EA is preparing a remaster of 2010's Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit

Humza

Humza

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Something to look forward to: Hardcore Need for Speed fans probably remember 2010's Hot Pursuit as one of the last great installments in the racing franchise that could still teach the latest entries a thing or two about cop chases. To EA, the decade-old classic now seems ripe for a remaster, which is what it has been teasing players with over the weekend.

Update: Now confirmed, arrives November 6. Check out the reveal trailer.

High-speed, action-packed police chases were once the hallmark of Need for Speed games, with car customization coming in at a close second. Although NFS: Heat and *cough* NFS: Payback tried to recapture some of that magic with modern graphics, cop chases, and ever-so detailed customization, their seemingly uninspired story modes, boring cutscenes, and lackluster open-worlds ultimately couldn't deliver the adrenaline that players had previously experienced from NFS games in the 2000s.

With 2010's Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, Criterion Games found success by combining NFS's high-stakes police chases and licensed cars with Burnout-style hit-and-run crash driving. The thrill of escaping the cops at break-neck speeds was just as exhilarating as taking down suspects with spike strips, jammers, and violent shunts. No unnecessary cut scenes or forced dialogue, just exciting police radio chatter and sirens.

With EA putting Criterion back in charge of the Need for Speed franchise, fans can now look forward to a remaster of the decade-old classic, as teased in a series of cryptic announcements by Need for Speed on Twitter. There's also a countdown timer on EA's official website with a button labeled "Reignite the Pursuit."

The game's box art appears to have leaked for the PS4 and Nintendo Switch, confirming it to be a remaster of 2010's Hot Pursuit, with Criterion and Stellar Entertainment behind its development.

Since Criterion took over Need for Speed just a few months ago, it's highly likely that this effort will be similar to what the studio did for Burnout Paradise Remastered, I.e. higher resolutions, higher frame rates, better textures, and support for more consoles (PS4, Xbox One, and the Switch).

A true, next-gen Need for Speed is currently in development, though a Hot Pursuit remaster should help with the wait

The game could arrive for next-gen consoles, too, though Criterion has much bigger plans for them as teased by the 'work in progress' screenshots at this year's EA Play event. For now, it's a continuation of the publisher's 'if you can't beat them, remaster them' spree, the latest of which is the soon to be revealed Hot Pursuit.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/86974-ea-next-remaster-2010-need-speed-hot-pursuit.html

 
candle_86 said:
When I think of need for speed games that deserve an update hot pursuit 2010 isn't one of them. More deserving are

Hot Pursuit
Underground
Underground 2
Most wanted 2005

I'd even say carbon is more deserving
Click to expand...

Agreed with your list and the order.
 
Hands down Most Wanted 2005 best of the best and should be where the remaster resources go.

Racing in the dark is lame, Day driving way more fun, that game was a big enough world and tons of fun to wreak havoc with the cops all day long. Lots of unique cars too
 
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My best was Porshe Unleashed. The only game so far, not only NFS, where the earned money needed to be spent wisely and a change of breaks, exhaust or springs was felt properly. Not just some stats change. And in the same time it was not a sim but fun to play. Clearly the best for me.

P.S. It was actually part of a plan, at that point in time, where Porshe was almost broke and was about to be closed as brand. One special person joined and made several thing to revive the brand. One was this game as part of popularity. Well, it seems the plan worked.
 
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So they picked one of the easiest to remaster based on it's relatively young age compared to all of the other games that actually deserve a remaster. Sounds like the EA way to me.
 
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Pretty unnecessary remaster, the original release from 2010 still holds up pretty well and still looks pretty good, at least the PC version. My guess is that this remaster is mostly for the console versions, though I'm sure it'll also come to PC eventually.

I'd rather see Criterion bringing us a sequel to NFS: The Run.
Or if you must do remasters, then what are you waiting for to release an HD remastered compilation of the 6th gen Burnout games?

ZackL04 said:
Hands down Most Wanted 2005 best of the best and should be where the remaster resources go.

Racing in the dark is lame, Day driving way more fun, that game was a big enough world and tons of fun to wreak havoc with the cops all day long. Lots of unique cars too
Click to expand...

Most Wanted 2005 isn't exactly day driving though, the world looks more like an eternal late afternoon / early dusk. Not complaining though, I do dig that aesthetic. Feels even a bit dreamlike to me.

0dium said:
My god, here we go. A remaster of a remaster
Click to expand...

How? Hot Pursuit 2010 isn't a remaster. Though I do agree that it's a pretty uncalled for remaster.
 
0dium said:
Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit was released in 1998
Click to expand...

Yes, and...?

Hot Pursuit 2010 is a completely different game. Even calling it a remake wouldn't be accurate. At most it can be defined as a retelling / reinterpretation, like Doom 1993 -> Doom 2016. If they had called it Need for Speed 2010: Hot Pursuit 3 instead, you'd never have thought of it as a remaster or remake.

Maybe you should review your definitions of what a remaster is.
 
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Sad how they can't make a decent game nowadays so they have to remaster old games. While they are remastering, maybe they can learn what made those games great and make some good games.
 
candle_86 said:
When I think of need for speed games that deserve an update hot pursuit 2010 isn't one of them. More deserving are

Hot Pursuit
Underground
Underground 2
Most wanted 2005

I'd even say carbon is more deserving
Click to expand...

Personally, a new NfS game in the vain of "Porsche Unleashed" (aka "Porsche 2000") is past due.

But not limited to just Porsche's. It's still a decent game for the occasional solo race.
 
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