Need For Speed: World Surpasses 3 Million Users

Electronic Arts has announced that Need for Speed: World, the free-to-play online edition of its long-running action racing franchise, has reached more than three million registered users since launching in July. Developed by EA Black Box and EA Singapore, the client-based Windows PC MMO allows players to race cars against others, level up, customize vehicles, and unlock driver skills. As with most recent Need for Speed releases, the game centers around illegal street racing with urban settings and police chases. The game initially required users to purchase a $20 starter pack to play without content restrictions or a 10-level cap, but EA made Need for Speed: World completely free to play in September, as the online title reached one million users, after receiving feedback from fans requesting the change. Though Need for Speed: World does not require a paid monthly subscription or an initial fee, users can purchase virtual currency called SpeedBoost, which they can then spend on new virtual cars, vehicle rentals, power-ups, amplifiers (boosting the amount of experience and in-game cash received after each race), and more. With this user milestone, EA Black Box released an update adding a dynamic day/night cycle and a vehicle performance customization tuning system; the latter enables players to upgrade their cars with a selection of auto parts (e.g. suspension systems, tuned engines). The studio also notes that in addition to its English and German versions, Need for Speed: World has now been localized for France, Russia, Spain, and Poland.