Electronic Arts revs up new Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
E3 2010: EA reimagining the '90s racer for the "connected generation" with new online features, debuting November 16 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, and Wii.
Last year ex-Electronic Arts COO John Pleasants revealed that Criterion Games, famous for its work on the Burnout series, would assume development duties on the Need for Speed series and promised a new NFS title for 2010. Today, on stage at EA's Electronic Entertainment Expo press briefing, that prophecy came true.
Criterion creative director Craig Sullivan announced this afternoon that Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC will ship in North America on November 16. The game will ship in Europe on November 18 and the UK on November 19. The game is said to be inspired by the 1998 racer of the same name, and according to Sullivan, is a "reimagining the franchise for a connected generation." In Hot Pursuit, players will be able to play through the game's entire campaign as a cop or a racer. 
In addition to the familiar series mainstays, Hot Pursuit will introduce the Need for Speed Autolog. This online destination lets players find and face off against each other on the track and compare performance and statistics. A brief demo of the Autolog was shown, where Sullivan could see who was online and what records his friends had amassed.
A title bearing the same name, but developed by Exient Entertainment, will come to the Wii the same day as the others in North America. Electronic Arts did not say if the Wii version will include its HD console cousins' Autolog component.
For more on the series, check out GameSpot's brand new Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit preview straight from E3 2010.
Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
Join the conversation