New Need For Speed Leak: Performance Mods, Storyline, And Always Online

Last week EA finally announced that the new Need For Speed game is coming later this year, and petrolhead gamers the world over skipped about with glee. We picked apart the launch trailer to see what it revealed about the new game, with a range of cars for all tastes, customisation, cop chases, and a California setting just a few of the aspects of the game we could glean from a frantic 30 seconds of action.

Now we know a hell of a lot more, thanks to a leak from the official Xbox website. A Reddit user noticed that the game was mistakenly in the store, along with new information about the game and a release date. Let’s start with that final point; 3 November 2015 is currently the day to mark in your calendar, which makes sense as EA will want to get NFS out just in time for the Christmas rush.

Carve your own unique path, via multiple overlapping stories, gaining reputation on your journey to become the ultimate icon.
Five Ways to Play: Need for Speed returns with 5 unique ways to play, Speed, Style, Build, Crew and Outlaw, enabling you to earn reputation and ultimately win your way.

Information about the storyline hasn’t been officially revealed by EA, however this leak gives an idea of what to expect. As we mentioned with the different types of car in the trailer, Need For Speed will clearly attempt to cater for all tastes. Whether you like to rice your car, build a finely-tuned weapon or just muck about with your mates, you’ll earn ‘reputation’.

Rich Authentic Customization: Build a car that reflects your character through extensive visual and performance customization.

One thing the trailer didn’t make clear was whether modifications were purely visual, or whether you could also tune for performance. It would’ve been slightly ridiculous not to have had performance mods, but this information confirms that you will be able to make your car faster and handle better. This is good.

West Coast Urban Setting: Discover a nocturnal open world of urban car culture you never knew existed. Ventura Bay is your urban playground; from downtown, the harbour and the canyons, the city comes alive while you sleep.

Some not so new information here, as we already knew NFS would take place in the city at night. What’s new is that the game’s location will be called ‘Ventura Bay’ - not a faithful recreation of LA, then, but a city inspired by it. It’s also revealed that there will be ‘out of town’ sections to the city, with canyon roads allowing you more freedom to open the taps on your modified motor.

NFS is officially only one week old, but this isn’t even the first leak it’s suffered. The above screenshot was uploaded to Reddit, showing a GT86/BRZ/FR-S overlooking the rain-soaked streets with ‘Ventura Bay’ in the background. Although the car’s wearing a Rocket Bunny kit, the Liberty Walk decal would hint that the lairy kit maker features in the game.

The only sour note for some gamers comes from the fact that the official Need For Speed Twitter account has revealed that the game will require an Internet connection to play. This isn’t a practical problem for the vast majority of gamers, however it’s a hugely unpopular feature. EA claims it’ll make things better, but for gamers who don’t have an Internet connection it’s a huge problem. It also brings back memories of the SimCity debacle, with servers unable to connect gamers, leaving them unable to even play offline. Fingers crossed EA comes up with alternatives for those affected, though it’s hard to imagine anything will be done…

So that’s all we can reveal for now, however more details will come on 15 June at E3 when EA will show off the first gameplay trailer. If the early build we saw last month is anything to go by, it’s going to blow your minds…