The rumored Need for Speed 2022 will combine anime aesthetics and photorealism, according to insider and journalist Jeff Grubb. In the latest episode of the GiantBomb Grubbsnax show, Grubb talked about the Criterion-developed game’s unique visuals, settings, and multiplayer, among other things.
Need for Speed 2022 is reportedly set in fictionalized Chicago
Backtracking on his previous report of a Miami setting, Grubb said that he’s now heard that the next Need for Speed will be set in Lakeshore City – a fictionalized version of Chicago. “Criterion wants to make it feel like a real city, even though it’s going to be a fictionalized version of a city,” he claimed. As far as the visuals are concerned, here’s how Grubb describes what his sources have said:
It’s going to be photorealistic but it’s going to have, on top of that, there’s going to be anime elements. When you see maybe a car commercial or something like that, and the car’s driving around and cartoon flames are flying off it and stuff, and sparks are flying, and it looks like it’s out of an anime? That’s the kind of aesthetic they seem to be going for. And I wonder if that’s what they mean when they say they’re going to do a fictionalized version of… Chicago. It’s called Lakeshore City.
In addition to the above, Grubb claims that Autolog for multiplayer will return, and players will be able to fully customize their cars.
Previous reports suggest that Need for Speed is on track to release in November 2022 even though EA has yet to officially unveil the game. We’ve also heard that the publisher is skipping last-gen platforms in favor of a current-gen release.
In other news, Hideo Kojima has responded to rumors of Sony acquiring Kojima Productions, and the first Cyberpunk 2077 expansion now has a release window.
