EA signs multi-year agreement with Ken Block for Need for Speed franchise

Written by Brandon Hofer on October 25, 2013

Need for Speed News: EA reveals that Ken Block is going to be the Racing Advisor for the Need for Speed franchise going forward.

Need for Speed Rivals is arriving on November 19 but EA is already talking about the future of the franchise. EA has revealed a multi-year partnership with Ken Block for the Need for Speed franchise. Block will become Racing Advisor for the franchise, lending his unique insights into what it takes to push the action and adrenaline of racing to new limits to help keep Need for Speed atop the videogame racing world for years to come. The Need for Speed franchise is also sponsoring Block and his Ford Fiesta ST 2013 racing car and will be working with him on the release of Gymkhana SIX, the next installment of the award winning viral video franchise, via the Need for Speed website and Youtube channel.

For those who might not know who Ken Block is, ESPN has recognized Block as one of the most influential action sports athletes in the world. When his rally racing career began in 2005 he quickly earned Rookie of the Year in the Rally America Championship and has gone on to nineteen overall wins and five X-Games medals. In addition to his performance in competition, Block has reached global fame for his skill and car control and pushed the sport of rally cross the line into the mainstream through his wildly successful Gymkhana video series. To date, the first five videos have garnered more than 250 million views. The next video in this series, Gymkhana SIX, will be released in its entirety November 11 and will once again raise the bar for what can be done behind-the-wheel of a car.

“Partnering with EA and Need for Speed is a natural fit for our team. I feel like we both have the same goal in mind – to let people live out a fantasy of really pushing the limits of what you can do in the driver’s seat,” said Ken Block. “It’s that special mix of fast-pace, raw speed and over-the-top fun, which has made the Gymkhana series a success, and something the Need for Speed games capture really well. We’re both excited to show you how we’re taking things to a new level in Gymkhana SIX in just a few weeks.”

Marcus Nilsson, Executive Producer of Need for Speed Rivals added, “I couldn’t think of a more exciting and more appropriate partner to have for Need for Speed. Ken’s a true master of drifting, handling, and really turning the streets into a playground for cars. We were already huge fans of his at Ghost, and we know he will be a great asset in helping us provide gamers the most adrenaline-filled and fun racing experience in the industry as we move forward.”

Need for Speed Rivals will be available on November 19 in North America and on November 22 in Europe for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC via Origin. Need for Speed Rivals will be available for Xbox One and the PS4 on November 22. It will also be available on November 22 in Europe for the Xbox One and on November 29 in Europe for the PS4. Do you plan on picking it up?