aesthetics – instead I got scenes from Fast and the Furious and some very cringy dialogue.

Don’t get me wrong though – the cars and the environments look very pretty. The sound design is pretty on point as well, especially when you get to hear those engines revving up and screaming with cars going more than 150 miles an hour. However, the fact that there are inklings of another very heavy-handed story forced into the gameplay really killed the atmosphere for me. Here’s hoping that it’s not as pervasive as it’s shown in the trailer.

EA has also announced that Need for Speed: Heat can be played earlier than its launch date by EA Access and Origin Access Basic members starting on November 5. Those who own Origin Access Premier, however, can gain full early access before the game’s releases three days later. Pre-order bonuses have also been announced, with standard edition pre-purchases including a K.S. Edition-styled Mitsubishi Evolution X in-game vehicle. The Deluxe Edition will include three K.S. Edition-styled cars – BMW i8 Coupe, Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe, and Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport – as well as access to exclusive deluxe edition character clothing plus increased earnings of the in-game currencies Bank and Rep.

Need for Speed: Heat will also have its first gameplay footage debuted during Gamescom 2019: Opening Night Live on August 19 at 2:00 p.m. EDT.

Need for Speed: Heat will be released for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on November 8.