The Need for Speed franchise has a long and storied history, beginning in 1994 with the simply titled Need for Speed and continuing to this day. It has become one of the best-known racing game franchises in the world, and has become intertwined with car culture itself. Through the years, much has stayed the same – but much has changed too. As the Need for Speed team development celebrates the series’ thirtieth anniversary, they reflect on changes in their approach to vehicle design, their foremost concerns when creating a new game, and more.
Game Rant attended a press event celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of Need for Speed. Senior vehicle artist Frankie Yip reminisced about past ups and downs, including the addition of an authentic race car, the shift to focusing heavily on customization, and more. Producer Patrick Honnoraty felt that what has changed the most over the years is how the fans perceive the franchise, and that, now that Need for Speed has become so established, they need to consider fan responses and desires more closely with each installment.
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Need for Speed’s Vehicle Development Has Become Much More Complex
Frankie Yip has been working on the Need for Speed series for twenty years, and to him, the biggest change is how much more complex it has become to design vehicles for each Need for Speed game. As technology advances, the team has had to put in more work to maintain authenticity and fidelity for each vehicle in the game. Now, with smart cars and other high-tech vehicles, there are “thousands of part combinations” that must be considered when designing a single vehicle.
“The series is at its worst when customization is not a priority,” added vehicle designer Bryn Alban. The developers have to walk a fine line between designing cars that are authentic to their real world counterparts and also allowing players to design and customize the car of their dreams. The shift towards a more anime-inspired art style for 2022’s Need for Speed Unbound was also mentioned as a difficult change that the team had to adapt to in recent years.
Fans’ Expectations For The Need for Speed Series Have Increased
Patrick Honnoraty explained that, over the years, fans have come to expect more and more out of Need for Speed. More variations of cars, more unique twists on gameplay like the illicit drag racing in Need for Speed Underground, more customization options – more of everything. He described it both as satisfying, knowing the series has such devoted fans, and as a source of intense pressure on the development team:
“The biggest challenge is the age of the franchise. It’s been so many different things and appeals to so many different people. Even today, people are still debating about the best game in the series. It means so many things to so many people.”
Designer and director Justin Wiebe agreed with Honnoraty, pointing out that many fans of the Need for Speed franchise are also hugely involved in car culture. Because of this, Wiebe explained, Need for Speed needs to follow the trends and change its focus depending on what is currently popular among car enthusiasts.
Over the years, focus has shifted from flashy muscle cars to self-repaired former beaters to “secret, less showy” cars that hide how high-tech and powerful they truly are. Now, of course, trends include smart cars, energy-efficient hybrids, and large, highly customizable trucks. These changes are reflected with each Need for Speed game that releases, allowing the franchise to grow and evolve while still maintaining all the elements that fans love about it.
Need for Speed
Need for Speed is a long-running arcade racing franchise that began in 1994. Originally developed by EA Canada, the series has shifted across many developers over the years but has maintained its commitment to high-octane racing action. Nowadays, players can race against A.I. or other players online and locally while attempting to outrun the police in some versions.