Need for Speed: The Run revs up
Shift 2 Unleashed has been out for only a month, but EA is apparently looking to turn out another Need for Speed in near-record time. European retailer ShopTo.net has posted a product page for Need for Speed: The Run on the Xbox 360, complete with box art and a teaser trailer that reveals a November 18 launch date. The North American version of the video (embedded below) indicates a November 15 domestic launch for the game.
Clocking in at 1 minute, 17 seconds, the trailer shows glimpses of race action intercut with shots of what appears to be a story mode. The trailer suggests New York, Las Vegas, Denver, and San Francisco as locales, with races spiced up by outside factors (like an explosive avalanche or unwanted attention from the cops). As for the story, the trailer's glimpses of the game are spotted in between shots of a man regaining consciousness in a car overturned on railroad tracks. The tagline at the end of the clip is "The race for your life. The race of your life."
This wouldn't be the first time two major Need for Speed games have arrived in the same calendar year. Last year saw the launch of the free-to-play PC game Need for Speed World as well as Criterion Games' Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit. In 2009, EA also released the original Need for Speed: Shift and Need for Speed: Nitro, although there was no overlap in the two games' platforms.
[UPDATE]: Electronic Arts has since confirmed the game is in development and the accuracy of the ShopTo listing. More details are expected soon.
FAQ :
[Q&A] Need For Speed: The Run
Why use the Frostbite 2.0 engine?
One of our goals with Need for Speed The Run was to set the bar for visuals higher than any previous Need for Speed, and working with DICE’s revolutionary Frostbite 2.0 engine, we’re able to do that. The visual quality in Need for Speed The Run is unmatched among action racing games.
Three games in one year is a lot, what happened to the once-yearly Need for Speed?
Black Box was the company that put Need for Speed on the map, and has been developing Need for Speed The Run for more than two years already. Even though we’re more than six months away from release, we have some groundbreaking gameplay footage to show our fans at E3. Currently, there are three studios working on Need for Speed games, with Black Box and Criterion focusing on action racing experiences, and Slightly Mad Studios working on adrenalin-pumping simulations.
What can we expect from Autolog in Need for Speed The Run?
Autolog is back and better than ever. We’ve found plenty of new ways to encourage friendly – but heated – competition between you and your friends. Autolog is now a staple to the franchise and a feature we’ll continue to grow with each Need for Speed game.
Can you tell me anything about the story?
All we can say at this point about the story is that you’ll be drawn into an illicit, high-stakes race with no speed limits, no allies, and one goal: making it to New York first.
You said this year Need for Speed goes to the next level, what does that mean?
This year, we’re pushing the limits of everything you’ve expected from a Need for Speed game, with a gripping storyline, awe-inspiring visuals, and the most intense racing experience you’ll find anywhere.
How good are the car physics in Need for Speed The Run?
The development team is hard at work to create road-hugging physics that are in line with what you expect from an action racing Need for Speed game.
Why use the Frostbite 2.0 engine?
One of our goals with Need for Speed The Run was to set the bar for visuals higher than any previous Need for Speed, and working with DICE’s revolutionary Frostbite 2.0 engine, we’re able to do that. The visual quality in Need for Speed The Run is unmatched among action racing games.
Three games in one year is a lot, what happened to the once-yearly Need for Speed?
Black Box was the company that put Need for Speed on the map, and has been developing Need for Speed The Run for more than two years already. Even though we’re more than six months away from release, we have some groundbreaking gameplay footage to show our fans at E3. Currently, there are three studios working on Need for Speed games, with Black Box and Criterion focusing on action racing experiences, and Slightly Mad Studios working on adrenalin-pumping simulations.
What can we expect from Autolog in Need for Speed The Run?
Autolog is back and better than ever. We’ve found plenty of new ways to encourage friendly – but heated – competition between you and your friends. Autolog is now a staple to the franchise and a feature we’ll continue to grow with each Need for Speed game.
Can you tell me anything about the story?
All we can say at this point about the story is that you’ll be drawn into an illicit, high-stakes race with no speed limits, no allies, and one goal: making it to New York first.
You said this year Need for Speed goes to the next level, what does that mean?
This year, we’re pushing the limits of everything you’ve expected from a Need for Speed game, with a gripping storyline, awe-inspiring visuals, and the most intense racing experience you’ll find anywhere.
How good are the car physics in Need for Speed The Run?
The development team is hard at work to create road-hugging physics that are in line with what you expect from an action racing Need for Speed game.
Minimum system requirements:
- OS: Windows Vista (Service Pack 2) 32-bit
- Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 3 GHz or equivalent AMD
- RAM: 3 GB
- Hard disk: 18 GB
- Video (AMD): ATI Radeon 4870 with 512MB of video memory or higher-performance version of the
- Graphics Card (NVIDIA): NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT with 512 MB of video memory or higher-performance version of the
- Sound Card: DirectX compatible
- Keyboard
- Device DVD-ROM drive
Recommended system requirements:
- OS: Windows 7 (Service Pack 1) 64-bit
- Processor: Quad
- RAM: 4 GB
- Hard disk: 18 GB
- Video: 1024 MB memory, compatible with DirectX 11 (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 or ATI Radeon 6950)
- Sound Card: DirectX compatible
- Keyboard and Xbox 360 Controller for Windows
- Device DVD-ROM drive
- OS: Windows Vista (Service Pack 2) 32-bit
- Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 3 GHz or equivalent AMD
- RAM: 3 GB
- Hard disk: 18 GB
- Video (AMD): ATI Radeon 4870 with 512MB of video memory or higher-performance version of the
- Graphics Card (NVIDIA): NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT with 512 MB of video memory or higher-performance version of the
- Sound Card: DirectX compatible
- Keyboard
- Device DVD-ROM drive
Recommended system requirements:
- OS: Windows 7 (Service Pack 1) 64-bit
- Processor: Quad
- RAM: 4 GB
- Hard disk: 18 GB
- Video: 1024 MB memory, compatible with DirectX 11 (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 or ATI Radeon 6950)
- Sound Card: DirectX compatible
- Keyboard and Xbox 360 Controller for Windows
- Device DVD-ROM drive
