Need for Speed: SHIFT on September grid

By Robert Purchese Published 23 March, 2009

Takes series back to realism roots.

EA plans to release Need for Speed: SHIFT across Europe on 18th September, and in the US on 22nd September.

The date arrives alongside an exclusive trailer that can be downloaded from Xbox Live Marketplace now.

Need For Speed: SHIFT - in development for PS3, Xbox 360, PC and PSP - refocuses the series on realistic racing around real-life race tracks. Developer Slightly Mad Studios of GT Legends and GTR 2 will create all but the PSP version, which will be handled EA's Bright Light team.

Key attractions include a clever physics system that promises to make us feel every bump, plus accurate driver animations and behaviour, which EA hopes will drag us closer to experiencing a real-life cockpit during a race.

The pedigree is there, and the first clutch of screenshots looks very pretty. Check out our Need for Speed: SHIFT hands-on preview for more.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (8) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • metalangel #1 3 years ago

    NFS was never about this sort of racing - it was about road legal sports and exotic cars either doing A to B races on real roads, or doing a track day on a racing circuit.

    This is just EA slapping their brand onto an unrelated game, in the same way V-Rally got 'Need for Speed: V-Rally' as a title in North America.

  • aphexstwin #2 3 years ago

    oooooooommmm. realism you say? real circuits i read? dubious given the past wank-fests of old nfs games but a demo'd be nice ta then we'll see. oh and realism means proper wheel setups please otherwise i'll inform alqaeda of ea's address..

  • secombe #3 3 years ago

    @ aphexstwin

    Would advise that you read the previous info on this game, it's actually an unrelated project from a lot of the old Simbin guys that now has an NFS tag.

  • Freeman01 #4 3 years ago

    I think they should remove the F. But looking at the pic's and the new TOCA / GRID / GT look, it might be good. You never know....
    Edited by 3 at 23/03/09 @ 15:35

  • Spekingur #5 3 years ago

    I want my NFS: Porsche Unleashed type of game again.

  • metalangel #6 3 years ago

    Yeah, or Road Challenge... a police chase somewhere other than Generica, USA? Europe, even? Brilliant!

  • aphexstwin #7 3 years ago

    @ secombe
    true but mud sticks (nfs) and these same guys might have been on that truly awful race pro. so, demo please before i waste another 40 notes

  • bad09 #8 3 years ago

    realistic racing around real-life race tracks? Hmmm, need a demo but with no Forza...actually tempted.

    If it turns out good I only need to hide the shame of buying a game with NFS on it with a disguise!

    / goes to Game in a burberry cap, Classics and a sovereign.