EA announces Need for Speed: The Run

EA has announced the next entry in its long-running driving series Need for Speed.

Need for Speed: The Run launches on 3DS, PC, PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360 in North America on 15th November, in Europe on 17th November, and in the UK on 18th November.

The focus reverts to the world of underground racing, set against the backdrop of a high-speed race across the US from San Francisco to New York.

Development duties are being taken care of by Black Box, which helmed the franchise from 2002 to 2008, creating seven consecutive yearly updates including NFS Underground and NFS Most Wanted. "EA Black Box will spend more than two years of development time on The Run to make sure this is the most action packed and finest cinematic racing experience in NFS history," EA said.

Need for Speed: The Run takes advantage of DICE's new Frostbite 2.0 engine, used in forthcoming first-person shooter Battlefield 3.

Criterion's social competition service Autolog, a series staple since 2010's superb Hot Pursuit, returns.

EA's first teaser for the game is below, and shows some of the environments on offer. There's a pleasing mix of locations, despite the switch to real-world surroundings after Hot Pursuit's fictional Seacrest County. Dense urban traffic, arid desert plains and icy mountain passes feature, with races apparently split into smaller legs spanning the width of North America.

The game's "Hollywood movie style" story is hinted at. An attractive young woman swerves in a city environment, seemingly pursued by police. There's even a glimpse of cops chasing an escaping figure on foot.

Intercut are shots of a driver waking in an upturned vehicle, suspended in his seat as a train ploughs towards him. Mysterious.

EA promises "immersive storytelling" and "cutting edge performances" depicting "a world with no speed limits, rules or allies".