Need for Speed

You can race fast cars in a game.

You drive on streets or tracks. You try to win the race.

In some games, you must outrun the police. You can also pick your car. You might choose a fast sports car.

You can change how your car looks. You can even fix the engine. This helps you win more races.

Some games let you race with friends. You can race on the internet. It is a lot of fun to play together.

Many people love these racing games. They have sold millions of copies. Do you like to race?

Need for Speed is a famous series of racing games.

The first game came out in 1994. Since then, many people have played them. Over 150 million copies have been sold.

In these games, you control a fast car. Your main goal is to win the race. Some games focus on street racing in big cities. In those games, you might have to outrun the police. Other games use real tracks for racing. You can even play as a police officer in some titles.

You can pick from many types of cars. There are exotic cars like the Lamborghini. There are also muscle cars and tuner cars. You can change your car to make it better. You can upgrade the engine or the gearbox. You can also change how the car looks. In some games, a cool car can even be on a magazine cover. You can race alone or with friends online.

It is a big world of fast cars and big races.

Need for Speed is a famous series of racing video games.

Most of these games focus on illegal street racing. Players must win races while trying to escape from the police. Some games are different from this basic setup. Some focus on legal racing on tracks. Others use kart racing elements or simulation physics. This series is one of the oldest from the company Electronic Arts. It is a very successful franchise with many fans. As of October 2013, it had sold over 150 million copies.

In the games, you control a fast car. Your main goal is to win the race. You can choose between an automatic or manual transmission. In a career mode, you win races to unlock new tracks and cars. Some games let you customize your car's body. You can even change how the car works. You can upgrade parts like the engine or the gearbox. Some games focus on visual tuning. If your car looks great, it might appear on a magazine cover.

The series began a long time ago. It was first made by a studio called Distinctive Software. They were based in Vancouver, Canada. Electronic Arts bought that company in 1991. After the purchase, they formed EA Canada. The very first game, called The Need for Speed, came out in 1994. Many different teams have helped make the games since then. These include EA Black Box, Slightly Mad Studios, and Ghost Games.

There are many types of cars to drive. You can pick exotic cars like the Lamborghini Murciélago. You can also drive muscle cars like the Ford Mustang. Some players prefer tuner cars like the Nissan Skyline. There are even special vehicles like police cars or fire engines.

Racing can happen in many places. Some games use real tracks like the Nürburgring. Other games use fictional cities. These cities have names like Rockport, Palmont City, or Lakeshore City. You can race alone or with friends online.

This series is more than just a video game. It has grown into other types of media too. You can find Need for Speed movies. You can even find Hot Wheels toys based on the cars. The games have changed a lot over the years. Some focus on drifting or drag racing. Others focus on the culture of street racing. Even though the games change, the excitement of speed stays the same.

Need for Speed (NFS) is a massive racing video game franchise.

It is published by Electronic Arts. Most entries in the series are arcade racing games. These games focus on illegal street racing. Players must complete various races while evading police pursuit. Some titles deviate from this core setup. Some are simulation racers focusing on legal circuit racing. Others feature kart racing elements or street racing without police chases. The franchise is one of Electronic Arts' oldest. It is not published under their EA Sports brand. It has become one of the most successful franchises of all time. As of October 2013, it had sold over 150 million copies.

The gameplay follows specific mechanics and rules. A player controls a race car to win races. In tournament or career modes, players win races to unlock new vehicles and tracks. Before a race, players choose a vehicle. They can select an automatic or a manual transmission. Most games include multiplayer modes. Players can race via split screen, LAN, or the Internet. Since Need for Speed: High Stakes, players can customize car bodies. Car tuning has also evolved significantly. Players can adjust mechanical parts like engines or gearboxes. They can also adjust systems like ABS, traction control, or downforce.

The series features distinct types of racing and car categories. Some games focus on drifting and drag racing. In drift races, players earn points based on the length and timing of a drift. In drag races, players must finish first without hitting obstacles. Visual tuning is also a major part of the experience. In Need for Speed Underground 2, car appearance is rated from zero to ten points. High ratings can even put a car on a fictional magazine cover. Vehicles are divided into four main categories. Exotic cars include the Lamborghini Murciélago and the Ford GT. Muscle cars include the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro. Tuner cars include the Nissan Skyline and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Special vehicles include police cars, fire engines, or even garbage trucks.

The history of the series began in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was originally developed by Distinctive Software. Electronic Arts purchased that company in 1991. The company then became EA Canada. They developed the first Need for Speed title in late 1992. The first game was released in 1994. EA Canada developed the series until 2002. Then, EA acquired Black Box Games to continue the franchise. Many different studios have led the series since then. These include EA Black Box, Slightly Mad Studios, and Ghost Games. Criterion Games currently develops the series. They are the developers of the Burnout series.

Development has shifted between many notable teams. Criterion Games took the lead after the success of the 2010 Hot Pursuit title. This game introduced Autolog, a social platform for tracking progress and sharing screenshots. After a period of mixed reviews, Ghost Games became the main studio in 2013. They developed titles like Need for Speed Rivals and Need for Speed Heat. In February 2020, Criterion Games regained oversight of the franchise. Their first release under this oversight was Need for Speed Unbound in 2022. In September 2023, Criterion moved from EA Sports to EA Entertainment. In 2025, development on the next title was placed on hold. This happened as Criterion shifted to support the Battlefield series.

The setting and atmosphere of the games have changed over time. Early games used international settings like Australia, Europe, or Africa. Starting with Need for Speed: Underground, the games moved to fictional metropolitan cities. These cities have various names. Examples include Rockport, Palmont City, and Lakeshore City. Some games use real tracks like the Nürburgring. Others use fictional street circuits in cities like London or Chicago. The tone of the games also varies. Some games feature cars that suffer mechanical or visual damage. In other games, cars cannot be damaged at all. Some games use realistic physics, while others use more forgiving physics.

The franchise has expanded beyond video games into other media. It includes a film adaptation. It also includes licensed Hot Wheels toys. The series remains a significant part of gaming culture. It has moved from MS-DOS and 3DO to modern consoles and mobile devices. A free-to-play mobile version, Need for Speed: No Limits, is still being developed. This shows the lasting reach of the brand across different platforms and industries.