2024 is shaping as much as be one of the crucial thrilling years in Want for Velocity historical past, with a number of quantity updates dropping each quarter for the franchise’s newest Unbound title.
All of it kicked off in February with Vol. 6 – the primary of 4 deliberate all through 2024 – which not solely welcomed the return of Audi to Want for Velocity, but additionally the launched of a devoted PvP mode to take multiplayer gaming to the following stage.
Then, three months later in Could, Vol. 7 dropped. Freshly impressed by an outdated Speedhunters favorite – NFS Underground – Vol. 7 reintroduced drag and drift modes together with improved driving physics, legend customs, and even two badass Speedhunters customs.
In order we close to the tip of August, it’s time to launch one other quantity for Unbound. As soon as once more, it’s an absolute banger with greater than a sprinkling of Sizzling Pursuit…
Welcome to Unbound Vol. 8 Cops vs. Racers. As that helpful title suggests, this newest quantity sees the reintroduction of a ‘Sizzling Pursuit’ mode, pitting you head-to-head towards the pesky police. However be warned, they’re again badder than ever earlier than.
This isn’t a one-sided affair, both. Cops vs. Racers permits you to play on both workforce as much as 4 vs. 4 with the racers attempting to flee, and the cops attempting to cease ‘em. The police must seize all 4 racers to win, whereas the racers solely want one automobile to achieve the chequered flag.
One of many large options added to this quantity is the reintroduction of pursuit tech for these enjoying as cops. These embrace deployable spikes which span the width of the highway, an engine-disabling EMP (electro-magnetic pulse), and even a full riot-spec, ESF battering ram.
What’s extra, there’s even police customisation within the type of LED gentle bars, bull bars and pre-made message boards. Oh, and a super-cool signature-style VFX, which makes use of LED trails to create bespoke messages for rivals.
What concerning the automobiles? Nicely, as soon as once more there are two new rides becoming a member of the fleet in Vol. 8 – the bonkers 1,972hp Lotus Evija (which comes free with the Velocity Move), and the endlessly cool Porsche 959 S, which is unlocked utilizing the Premium Velocity Move.
Talking of Velocity Passes, 45 free tiers are added with Vol. 8, which incorporates the 2023 Evija, its bodykits and uncommon customized, whereas the Premium Velocity Move provides one other 30 tiers to unlock together with 9 distinctive Cop Customs (a few of that are unlocked by way of Cop Profession). The ‘Racer League’ has been refreshed and – similar to earlier volumes – so has the PvP playlists too.
What concerning the Customs? You’ll all be glad to know that Cops vs. Racers boasts essentially the most extra Customs from a quantity but; two Speedhunters ones, two NFS Legends, and a number of different Cop Customs. Clearly, we’re massively biased, however the two Speedhunters Customs may simply be among the greatest but, so let’s take a better look…
For the Lotus Evija, we’ve opted for a extra ‘conventional’ JDM-inspired avenue racer vibe, which is strictly why you’ll see it sitting on Work CR Kai wheels. It additionally has motorsport-inspired aero together with a shin-smashing entrance splitter and a monster APR GT rear wing.
Reality be instructed, it’s such a bonkers-looking automobile a whole overhaul felt pointless. However that didn’t cease us having some enjoyable with the livery, one which not solely attracts inspiration from the unique Sizzling Pursuit 2010 cowl artwork, but additionally Fredric Aasbø’s GT86 drift automobile, initially designed by Andy Blackmore again in 2012. Take into account it a nod to Speedhunters’ previous whereas nonetheless remaining present by 2024 requirements.
And the Porsche 959 S? That factor is fully psychological in the very best means. You’ll be able to thank the artistic genius that’s Bryn Alban for the majority of this – particularly the bodykit, which takes inspiration from the 935/78 ‘Moby Dick’ and 961 race automobile from 1986; the solely 959-derived Porsche ever to go racing.
You’ll be able to’t say widebody Porsche race automobile with out mentioning BBS wheels, so this Speedhunters customized now sits on traditional 3-piece BBS RSs with customized turbofans up entrance. You may additionally discover a bit addition to reference the kind of snack loved by sure legislation enforcement…
All of that is wrapped along with a conventional black/whereas police livery that – once you look a bit nearer – isn’t simply black, however totally carbon too. As cop automobiles go, it’s undoubtedly one of many coolest ever created within the (digital) world. However what may shock you is the truth that, even in the actual world, there’s been some severely wild automobiles utilized by police in varied nations. Assume Bugatti, Lamborghini and way more – we’ll carry you a full story on that very quickly.
Just like the volumes earlier than it, Vol. 8 – Cops vs. Racers is obtainable to obtain and play proper now with the optionally available Premium Velocity Move offering one other 30 tiers of upgrades to unlock. We haven’t even talked about the NFS Legend automobiles similar to Sergeant Cross’s C6 Corvette which first appeared in 2005’s Most Needed…
And if – after three enormous quantity updates – you’re nonetheless demanding extra from Unbound, there’s one last quantity to drop later this yr, which could even be essentially the most badass but. We’ll carry you unique information as quickly as we’ve got it.
The Speedhunters
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