Need For Speed Unbound Confirmed In Reveal Trailer, Launching In December, Has Anime Elements

After a series of leaks, rumors, and reports, EA has officially unveiled Need for Speed Unbound. As rumored, the game appears to feature anime elements that certainly make it stand out from past entries.

The trailer, featuring A$AP Rocky, provides a first look at the racing game and what it'll offer. The gameplay looks impressive and it certainly appears to be unique with the anime/cartoon elements that accompany the racing. Check it out below.

EA's Criterion studio, known for its work on the Burnout series, is developing Need for Speed Unbound. The game is set to release on December 2, across Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC.

A press release from EA confirmed more details on Need for Speed Unbound. Players will try to win The Grand, which is described as the "ultimate street racing challenge" in the game's world of Lakeshore. In the campaign, players will collect and customize new cars as they make their way to the top.

More specifically, the story kicks off with a robbery at a family auto-shop. This "tears two friends apart" and you, a rookier racer, will set about on a journey to reclaim their stolen car.

"Need for Speed Unbound is all about self-expression, taking risks, and disrupting the status quo by just being you--through your racing style, unique car builds, fashion, music and much more," Criterion's Kieran Crimmins said. "We are inspired to create a truly authentic universe where players see themselves represented in the game. The visual experience of Unbound redefines expectation, with a new signature art-style that brings graffiti to life, intensifies the competition, and creates adrenaline-inducing, high-speed action."

Here is a breakdown of what's in Need for Speed Unbound, as written by EA:

• The World is Each Player's Canvas: Graffiti comes to life in a new art style as players ride through the city equipped with a brand-new toolkit of high-energy visual and sound effects, like Burst Nitrous, which rewards players with style-based boost, reflecting how they drive.
• Run the Streets: The more players race, the more heat they build up. Choose to outdrive or outsmart cops using new escape mechanics to take control of the chase to earn big rewards or even bigger consequences for getting busted.
• Self-Expression and Style: Hundreds of cosmetic items including exclusive licensed gear from some of the world’s pioneering fashion innovators and custom automotive gear companies give players endless options to not only kit out their car but show off their personal style in game.
• Find Freedom in the Flow: Ride to a genre-defying soundtrack of trailblazing artists from the world of hip-hop led by multi-hyphenated artist, entrepreneur, actor and fashion icon A$AP Rocky and his creative agency AWGE, including the world premiere of A$AP Rocky’s brand new track “Sh*ttin’ Me,” also featured in the reveal trailer.
• Takeover Scene featuring A$AP Rocky: A$AP Rocky will appear in-game as the leader of the Takeover Scene, a new replayable precision driving mode that brings together the community to take over parts of the city and celebrate driving with style over pure speed. AWGE also functioned as creative consultants on the game.

Everyone who preorders Need for Speed Unbound by November 29 will get in-game content, including decals, a license plate, banner artwork, and $150,000 worth of in-game currency.

The game costs $70 for its standard edition, while an $80 Unbound Palace edition comes with a series of digital extras--more details will be announced later.

A 10-hour trial for Need for Speed Unbound will be available starting November 29, while EA Play Pro members on PC will have access to the Palace edition starting that day.

Finally, EA said Unbound will expand after launch with "a series of free content updates" that will add more "features, experiences, content drops, and more." Additionally, details on the post-launch strategy will be announced later.

The last game in the franchise was a remaster of Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit in 2020 for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and Xbox One. In addition to the Need for Speed series, EA publishes the F1, Grid, Dirt, and Project Cars franchises via Codemasters.