Need for Speed Unbound
Street racing meets graffiti art in Lakeshore City.
Need for Speed Unbound is a 2022 racing video game developed by Criterion Games and published by Electronic Arts. It is the twenty-fifth installment in the Need for Speed series and commemorates the series' 30th anniversary. The game features an art style that blends cel-shading and graffiti with realistic visuals, set in the fictional Lakeshore City inspired by Chicago.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Criterion Games
- Publisher
- Electronic Arts
- Director
- Kieran Crimmins
- Producer
- Danny Isaac
- Designer
- Bill Lane
- Programmer
- Alex Bailey, Richard Geldard
- Artist
- Darren White
- Writer
- Kristen McGorry
Facts from the source article.
Plot
In Lakeshore City, the player and their friend Jasmine (Yaz) refurbish a junker car at Rydell's Rydes, a garage owned by their mentor Rydell. After winning street races, Yaz argues with Rydell over a car and leaves to take jobs delivering vehicles, challenging the police under Mayor Morgan Stevenson. One night, the player finds Rydell's Rydes raided and all cars stolen; Rydell accuses Yaz, who drives off. Two years later, street racing has declined, and the player drives people for money, including Tess. At a race meet-up, the player encounters Yaz, now part of the crew that stole the cars and responsible for street racing's resurgence. Yaz announces The Grand, a high-stakes race. Tess offers to bankroll the garage and guide the player in qualifying for The Grand and seeking revenge against Yaz, in exchange for betting profits. The player performs suspicious deliveries for Tess without questioning them due to the money.
Development and release
Development of future Need for Speed games returned to Criterion Games from Ghost Games in February 2020. Originally scheduled for late 2021, the game was pushed to late 2022 after the team assisted with Battlefield 2042. In May 2022, EA merged Codemasters Cheshire into Criterion Games. The game's name was accidentally revealed early on EA's website, and promotional images appeared on Japanese retailer Neowing's site. Unbound was formally revealed on October 6, 2022, with a trailer featuring music by A$AP Rocky and AWGE. EA promised free post-launch updates. A special Palace Edition, in collaboration with UK streetwear brand Palace, included branded cars and clothing. Early access for Palace Edition began November 29, 2022, with EA Play members receiving a ten-hour trial. The game released on December 2, 2022. Nine content updates, called volumes, were released; the final, Volume 9: Lockdown, added drivable motorbikes on November 25, 2024. In February 2025, Criterion's Need for Speed team joined development on the next Battlefield game, ending further Unbound content. The game became available on Amazon Luna on June 12, 2025.
Reception
Need for Speed Unbound received generally favorable reviews for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions on Metacritic, while the PC version received mixed or average reviews. The game was nominated for Racing Game of the Year at the 26th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards. It was the 17th-best-selling retail game in the United Kingdom in its release week, with sales down 64% compared to Need for Speed Heat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What platforms is Need for Speed Unbound available on?
Need for Speed Unbound was released for PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S and Amazon Luna.
Who directed Need for Speed Unbound?
Need for Speed Unbound was directed by Kieran Crimmins.
Who designed Need for Speed Unbound?
Need for Speed Unbound was designed by Bill Lane.
Who composed the music for Need for Speed Unbound?
The music for Need for Speed Unbound was composed by Brodinski.
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