Shortly after Microsoft’s Xbox One event, Electronic Arts announced they would have closer looks at their upcoming next-gen slate at E3 next month. They confirmed titles like Battlefield 4, Need for Speed, FIFA, and Madden would make an appearance, and they also teased a Star Wars announcement.
While most of the attention was focused on what Star Wars related news EA was preparing, the publisher simply slid confirmation a new Need for Speed was in-development right under the radar. Luckily, that new title – Need for Speed Rivals – didn’t stay secret for long.
Today, Electronic Arts have confirmed the existence of Need for Speed Rivals, which will be developed by Ghost Games, a new in-house developer. Ghost Games won’t be flying solo, however, but will be working closely with Criterion Games.
As the trailer above reveals, Need for Speed Rivals will be hitting current-gen platforms on November 19th. That’s not all, though; the game is also planned as a next-gen release for the PS4 and newly announced Xbox One. The only question is whether those two consoles will be on store shelves by then.
Rivals will take the basic concepts of the Need for Speed franchise and give them a unique twist. As a racer, players will be able to earn “Speed points” as they evade capture by the cops, and perform all sorts of outlandish stunts. With enough speed points, players can purchase better cars, like the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta.
When playing as a cop, players will try to (what else?) stop the racers at all costs. Every time the player shuts a racer down they will earn prominence and rise through the ranks of the police force. The higher the police force rank, the better cars, and tech the player have access to.
Need for Speed Rivals will also include a unique online feature called AllDrive, which allows players to seamlessly jump online without missing a beat. The feature still needs a bit more clarification, but in essence, it sounds like AllDrive will populate races with AI-controlled and online players based on certain parameters.
Some of the more recent additions to the franchise, like Autolog, will also be making a return for Rivals. Here are a few additional details:
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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 paint jobs, 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.
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