Released on October 6, the trailer for EA’sNeed for Speed Unboundrevealed the upcoming title to boast a flashy, distinctly stylized comic book aesthetic that’s never been seen before in the series. Character models appear to be cel-shaded, vehicles are colored flagrantly, covered with decals, and furtherUnbound’s street racing-centric art style, and gameplay is bolstered by a glitzy sheen brought on by a suite of optional effects which appear to trigger during certain actions.A thirty-second trailer uploaded to theNeed for SpeedTwitter account on October 11 highlighted some of the unique visual elements that players will be able to customize. From the color of the trail of smoke left behind after drifting around a tight turn to the pop art effects that emphasize a boost or a jump,Need for Speed Unboundappears to include more than a few stylistic flourishes that players will be able to tailor to their personal preferences.RELATED:Need For Speed Unbound Full Car List Has Some Notable OmissionsThat said, in a follow-up tweet, it was confirmed thatNeed for Speed Unbound’s flashy extras are completely optional and can be turned off should the player choose to pursue a more grounded design approach. While no specifics were given, it seems as if players will be able to pick and choose which vehicle elements they would like to embellish and which they would prefer to keep stock. This should be a positive sign for fans who were concerned overNeed for Speed Unbound’s apparent style-over-substance approach, though neon hues and abstracted aesthetics are likely to remain prevalent throughout the game world.
Following the release ofNeed for Speed Heatin 2019, EA’s once-annual racing series went on a short hiatus that’s due to end onceNeed for Speed Unbounddebuts in early December. TheNeed for Speed Unbounddebut trailerseems to have earned a fairly positive reception, though some fans were eager to voice their concerns over the game’s longevity. Development on the most current entry in theNeed for Speedfranchise was halted roughly a year after launch, and many mourned the wasted potential of the title.
Electronic Arts’ penchant for player-unfriendly in-game monetization schemes could also be cause for alarm; 2017’sNeed for Speed Paybackwas hobbled by unwanted lootbox mechanics, and pushback was so immense—owing partially to similar issues inStar Wars: Battlefront 2—that the developer was forced to make changes. Things have changed significantly since then, but a heavy emphasis on style and aesthetics could translate to a post-release push for microtransactions and battle pass buy-ins.
Need for Speed Unboundis scheduled to release on December 2 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
