The Need for Speed Franchise Is Dead—Its Tombstone Reads: ‘Here Lies The King of Street Racing Games’

fortressofsolitude.co.za:

Modern gaming is a radically different hobby in comparison to the games we loved two decades ago. The prevalence of “downloadable content” brought a new generation of so-called “games as a service”, which have transformed the creative process as a whole. Perhaps the best example of this is EA’s Need for Speed series – which happens to be nearly unrecognizable these days. If you ask any fan, they’ll most likely tell you that the series peaked in 2004, with the release of Need for Speed Underground 2. But with gaming evolving so dramatically, can EA ever recapture the magic that made it legendary? Sadly, for many, the answer is clear: Need for Speed is dead.

Need for Speed Underground 2 epitomized the rebellious teen spirit of the early 2000s. It resonated with players through a carefree attitude, hip-hop soundtrack, and arcane customization systems that allowed for endless tweaking of import tuner cars. It became a mainstream hit that still maintains a dedicated cult following today due to its anti-authority ethos and nostalgic style.

However, the modern triple-A game industry is dominated by massive budgets, franchises, and safe creative bets. Developing a $60 game now costs $100 million or more, requiring huge publishing investments and return on investment. Original ideas are rare, as most games seek to milk existing IP for continued franchise revenue.

Creativity is stifled by focus on monetization, predatory microtransactions, wide commercial appeal, and maximizing gameplay hours, rather than heart or personality. That’s one of the main reasons why the Need for Speed series has kind of lost its edge. By comparison, take the original Need for Speed: Most Wanted from 2005 and contrast it with its 2012 counterpart. The difference is night and day.

Something similar happened recently with the release of Need for Speed Unbound. Though the title aimed to recapture the rebellious attitude of Underground 2, the truth is that it felt forced, and downright artificial in doing