It might be over for Need for Speed...

[@artoodiitoo]

need for need for speed

[@BlackPanthaa]

💀🙃

[@afzuru8283]

​@@BlackPanthaayou are so 😮

[@drifzyy67]

Need

[@dragonildreamy161]

@@drifzyy67 speed

[@bartfratze9529]

so the remake for most wanted in 2024 was fake huh ?

[@staynlessste]

For anyone saying EA doesn't listen to their community, they absolutely do listen... then they go ahead and do the exact opposite of what everyone wants

[@DJGaming_1]

😂😂

[@ahmedgamer_5535]

I was about to roast the shit out of this guy after reading to the three dots, but then I kept reading and this guy is spiting out fax 😂😂😂

[@00DH]

Had me in the 1st half, ngl

[@sphemaseko8035]

Facts.

[@JuicedPelican]

Exactly man like i think i speak for everyone that loves nfs, that we all would love a PROPPER remake of NFSU2, MW05 or Carrbon

[@CheslynEvo5]

Nothing feels like NFS and I'm hoping it doesn't die I've been apart of this family since NFS Underground and this breaks my heart

[@rickyrosay33977]

I grew up with the NFS series but it's lately been hard to be a fan I haven't played unbound in a while I solely now play forza horizon/motorsport and the crew motorfest

[@worldwar1424]

@@rickyrosay33977same here but not just those 3, I be playing any other car game ☠️

[@Darealblase0]

Cap I got motor fest feeling like nfs now

[@xlunxcyx8172]

My dad had gotten out of jail when I was like 6 or 7 and he'd be around at my grandparents when I was there they had a ps3 my papaws. My dad no lifed that shit and I would just watch and be so fascinated by the cars and the graphics. My papaw actually played the campaign I remember the magazines when u win and all that. My grandma had a neon at the time and his car in the campaign was the neon. Thinking about it they did signs a for a living and had liverys on the actual car I'm pretty sure they made the same livery from the game. The game was Underground. I fell in love and had a car from the game around me I thought that shit was so cool. Sadly my dad was a piece of shit junkie at the time and my papaw was too busy to play so I was the only one that stayed heavily into nfs. I love this series I can't lose it.

[@VanSanProductions]

Unbound is much better than what the Horizon series has become.@@rickyrosay33977

[@M0YO]

3:45 there’s just something about nfs that scratches that itch of what it *feels* like when you’re street racing. not the car and handling, but the emotions you experience. the sense of risk, aesthetics, and thrill.

[@Rah215]

Yeah I like my assetto cords and find more arcade racers boring but nfs has a place in my heart

[@SmolSmonk]

I want to see a new physics, camera and lighting model for the franchise that doesn’t make all the cars feel like a rolling refrigerator. We’ve had the same handling and feel for 8 years now with minor tweaks to handling and Tyler Morgan. It’s due for a refresh.

[@gustavogoesgomes1863]

I always have been crazy for arcade racing games, until I got a wheel. I know it's not easy, but it is very doable to make a game with sim physics that is ok to drive with keyboard and controller. I mean, I tested it. tried the nfs u2 map, with the nfs chase cam mod, playing on keyboard with assists on. and being completely honest, not only it felt visually phenomenal, the handling was miles better for me than arcade/simcade handling. if those games had simulator level handling I would immediately want to play them. I sorely miss the setting, the open world and customization of arcade games, but I just can't stand handling in these games

[@zt.cedric]

As a veteran Battlefield and Need for Speed fan, this shift to Criterion Games worries me for both franchisees.

[@zt.cedric]

also, peak Battlefield is in fact better than CoD just trust me on this take a look at Battlebit, we had peak Battlefield with BF3 and BF4 they already have the winning formula but are too incompetent to copy-paste it, putting more studios on it won't change a thing it will only screw things more.
Here's how it goes one studio hits STRG the other hits C to copy then another get's order from EA to hit V to paste while the fourth studio misses to hit STRG.

[@thebigsam]

@@zt.cedric Battlebit is not anywhere near being a BF game. It's a mix of tacsim mechanics, way too much people and shitty bland maps

[@zt.cedric]

@@thebigsam I agree but it does have core battlefield principles embedded in the gameplay and does it well what Battlebit shows and reveals by players count is that people are in fact thirsty for a Battlefield with solid foundation and that there is potential to dethrone Call of Duty.

[@xzibit442]

you are completely right

[@ruhidmohamad]

​@@zt.cedricits playercount went down the toilet lol, BattleBit was a fad. Only DICE is capable of making a real Battlefield game, question is can they actually do it lol

[@Thatotherschmuck]

I am getting a massive flashback to when you shipped a copy of Need for Speed Most Wanted 2012 to EA Studios and told them to make a better game, even then you were the one who wanted Need for Speed to get back to its roots more than anyone in 2012. when 2015 came out you were the one on the ground testing playing it and getting all the inside scopes for the game before the official news even came out. You were the voice to all need for speed players back in the day and we need you now and ever for the next game.

[@benmathew4951]

I don't normally comment so ig this gonna be long.
Ive been watching Blackpanthaa and following the ghost era of nfs since childhood. I know there's better racing games and better games in general but these have always been special for me. Idk if anyone who worked on these is gonna see this but, thanks for making these games. They really cultivated a love for automobiles in me and are a huge part of what made me pursue working on cars as a profession and get through all the struggles of trying to get there. Currently I'm in college learning mechanical engineering UG. I hope the hate of specific studio nfs games can go away and we can just all accept that each studio tried and brought something good.
So thanks a bunch to anyone who's worked on an nfs game.
Thanks pants for making these fire videos for me when noone I know really cares about nfs, especially post blackbox.
And to EA.. I got nothing to say to you

[@GHOST01LE]

Blackbox needs to form their own company so they can create their own games

[@dragonildreamy161]

That would be nice, but they still need support

[@irishurbadlmao]

that's not how it works, studios like black box were essentially contractors paid by publishers. they couldn't regroup and pay out of their own pocket. to make games, you need publishers, investors, creative direction, marketing, loads of things you wouldn't even think were necessary. plus they are all spread out in other studios, some went to playground games some went with ghost to sweden, some went to ivory tower...you get what i'm saying i hope

[@ghostchillsx2468]

They did but got shutdown in 2013 as a rebrand

[@yk100]

​@@dragonildreamy161I mean who gives a shit if the graphics look like Minecraft they have all the time in the world to make a very good story on their own terms

[@BlackPanthaa]

Just impossible, they're all over the place by now. The best hope we have is that they allow criterion to make NFS after working on BF

[@maxbrilly8722]

EA always ruins everything 😭

[@empebe]

Fact

[@Billy.Butcher]

First time?

[@craigpatterson2592]

They have had that reputation for a long time now. I'm hoping for the small chance that the company will experience a huge positive transformation in everything they do (which includes making better decisions). I know that this is a dream but it is something that I would like to see.

[@BesstPhantom]

Let’s make sure that Ivory Tower stays far away from EA

[@maxbrilly8722]

@@BesstPhantom they’re Ubisoft so I think they’ll be fine

[@tragon1096]

So glad we have someone like blackpanthaa standing up for the nfs community💯💯

[@mikeyshy8522]

He's the reason we wanna drift like a pantha

[@fikridroid]

I hope Codemasters will take care of this franchise, or maybe if Rockstar were smart enough they'll see this as the opportunity to revive Midnight Club

[@CirnoVEVO_9]

The NFS community will never catch a break. 😮‍💨

[@TweetieAshton]

We catch more than, madden community

[@lumi55315]

​@@TweetieAshtonme playing both nfs and madden. Couldn't agree with you more there

[@user-lq6vm8yt4h]

​@@lumi55315how is your life my son do you need help of a elder who played frustrating 80's and 90's games and actually survived without going blind

[@lumi55315]

@user-lq6vm8yt4h yeah, I've played some of those games 😂 they seem like they could have been really fun back then, but trying to play them now that I've played other games is ridiculously hard

[@user-lq6vm8yt4h]

@@lumi55315 the days that i have spend on commander keen 1to 8 is unbelieveble its shit they should bring out on your phone but they never do

[@LASAGNA_LARRY]

NFS simply has always had the best sense of speed when driving. I could be driving at 100 mph in any other game (FH5, Crew, etc.) and not even realize it. NFS has fun arcade driving and that is what is most important!

[@XxM3TALGUMxX]

Pro street always felt dangerous to drive I absolutely loved it

[@marcusjohnson7441]

The feel of speed doesn't matter if the cars drive like trash....

[@panagiotist47]

​@@XxM3TALGUMxX loved that sense it had.

[@user-lq6vm8yt4h]

It only feels good in a straight line😂

[@mac1bc]

I enjoyed it in Midnight Club, but it's been 15 years since we've had the last one 😢

[@Silvren]

3:25 Agree with you. There's something about NFS that hits differently. They actually have a sense of speed, and the cars feel much grippier. Albeit it's because it's supposed to be more arcadey, but that's what I enjoy about it the most.

[@SZRTIce]

Hopefully, they bring you on as a co-director of sorts. Most passionate NFS RUclipsr/Fan... Hands down.

[@cruiseyburr]

Yeah, to be completely honest with you, I've been really wanting a Need for Speed game that's extra gritty. It's a lot more festival based and car based now: and none of that even matters. I don't CARE about how many cars there are, I just want an experience that can match up to the classic Need for Speed titles like Most Wanted or Underground, with the threats of cops, and a big open world. They did great with Need for Speed 2015, that was a wonderful revival, and a great revision to what I would love to see in the series. I pray that we get another one at least similar to it.😭
EDIT: I did not mean that NFS itself is becoming more festival based, I mean more racing games that are coming out!! My bad!!
😅

[@redoku1]

^^^^Facts

[@RAAFLightning1]

heat was fairly gritty I guess, but we still need to move away from festival style like you said

[@lostsamy6697]

Open world I’m a need for speed game ? Go play elden rings

[@YRS_Only]

​@@lostsamy6697 r/woosh

[@JimboCruntz]

In my opinion they just need to add less super cars and add more tuners.
Why would I want to paint and decorate a Ferrari or Lamborghini when they’re already great looking cars?
I want to mod an old Nissan or Toyota not a Porsche 😂.

[@IdkGuide]

I hope nfs Will not be over

[@GodwinSunday1516]

Me too

[@willis_nfs]

Me as well. My fav games were heat and payback ❤

[@domino_v101ator]

Me also. My favourite car racing series

[@GodwinSunday1516]

@@domino_v101ator 👍🏾

[@dyaanahmad5079]

lets pray

[@MrNFKing]

1. A consistent, realistic and mature storyline that’s wrapped around a specific (probably illegal) motoring culture -maybe add bikes - and a solid beginning to end/TBC that segues into free roaming activities that are captured from the story.
2. Vehicle inventory and customisation: just like Motorfest, they nailed it.
3. Graphics and audio realism: exhaust flames need to look like exhaust flames, not fire crackers.
4. Updates, updates, updates! From new cars to new activities to storyline continuations.
5. Keep the multiplayer system the same, maybe go on missions together, it’s pretty decent right now.
NFS is currently stuck on old ways and tight budgets. They need to give us a banger that shows that they put a lot of work in it across all angles. Don’t expect it to be perfect but it definitely needs to be close.

[@Chrisdash392]

Storyline continuation is something I been wanting/wishing nfs would do for the longest. I feel like they really coulda tied heat and payback together, maybe following what ever arkwright is.

[@redcobra6016]

They are also stuck on the tight deadlines which is a big reason to why the games don’t seem to improve in quality and always some problems. Other franchises suffer from similar issues like COD, Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, etc.
And as for the story, I’m tired of playing as a generic nameless character with no backstory, I just want to go back to a focused protagonist like the previous games.

[@Chrisdash392]

@@redcobra6016 I understand the tight deadlines. But if that’s the case then we really need to consider one of 2 things. Which is either do what rockstar did, which is keep building/updating the online world while working on the next game. ( gta has pissed a lot of people off too but gta 6 will do crazy numbers) or do what TDU:Solar Crown is doing. Which is pretty much what Rockstar has done but without being a super big studio

[@redcobra6016]

@@Chrisdash392 I would like it if they update the story too.
EA just needs to give their devs more time from now on. For NFS games, they could start off by giving the devs atleast 3 years of development time(and allow them to delay the games if they need more time to iron certain things out), and they can increase that time with each game.
I don’t want them to do the worst things that Rockstar has been doing lately with GTA and their games as a whole.

[@Chrisdash392]

@@redcobra6016 Even though rockstar has been on a decline lately. The release of gta 6 and possibly midnight club 5 (rumored) will make all the woes go away

[@yasinbr4331]

The only reason im a car guy and a Metalhead rn is because of nfs 2005 and it breaks my heart to see the downfall of such a beautiful franchise

[@kaivos]

What if Forza Brought Need for speed?
Cross: Welcome to the horizon festival! We are gonna key your cars!

[@Vangrid]

I remember when ea actually made good games

[@Xerkhal]

15 years ago.

[@NXT_LVL]

Yep, almost 20 years ago. MW05 and before... and that time Maxis existed.

[@homerdohyt]

I'd say everything after nfs mw 2012 everything went downhill

[@CropDudia480p]

ea never made good games. EA buys good developers, the developers make the good games, and then EA kills them.

[@venomreaper3019]

​@@homerdohytnot going to lie need for speed heat wasn't a bad game

[@Silenced01]

Need for speed went from a racing game series that would require some skills to play, that would come out complete with some entries being open world and and the 05 most wanted arguably being the best entry in the entire series, to a discount version of burnout takedown.

[@nicholascramer9228]

Remember the last time Ea had a Nfs studio also make Battlefield... We got Undercover but Blackbox was also working of skate to

[@nhkbeast3884]

Nfs unbound had really good mechanics, which made it very refreshing, but the online mode was a failure from the start, the biggest mistake I guess was separate progression for the story and Lakeshore online, unlock everything you already spent hours to unlock, that was a barrier to entry. And any barrier to entry is detrimental to a game's success.

[@redhunnid5142]

I don’t know about really good mechanics I’ll say mechanics that fixed were fixed from NFS Heat but Unbound has its own mechanic problems

[@zekeburgueno]

Completely agreed.

[@parsleybigherbs]

Agreed. There’s no way I’m completing 25 playlists in a certain class for a car I don’t want, but also needing to do 25 playlists in the same class with a different car. The unlocking system was completely scuffed from the get-go

[@nekotranslates]

There was a handful of vehicles you unlocked in single player that you unlocked online at same time - but other than those, you had nothing online unless you progressed the story first

[@sambeezy007]

Unbound has a ton of issues for me:
- Blue nitrous is useless.
- Drift and hit the curb and you'll lose Traction and possibly crash
- Buy-ins
- small Payouts
- Rubberbanding ai
- small library of races
- small customization library for classic muscle cars. The Crew 2 did it better

[@chisha8415]

Need for Speed is one of the most disrespected IPs imo. The fact that Heat had no updates was criminal

[@BlackPanthaa]

So insane EA did that

[@WASTOIDSUPREME]

If heat's story was at least twice as long and had as much updates as unbound got, it'd be perfect. I wouldn't have even played unbound when it came out because heat would already be better.

[@lonestar4233]

Heat felt like a loveletter to the Blackbox era NFS. Unbound felt like a cashgrab. Not to say the latter was a bad game, but the fact that it came out of nowhere speaks volumes.

[@Mr_Zoomy]

It's rare nowadays that games make you feel a certain way. Heat did that to me it arrived at a very tough time for me and pulled me through, now we've lost criterion who made a decent successor to that game. If I loose NFS I think I'd feel like most and have part of me ripped away

[@Rose333X]

just play some other game idk man it ain that deep

[@Danielxperez14]

@@Rose333XFr 🤣

[@HyperbolicMind]

Grow some balls

[@jjw4646]

So you only play NFS? You’ve gotta have that variety. Sticking to one game is so boring

[@jout738]

The succesor was bit childish with the car smoke and voicelines they have in game, so thats why I dont mind that criteon is gone, because they made nfs bit childish with their storyline. Heat on other hand dosent have storyline to ruin the game, but it seems to consentrate on customizing too much as free game where you can drive everywhere.

[@CropDudia480p]

not enough people realize just how important Theo is to this franchise in the modern day and all the discussion and the community that revolves around it. I seriously think this serious would be in a different place today if it wasn't for him and the community he helped cultivate

[@BlackPanthaa]

Really appreciate that, but I think the community in general is so strong (even in those random NFSUG2 BETTER comments)
I feel it's pretty rare for masses of people to hold onto something like that with gaming... they have a chance to better that

[@rickhensley5734]

@@BlackPanthaayou’re absolutely correct. Nothing has that NFS feel. I’m 50 and have played NFS since its initial couple releases. Hot pursuit was an early favorite. I’m an Underground 2 fanboy but a fan of the series as a whole. The void can’t be filled by it’s potential loss by any other title. Great content as always. Thanks for being genuine and real.

[@CropDudia480p]

@@BlackPanthaa Need for speeds community is very special. its a unique game that hasn't really ever been COMPLETELY replicated, there really is nothing exactly like NFS and i think thats why the community is so dedicated and strong

[@TheAnimationEz]

its sad to see the state of this series , NFS will be 30 years old , its a sad way to see it go like this

[@sambeezy007]

Yep. I'm 1 year older than the franchise (NFS 1994 me 1993). My first was Underground. EA messed up when they shut down BlackBox and Ghost. Criterion messed up NFS. Now it sounds like they messed up Battlefield

[@Pavk-9918]

I want to say that the only festival/meet type of racing gaming to play and never be tired of is Prostreet. It really feels like its all about the cars on the track and the party is just to keep the masses entertained between races. The commentary is always about the behind the scenes, the people looking around at the cars competing, arguing about cars and drivers. It breathes racing from the very start with your beat up shotbox 240sx. I dont remember any other game giving you a starter car that looks like it escaped from the basement of 17yo that thinks he is Keichi Tsuchiya.

[@shariqhasan6220]

Yeah I agree I really want a sequel to that game. Maybe a cool concept for the sequel, you play as Ryo Watanabe and try to win the Street King title from Ryan Cooper.

[@nicktrills]

I wish we get a midnight club again that’d be a dream

[@josewtfbruh.]

Midnight club wasn't made by EA 😂

[@mistahj4144]

@@josewtfbruh.yea but still

[@sambeezy007]

​@@josewtfbruh.Pretty sure we all know that. They were probably just saying in general racing game wise. Shoot a good Test Drive remake from 2001 would be great. Those days...

[@arashikazeshiba580]

A midnight club with nfs customization options. Mint

[@nicktrills]

obviously not but look what ea has done with nfs midnight club was goated all through its life cycle@@josewtfbruh.

[@YahGuhKing]

I just recently went back to NFS Most Wanted and the passion behind that game even thru the corny cutscenes you had a rap sheet, they kept track of stats I wish I saw in unbound today, the bounties, the blacklist made it have purpose. Unbound is like lets get the most money and follows

[@sambeezy007]

Only thing that prevents MW 05, Carbon and Underground from being 10/10 games are the rubberbanding for me.

[@YahGuhKing]

@@sambeezy007 solid point

[@sambeezy007]

@@YahGuhKing Other than that, great games.

[@iDriveDaily]

It all comes down to sales, Battlefield made 4.2M sales during launch week, NFS has made between 4M-5M total. Unbound currently has ~1,700 active users at a single time, Battlefield has ~8,000. 100k played Battlefield at a single time on launch week, 10k played NFS. EA is simply putting resources on what makes them money.

[@lordfarquaad5990]

3:49 one word nostalgia. (The franchise has been dead since mid 2000s)

[@SupergirlJLM]

They need to bring back the ability to also play as police like in rivals and back in one of the older games

[@lumi55315]

Hot pursuit 2010

[@devilmc1699]

Bring NFS 2015 vibes back (with those cutscenes )

[@nicoofthenight8403]

Honestly my fave cutscene style
I didn't even mind the characters
People beef on a game because one part was bad but 2015 was great tbh

[@NXT_LVL]

still with that crap handling? lol If they havent listened to Theo nor Kuru over these years, why would they start now?

[@nicoofthenight8403]

@@NXT_LVL The handling was bad but everything else was good
Apart from soundtrack

[@Nick_MG]

​@@NXT_LVLhe meant the aesthetics and the vibes, not the gameplay handling.

[@sambeezy007]

​@@NXT_LVLThey built on the handling in Payback. Payback had the best drift physics and Heat had the best handling

[@kdee3492]

This might be long so...please read if you can.
As a guy who was waiting for the last school bell with his best friend so they can go to either house and start playing NFS Carbon or MW. While on the way talking about who did the craziest build or thing in NFS.
That's wats missing and the GOOD MUSIC. It has to be crazy. It has to have "TOTAL RICE" as an option. Fires from crazy but cool exhausts, fires and explosions (tell me where the gas station explosions went eh???) crazy camera angles. Crazy wangs that, if need to, start with bars from the driver seat. Crazy 1.5m in width back tires with a massive spike coming from the middle of the rims, as I used to imagine it helps you pop the tires of cops when in a chase even though it didn't work like that in Carbon. Fires and Explosions. Fires from the wang exhausts, fires in all directions. Fires, action and chaos that makes your blood pump and eyes spark even though its just a game.
Underground 2 and Carbon did it best in terms of the energy and that "Fast and Furious like" late night crazy chaos from late 1990 and early 2000s. MW felt a bit stiff for me somehow, not sure why anymore as it was long ago. Also the music of MW even though it was cool metal it was almost always some sort of riffs running on the background, to which you get used to and you stop paying attention.
In terms of story, what Underground 2, MW and Carbon did was that, yes you start from the bottom and you get there, but they make it personal with the story. Current stories when you are at the bottom is like an inconvenience rather than personal. The bosses need to bully you! So when you destroy them they either fly off of the canyon or you watch them grind their teeth. Then what are you racing for??? Money only and some rep that is more like numbers. No territories or getting the bosses' car.
Bring cool music back! Who remembers starting to rice their car and "Riders on the storm" kick in. Or you prepare for a boss race and "Hard Drivers" kicks. Put some euro beats if you have to. I get that they put the current trendy rap but its too chill. Listening to this while doing anything in the game makes me feel like I am so stoned that I will fall asleep. What about when you finish a tough race and at the end "The Vacation I'm no good" or "Joker and the Thief" starts. You finish that boss race and "I Am Night, Colour me Black" starts. Even though the main Carbon theme is chill, its chill only on the surface level. At the same time while you are chased by the police you get totally different genre tunes that were made custom probably.. Every bosses used to have a theme song as if it's Jojo adventures, that rhymes with their personality.
In my opinion adding consequences isn't putting car damage bar, because it makes it difficult to have long police races where the longer it gets the crazier it becomes. I've literally had moments where the cops in MW or Carbon pile up around and my car rolls so the tyres are on the building's wall and I didn't know what to do so I pushed NOS and I flew in some sort of spiral 360 away, and here we go again. Probably a bug I don't know, but it was crazy fun. I even had a 2GB folder with images of all the crazy stunts I did at the time. Adding consequences is that if you get busted 3 times, you get your car confiscated. So you better go get another one while this one cools down. Now apart from the looks of the car and probably handling you can beat the game with a single car. The music is either chill rap or a bland drum and bass. Slow and/or smooth cameras. Limited customisations. No crew with different capabilities which unlock and make possible different customisations. No crew members which do different things in the race. Cops are either in a depression or driving tanks. And crazy effects seem to have left the chat. But maybe they tried to bring them back with Unbound somewhat.
So yeah, my opinion...what do you think?

[@user-dh4sb8pl4z]

!! things i look for in need for speed !!
-semi arcade feel for the car
-lots of illegal racing stuff
-more ways to play around cops
-more cars, more customizable (tune and stuff)
-let me did my own avatar
-good optimization and clearer visual
-none game breaking bug
-mod support
that's all i'm asking :/

[@smithyMcjoe]

Brother do I feel your irritation. This new NFS actually got me back into them, and the last I had played was pro street prior to that, to hear that we probably won't get another Criterion NFS is really annoying. The fucking goatee is looking dank my man!
Also, they should bring back Burnout!

[@BlackPanthaa]

🙏🙏

[@ghostdriver_9677]

I was surprised about myself, really enjoying Unbound, especially the multiplayer, sad to see that happened, maybe just maybe Codemaster will do the next NFS, who knows?

[@Nexus.Achiles]

I hope not. Their GRID games are so-so, and handling is not great, not because it's arcade, but because cars are slippery around corners. For me, Criterion was the absolute best.

[@dyaanahmad5079]

what nfs needs is to learn what made previous games our favourite, blend in with the street racing scene of the 90s, inspire from midnight club and tokyo xtreme racer, have good drifting physics, progression from heat, customization from u2 and carbon, cops from most wanted all put in together with a movie-feel vibe and story like the run( races must be felt like from an action Movie ) and release it.

[@SD-mi2vc]

No more limited restarts

[@DeejayJeanP]

I work for a triple A game developer now, debating on moving to another big racing game developer. I would definitely hop over to NFS to help keep it alive, however, as long as it's owned by EA I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. Big shoutout to the devs, you guys are troopers.

[@arcad3]

I'm so agree about festival games

[@BlackPanthaa]

They've had their time, we need fresh

[@tamasmarton1792]

EA probably doesnt know the definition of insanity

[@pyrophobia133]

they won't learn until the gravy train stops

[@alex360c]

Wrong company buddy

[@Chrisdash392]

We need Theo and LP-Ripper (when ever he comes back) to link up and really advocate for the next nfs game

[@iminurface728]

KuruHS as well!

[@VanSanProductions]

Wouldn't be MAD if there was another studio that worked on the SHIFT series made a street racing version of that. Loved the grittyness of Shift 2 and think it could translate into street racing.

[@tinktink360]

EA is the worst thing to happen to Need for Speed man…

[@ghostchillsx2468]

Well it's also the gaming industry as a whole

[@duanJ_aka_wfoundry]

Well, we literally wouldn't have it without them

[@nightfury7321]

​@@ghostchillsx2468And a good majority of the community constantly pressuring the devs to make remaster after remaster, and when that actually happens, they still complain.

[@thespeedsHD]

They always had NFS since the beginning

[@thespeedsHD]

I think its more the community since they eat anything EA makes and not try to make a change but only complain while buying what they bring out anyway@@ghostchillsx2468

[@masongrundy4000]

I literally finished unbound this morning and this is devastating tbh

[@UnholyKaizen]

I honestly feel like NFS should go on a hiatus for 5+ years and then actually take the time to really think things out

[@sambeezy007]

Nah. Just give it to another publisher

[@wiseguy240Winston]

They already took 3 yrs off between Unbound & Heat. I don't think that's the answer.

[@patrickstar6758]

It will never happen. It’s EA they love money

[@aragonzagaming3791]

Need for speed was the only game I used to play as a kid and still one of my fav series...
Spending the summer holidays with the boyz and enjoy the adrenaline pumping...
Now thinking that they r just ending it idk but they r digging their own grave...

[@MetabolicFrolic]

I love ranting Pants. I agree with every single syllable you just spouted, my guy.

[@LegendSnapped]

I agree with you. I love Motorfest but NFS Unbound was solid. NFS has done the best at making me feel connected to the track. While motorfest is definitely more expansive I feel like all the cars just slide around no matter how much you tune them to be stable

[@drifzyy67]

For me they steer like boats, overpriced game i got bored quickly then unplugged my my ps5 and played my 360

[@TheTyisawesome]

​@@drifzyy67I felt shafted after flip flopping and deciding to buy it fucking rip off

[@colestacks3235]

@@drifzyy67moterfest has the most overrated physics

[@crewzta]

Agree with the Motorfest physics, feels like a child’s arcade game you play at the airport. I prefer NFS handling.

[@LegendSnapped]

All facts. Like I said, presentation wise, it’s solid. When it comes to the driving, unbound is a far superior game

[@thilinawickramarachchi605]

The reason festival games are so popular is because, lots of car brands don't want to be associated with breaking the law = Lesser car collection in these type of games = people asking for more cars (The same kinda cars you see in festival games)

[@user-lv2kn5rh7e]

I’m among the community that wants more cars, but that’s because I love the art side of designing and creating unique vehicles, and I’d love to be able to have more variety for some beautiful concepts

[@FiZzSTS]

Naw need for speed must stay

[@bsosmoove]

Theo that beard is not it you look like a super villain

[@BlackPanthaa]

I'll take it

[@emoh_em_ekat_sdaor_yrtnuoc8618]

I started on midnight club LA, probably 2018 I got nfs 2015 and any other racing game I look at just seems uninteresting. I want the feel of being on a street sliding around a corner going 100 with cops behind me, nothing else does it for me. So many more factors like creation too and aesthetic but literally no other game feels the same. The live action cut scenes are corny 75% of the time and I love it, it’s immersive

[@TheGOATKnifer]

If we lose Need For Speed after losing Burnout then the nostalgic one of a kind racing game experiences are gonna be forever lost to the sands of time.

[@zaneboyondatrack]

If they really bring out Most Wanted with proper remastering, i will come back to NFS. But now im sticking to Blackbox era.

[@sambeezy007]

It's BlackBox and Ghost for me. 👍🏽. Criterion can go in the 🗑

[@randomstormtrooper3345]

@@sambeezy007Damn, criterion lives rent-free in your head lmao. Every. Single. Comment

[@sambeezy007]

@randomstormtrooper3345 stalking? I am a person that is a big fan of NFS. Been a fan since 2003. Guessing you've been a fan since 2010 when HP 2010 came out

[@randomstormtrooper3345]

@@sambeezy007I'm not stalking lol, I just like reading comments. Been a fan since the 90's era, grew up with NFS II, most fans don't even know those games exist

[@sambeezy007]

@randomstormtrooper3345 Which is a shame. I noticed you brought up MW05 and I'll be the one to say one of the most controversial statements by saying it's overrated. Most who played it these days I think played it on PC with mods

[@15theracegamer]

Thank you for putting this out! We can always hope for the best although the future of the NFS-series could seem brighter.. At least we are able to enjoy the great games that already exist, I guess.

[@m4rionettealastor702]

On the topic of advertising. I actually pre-ordered Unbound's deluxe edition through Heat, never saw any advertising apart from "EA Play members get a discount on Need for Speed Unbound: Deluxe edition".

[@xpaddy7369]

I feel unbound was a huge step down from heat. Motorfest on the other hand I am absolutely loving it just wish there was some sort of story there.

[@sambeezy007]

By far Heat > Unbound. Ghost > Criterion to me. I'd didn't even play 2012 and I'll say
2015, Payback and Heat > HP 2010, 2012, and Unbound. I'm not a fan of Burnout in NFS titles.

[@MedicalBillz]

Motorfest is lacking in some areas too, but nowhere near as bad as Unbound at launch.

[@Nexus.Achiles]

Do you not find the handling bizarre? Whenever I steer, the balance of the cars gets unsettled, even in a straight line. When I go around corners, there's no smooth conicity, cars will often snap into oversteer. I don't get that in any other racer.

[@nagc2404]

​@@Nexus.Achilesare you talking about Motorfest or Heat?

[@Nexus.Achiles]

@@nagc2404 Motorfest

[@michelhickey5765]

i want a proper cannonball game with a kinetic energy based fuel consumption and highway traffic cops , give us like 10 different cars that are very well simulated and add more every few months to break new records, id also like to see musket ball so basically a low hp car, if the police catch you speeding you are cooked!

[@Flameville]

Personally I’ll just wait for the community to make their own version of an NFS game down the line. It might be a stupid dream but it’s one I hope becomes a reality.

[@lumi55315]

Take a look at the Fnaf community, have you seen some of those fan games? They have potential to be full on $60 games themselves! Trust me, the way EA is going, it's gonna happen sooner than you think.

[@mostlyjovial6177]

I’m 10 months late but I have to point out that some people (myself included) hated the way heat and unbound feels to play.
You can go on and on about “how weighty and more realistic it feels in the moment to moment” but it was honestly garbage. Feel more like Simcades than NFS should imo.
I play NFS because it was the last bastion of “smash the gas” arcade racers, the themes and mechanics of nfs just were always the cherry on top.
Heat and unbound just never felt like nfs games to me, or how I guess I feel they should feel.
It’s why I love payback, why I adore 2015.
It’s why I don’t play Heat beyond my first completion, why I didn’t even bother to finish unbound. I don’t feel the itch to play them like I do any other nfs.
Of course.
Caveat- my favorite game in the series is MW 2012. So safe to say I’m an outlier of the community.
Still think my point of the way the games feel need to be on point stands.
People now are more concerned

[@clumsychiyoko3818]

Need for Speed should go back to the Underground roots, not just sports cars and super cars but old crappy slow everyday cars such as the Peugeot 206, the civics maybe as starter cars
And not only that but this is just me thinking this but I'd love all the weird and funky early 2000's bodykits back in NFS and sure it don't look good in the modern time but they're iconic for many hardcore NFS fans I believe

[@ashtraysonsundays4274]

It’s so over. It’s never been more over

[@ggspooks7915]

Hey Panthaa, I just wanna say my experience with Unbound was great and their multiplayer is engaging because you get races sooo so quick. I think Unbound had better writing than Heat, more cohesive. The game just felt unfinished, like you pointed out - not coming out on ps4 and more importantly the multiplayer on launch feeling unfinished.

[@sphemaseko8035]

Literally the only festival type racing game I would play is Need For Speed ProStreet remake or sequel and that's it.

[@EBKCLUB]

I agree man NFS is the roots of racing game for me I’m 31 year old still play they NFS games

[@OfficerFredPowell]

It's hard to enjoy Need For Speed Unbound and get to races to grind when you're constantly being chased by 5 level heat relentless police every time you lose them seconds after... 😐

[@Critical365]

Skill issue

[@AMBADonfiyah]

😬😬😬

[@Ultraclocked]

I agree completely. No other racing game feels as fun as NFS. I really like Heat and I'm so in love with Unbound right now. I love the driving effects, the insane body kits, burst nitrous, and the sheer sense of speed. Even the UI is stunning.
I hope they, at least, keep supporting Unbound for a while with a new Speed Pass and small updates (new cars, events) every few months. For future games, I'd love to see an evolution of Unbound. Huge fan of this new art direction. Heat had a stunning aesthetic and vibe as well. Palm City at night is unmatched and those loading screens are iconic.

[@KxRLTHELG]

"It ain't over."
- Sergeant Jonathan Cross
But Need for Speed: No Limits is still updating in 2023!
And I'm writing a lot of Need for Speed anime novels since EA did not create them in the past.

[@spookyskelebloke5388]

I'm glad Criterion hasn't been shuttered outright, but GOD

[@marvelclips4699]

BRING GHOST BACK!

[@Vyltax]

Yes please let that happen!!!

[@Xerkhal]

Lol Blackbox.

[@Vyltax]

@@Xerkhal imagine....

[@L3oT1g3r-]

Oh now you want Ghost back?

[@duanJ_aka_wfoundry]

I fircking miss them too

[@T-DubW]

I gave up on EA years ago to produce and maintain something that is good from the beginning. Not mediocre, not dog water, but just good since they have fell so far my expectations are near non-existent. But in general the street racing games scene is thriving through so many other projects. Nightunners, Japanese Drift Master and Wreckfest just to name the main few.
But in my mind if indie devs start to go the extra mile studios like EA won't even consider stepping then maybe they'll either go bankrupt (unlikely), or start to take notice again and we could spark a possible new golden era like the Blackbox era. Just my hot take.

[@therealpatriot_9685]

They just don't care anymore about that. EA always makes rushed games. And it's not only about NFS here. I think as they got bigger as a company they forgot about putting that special ingredient into their games that makes them a lot of money. That little ingredient is passion.

[@Don_Akane89]

@@therealpatriot_9685 The problem lies in EA's suits. They'll get these developers that make good things & gradually have them make things with lesser & lesser resources as they go, deeming the returns don't justify the development cost. It's also how they close down studios, merge them & move them around between projects that they don't sign up for. And when it gets worse as the development cycles go on, they'll just shut down the studios & franchise altogether. Happened to Westwood, Blackbox, and now happening to Criterion, Maxis & what have you.
Love it or hate it, Unbound is a reskinned Heat with rehashed mechanics here & there. Considering the skeleton crew EA put on it, it's amazing it turns out how it did (which is pretty good even). I just wish they at least allocate enough funding & crew to support it further. For instance, it's a real shame that Boosted Events & Linkups are only available in NA & EU. Players from everywhere else need to use VPN to connect to either region just to get these events. It's been reported & taken note of by EA's community manager, but they haven't come up with any solution up to date.
That & I wish they could implement server-wide matchmaking instead of only matching you with people inside the lobby. This would have races filled in seconds & keep it alive. But of course we don't have that.

[@mthwbridgewater774]

Need for speed is the racing game all of us think of and go to when we want to customise cars we love. If I want to do some illegal racing and drifting . It's that simple

[@driverslineocsz4418]

Ngl the only way they can keep us hooked for time to come for NFS and I know I’ll get some heat for this is taking the route of the seasonal pass route for micro transactions, discounts for parts on the pass as you get higher (I.e level 10 gets you 10% discount on parts and level 20 gets you 10% cash on prize money and level 100 gets you 75% off on parts with a cash bonus of 25k per race).
Allow secret shops to be available in the free roam aspect of the game that spawns on certain days but you parts are rotated weekly for certain cars at random - giving exotic or rare parts to players for their respect builds.
Allow Blacklist - players can compete with friends for pinks, custom pursuit challenges that acts as a 2 mice vs 5 cats and the level goes up in difficulty until one driver is busted or evades completely - so no loyalties.
Allow players to have clans with the ability to set records in each zone with the one goal - who will own the streets. Players have the chance to get icon cars but you have to beat them in the pursuit battle.
Finally tie it all in by remaking or literally remastering nfsu2 into a modern street racer with an impressive car line up from what they’ve had from nfsu to heat. Start from the bottom and go to the top. Clap out your s**t box and even dyno it. You can battle on circuits, drift, touge, sprint, auto cross/gymkhana and drag racing. Create your own style with livery editing and auto sculpting so if you’re not breaking necks well…they were right to roast your car.
All of this while starting with a “storyline” kicking off from Jack (NFS The Run) who meets Darius (NFS Carbon) and start the story from Bayview from NFSU. Each new story or add on like Prostreet, Most Wanted can be sold as seasonal DLC.
NFS - Icon as a title.
This is a far stretch, they’ll never do it and we’d probably hate this direction as it’s a money grab, but would you be surprised???😂

[@MajimaNightlord]

I believe if Ghost studios was able to continue working on need for speed they would have made a better job than criterion and maybe we would now have the best of need for speed. I miss them, playing nfs 2015 was great, with lots of room for improvement, the feel in that game was awesome, the night, the mountains and the city streets, the ambience was really immersive. They needed better handling, they needed better cops, but ultimately they had a great base to build on.
I also want to mention how I miss the flame and tire smoke effects from Heat in unbound, they told us we could turn off the effects (they lied) and if you put the cloak effect on it is boring and nonsensical, because you have grey clouds forming when you drift on dirt... man whyyy

[@sambeezy007]

I agree. They had a great foundation in 2015 and perfected it in Payback. Only flaw people looked at was the microtransactions and that can easily be overlooked by selling and trading unwanted cards. Heat was imo a slight downgrade in drifting mechanics but better overall going back to making it a Carbon-Underground 2 combo pack. If they made Unbound I bet $10 it would be the best NFS they have made yet.

[@MajimaNightlord]

As of today, I can put "original" effects in my cars. This allows them to do tire smoke on asphalt and dirt clouds on dirt.
These crazy people did it, they fixed something and added the option that was supposed to be from launch in the game. I am happy with this.

[@Vyltax]

Theo you need to work for/with EA! You got enough ideas to make nfs better!

[@BlackPanthaa]

I'm always open to helping out

[@leonardfairell3397]

Tbh they don't deserve him,

[@Athleteforeverr]

Bro Im still playing this game. Its like a calming break from madden, 2k, and mk

[@fressure]

To be honest I'm with ya Theo. I enjoy NFS more than all the other racing games. I love the modifications and stuff they have done but they can build upon it so much its crazy.

[@Nasherwood]

What if Codemasters Cheshire (the guys that made Dirt5) went on to take over the next Need for Speed game? EA bought Codemasters for their racing game expertise right?

[@thatforzaguy7292]

I think they would put features from like f1 and dirt combined like if you have a race you have a replay mode for every race you do etc and more camera modes like dirt 5 and more aggressive cops.

[@thatforzaguy7292]

from like nfs rivals

[@robertmassa9229]

That's exactly how I feel about nfs, to a T. I wish they had bottled up and saved some of that early 2000s essence. Like you said it's so close to being that.

[@corey4582]

Well, apparently Criterion Games has lots of experience with Battlefield. They helped develop Battlefield V and even Star Wars Battlefront 1 and 2. They also already helped with Battlefield 2042. So EA pulling them to work more on Battlefield isn't surprising. Upsetting, yes. But not surprising.

[@Redhawk0117]

NFS 2015 was truly the last good NFS game honestly.. it was literally the modern day NFS underground and not many saw that. A game that was helped created by car enthusiasts for car enthusiasts and I miss that. If they made a sequel to 2015 with the exact same formula (obviously more open world or like Underground 2) it’d be so great.

[@ninjafrozr8809]

If NFS Unbound was on all platforms, was advertised correctly, and had an online mode similiar to how Forza does it, it would've been one of the best selling NFS games. The gameplay is fun so they got the hardest part right. As Panthaa said it, they got so close to the perfect modern day NFS.

[@WASTOIDSUPREME]

And please for the love of god just ditch the whole "we're not criminals! we're artists! we're hobbyists!" stories. It was a bit eh in Heat, it didn't bother me early on in Unbound either, but toward the middle of the game it just got so egregious that I was rolling my eyes so hard despite me still enjoying the game. At this point, I'd rather have no story at all like Midnight Club 3 or something over this whole wishy washy nonsense.

[@imagine__7444]

IMO i love arcade racing more then any simulation game I feel like it’s fun and not to be taken seriously idc if I go 300mph on a sharp turn or hitting jumps mid race cuz back then that’s what made racing fun like the old NFS titles but I would say I love heat and unbound like the sense of speed and the feeling like ur going extremely fast is what pulls me in plus the customization as well.

[@CyberMewtwo8]

@BlackPanthaa I know what you mean about studios ending a game franchise. Rockstar had the Midnight Club series, but they decided to focus more on GTA so we lost out on what could have been there. Granted Midnight Club could never beat Need For Speed, but it was something different.

[@tristanschwartz4873]

This is what happens when you don't listen to your fans
This is also what happens when you release a game for next gen consoles only
They lost so much money cause of there own stupidity
And I bet the person that made that choice does not play games at all

[@IDontGotFriendsIGotFamily]

I Have A Need. A Need For Family.

[@AV20242]

Great video as always mate, EA always messes up. They never listen. Always doing the opposite. I worry what will happen to NFS.

[@kouki_kat]

I'm sorry, but NFS 2015 was the closest thing we will ever get to Underground 3, and it was terribly reviewed. how? it was a FANTASTIC game, better than Payback, Heat, Unbound, Most Wanted 2, Hot Pursuit 3, Undercover, The Run, Shift 1 and 2. NFS 2015 stands with Carbon in my opinion. ProStreet, Most Wanted, and Underground 1 and 2 are all so good and so unique in their own ways, they all 4 stand at number one, with Carbon and NFS 2015 at number two.

[@sambeezy007]

Nice list. Tier list wise for me (if I exclude rubberbanding)
S Tier: Underground 1- Carbon, 2015 Payback and Heat
A Tier: Undercover and ProStreet
Then it's everything else. All of Criterion's NFS games are just tolerable to terrible to me. Just me but BlackBox and Ghost are the closest we'll get to real arcade style racing. 2015 is Underground 3 for me. I was told they didn't want to call it 3 because of backlash

[@Lasernotes]

One thing I Would like to see in unbound is more exotic hypercars, where are the Hennessey? Tuatara? Evija? Nevera? Zenvo? valkyrire? Sesto elemento? Amg one? Bolide? Jesko? Essenza?

[@iiTsFaded_]

BRING BACK GOTHENBURG

[@GodwinSunday1516]

I'm a petty guy 😂😂 Love all your reactions bro

[@TheTyisawesome]

1:00 You're great at this ive been watching you for years you're the best at presenting these topics because you're passionate and you've only gotten better over the years. Keep it up pants man

[@sirwillemgaming9686]

I miss NFS Underground 2's car customization. It was the best for me.

[@xVenngeancEx]

I miss 2005 Most Wanted and UG 1 and 2 where it felt like you were breaking the law now it's the whole opposite with all the festival stuff, I totally agree with everything you said there are better studios to help out with Battlefield 2042 Heat was the last NFS I played when I seen Unbound, I lost complete interest in it.