Racing fans got some bad news last year when Electronic Arts pushed back the next Need for Speed game so that Criterion could help out DICE with Battlefield 2042.
Fortunately, this is no longer happening. With EA admitting its failures with Battlefield 2042 and a new Need for Speed slated for a Q3 2022 release, fans can finally look forward to what Criterion and Codemasters have up their sleeves.
Now, it appears that an announcement trailer is imminent.
While there’s no grapevine talk that EA will this year’s Need for Speed soon, EA’s Guildford studio provided a glimpse of what the publisher has in store. Specifically, EA is looking for on-site playtesters to give their feedback on June 9 or June 10 for “an unreleased game.”
We're on the lookout for Playtesters for a new on-site Playtest at our EA Guildford studio in the UK!
Play an unreleased game on June 9 or June 10, give your feedback, and help make our games better for everyone! #ElectronicArtsPlaytesting 🏴🎮
SIGN UP: https://t.co/WkDIYtT1fP pic.twitter.com/ChSoe2NcMd
— Electronic Arts Playtesting (@EAPlaytesting) May 31, 2022
The tweet doesn’t outright name Need for Speed, but replies from users suggest that EA is looking for feedback for a racing game. Since F1 22 already came out and Codemasters has its hands full helping out Criterion, Need for Speed is the only logical choice by process of elimination.
Of course, EA is also sitting on at least four announced projects that are due to come out any time between January and April 2023, so we can’t say for sure just yet. But, the most likely conclusion is that EA is playtesting Need for Speed.
Playtesting isn’t uncommon in the gaming industry. Most of the time, developers will hold a playtest before the beta to give them time to address the game’s major flaws before further tweaking and refinement following a beta in the lead-up to the game’s launch. With at least half a year to go before Need for Speed’s expected FYQ3 2022 release date, EA has a lot of time to make sure that the racing sim is a true return to form for the franchise.
In the meantime, you can check out our wishlist for the next Need for Speed game. We’ve also rounded up some of the best racing sims out there on the market to help you scratch that racing itch.
