Need for Speed Rivals races races onto Xbox One, PS4 in 2013

Written by Brandon Hofer on May 29, 2013

NFS Rivals News: Rule the road as either a cop or a racer in the newest iteration of Need for Speed on both current and next gen consoles.

Need for Speed Rivals is driving toward the Xbox One and PS4 this year, announced Electronic Arts. This 2013-bound Need for Speed game is being developed by EA’s newest studio, Ghost Games, who bring new thinking and innovation to the Need for Speed franchise in partnership with the expert racing team at Criterion Games. Built on the Frostbite 3 engine, Need for Speed Rivals captures the adrenaline and intensity of the street’s ultimate rivalry between cops and racers in an open world environment.

In Need for Speed Rivals, gamers play as either a cop or a racer, where each side of the law has its own set of high stakes challenges, rewards and consequences. As a racer, the goal is to become infamous for taking risks behind the wheel and capturing your most intense escapes on video for the world to see. The more cops players evade, the more Speed Points they collect, enabling them to unlock new cars and items. Keep raising the stakes race after race to become an ever-more valuable target to the cops - but risk losing it all if busted. As a cop, players work together as part of a team in pursuit of racers, earning prominence and rising in the ranks of the Police Force with every bust. Achieving higher ranks unlocks new police only cars and more powerful pursuit tech.

Ghost Games also announced today the long-awaited return of Ferrari to the Need for Speed franchise. For the first time in seven years, gamers can get behind the wheel of some of the most luxurious, desirable automobiles on the planet, including the F12berlinetta. Spokesperson Stefano Saporetti, Head of Brand Operations in Ferrari added, “We are back in the Need for Speed franchise, starting with Need for Speed Rivals, as we want the fans of this world famous and award winning racing game saga to be able again to feel the excitement of the Ferrari Brand and cars.”

At the heart of Need for Speed Rivals is AllDrive, a new online feature that allows gamers to seamlessly transition from playing alone, to playing with friends, eliminating the line between single player and multiplayer. Players will have to keep one eye on their rearview mirror as friends will be able to enter and exit races on-the-fly, creating a world where no two events will ever be the same.

“The Need for Speed franchise has been an industry leader bringing social competition to the forefront in games,” said Marcus Nilsson, Executive Producer, Ghost Games. “For the first time, players will have the freedom to seamlessly go from single player to co-op multiplayer. In Need for Speed Rivals we are creating one game experience with one progression, where the freedom to play with friends is more fluid and accessible than ever before.”

Some of the features that will be found in Need for Speed Rivals includes:

Next-Gen Racing - Redview County is brought to life with stunning, next-generation detail and weather effects that force drivers to master the elements, as well as the competition.

Need for Speed Network powered by Autolog - Gamers can compare stats and challenge their friends anytime, anywhere and then easily share their accomplishments with both friends and rivals.

Personalization - Drivers customize their ride with fresh paint jobs, custom license plates, liveries, decals, rims, and performance upgrades

Pursuit and Evasion Tech - Street racing explodes with 11 upgradeable gadgets including turbo boosts, jammers and EMPs for racers, and shockwaves, roadblocks and helicopters for cops.

Gamers who pre-order Need for Speed Rivals at participating retailers will receive the Need for Speed Rivals Ultimate Cop Pack at no additional cost. This pack offers exclusive access to a powerful collection of items including the Nissan GT-R Black Edition cop car, advanced pursuit technology, and a custom livery.

Need for Speed Rivals will be available on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 later this year. It will arrive on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC on November 19, 2013. Will you get Need for Speed Rivals on Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4 or PC?