Next NFS games: Shift, Nitro and World Online
On January 30, 2009, EA marketing manager Kevin Munro announced that the Need for Speed franchise is being divided into three separate branches, each targeting its own audience: Need for Speed: World Online is a Play 4 Free game in development exclusively for Windows-based PCs; Need for Speed: Nitro is in development for Wii and Nintendo DS, featuring arcade gameplay and targets a casual audience; Need for Speed: Shift is the hardcore game with simulation-like gameplay in development for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable and Windows-based PCs. All titles are set for release in Europe and North America in late 2009.
A fourth title is under development as well by EA Black Box. This title will keep the underground street-racing trend of previous titles. This will give gamers a total of four new Need for Speed titles in the near future targeting different parts of the market. More news is expected in the upcoming months.
Need for Speed: Shift
Need for Speed: Shift is one of the next installments in the long-running racing video game franchise Need for Speed published by Electronic Arts. It's under development by Slightly Mad Studios — who, under their former name Blimey! Games helped develop GT Legends and GTR 2 together with SimBin Studios — with help of Michael Mann (EP at EA Black Box and Patrick Söderlund (senior VP of EA Games and head of DICE). In the new franchising model for the series adopted by EA, Shift takes its place aiming at hardcore gamers and focusing on simulation racing rather than the arcade racing of previous titles in the series. It focuses on less on style and more on simulating the driver experience and is being described as a racing game built by racers for racers.
Shift features a cockpit view which allows the player to freely look around inside the car. To increase realism, the game uses a HUD that mimics driver head movement responding to g-force.
Need for Speed: Nitro
Need for Speed: Nitro is one of the next installments in the long-running racing video game franchise Need for Speed published by Electronic Arts. It's developed by EA Montreal for their previous experience with Nintendo titles. In the new franchising model for the series adopted by EA, Nitro takes its place aiming at casual gamers rather than the hardcore fans of the series and is also Nintendo exclusive. As previous titles in the Need for Speed series, Nitro features a large catalog of customizable licensed vehicles, as well as cops. It's distinguished by fast arcade racing with vibrant visuals. EA marketing manager Keith Munro states that Nitro is unlike anything else in the Need for Speed series so far.
Need for Speed: World Online
Need for Speed: World Online is one of the next installments in the long-running racing video game franchise Need for Speed published by Electronic Arts. It's co-developed by EA Black Box and EA Singapore. World Online is a Play 4 Free MMORG, the second MMORG in the Need for Speed series after Motor City Online. EA marketing manager Keith Munro states that "this Play 4 Free action racing game will give Need for Speed fans the most licensed cars, parts and game modes ever in Need for Speed's history". There is now an official trailer, which confirms Pagani Zonda, Lamborghini, Porsche, Lexus and the return of the police. The promo image is a Nissan 350Z racing in the Chinatown of Palmont (the city of Need for Speed: Carbon) in mid-day.
In a interview with World Online producer, Scott Henshaw, he mentioned that the European and North American versions of the game will have differences from the Asian one. It was also confirmed that the game will feature the cities of Palmont and Rockport, which were featured in Need for Speed: Carbon and Need for Speed: Most Wanted respectively. The cops were confirmed to return as well, together with a co-op and team based cop play.
