Criterion Games’ new Need for Speed, reportedly called Need for Speed Unbound, has been rumored for quite some time. Some gameplay has leaked showcasing more stylized “anime elements,” and insider Tom Henderson said a reveal is “imminent.” In new report on Insider-Gaming, Henderson reports that EA is conducting playtests for the title from October 13th to 18th.
Invites for the playtest have apparently been sent out with questions on racing titles, particularly the Need for Speed series. While they don’t outright confirm the playtests, sources told Henderson that they’ll be “ramping up” this month. Furthermore, with WRC 23, F1 23, and Project CARS 4 reportedly still early in development, playtests for these don’t seem plausible.
Requirements for the playtest include a Desktop PC or Laptop (no gaming PC required), a webcam, a headset with a microphone, a wired internet connection or stable WiFi (100 Mbit/s), and an Xbox or PlayStation controller. The playtests will allegedly run for six hours each day, with participants receiving their choice of four titles from the publisher’s library.
As for a release date, Henderson believes Unbound will launch on December 2nd for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Stay tuned in the meantime for official details.