Electronic Arts announced that the Need for Speed franchise has surpassed 100 million units sold life to date. This represents nearly every household in the United States and is three times the population of Canada. And if all the Need for Speed boxes were laid end-to-end, it would span 173,609 football fields.Need for Speed Shift, the latest in the series, pushed the franchise over the 100 million mark, making it the best selling racing brand in the gaming world.
Over the course of its 16-year history, Need for Speed has become known for delivering unparalleled white-knuckle racing, creative customization and street style. The Need for Speed series has generated over $2.7B to date and has become a powerful cultural phenomenon.
Since the release of Need for Speed in 1994, the franchise has…
• Launched 15 blockbuster titles across more than 14 platforms
• Released in 22 languages in over 60 countries
• Players have raced over 279 billion miles of roads & race tracks
• Generated over 17 trillion user-generated vehicle customizations
• Featured actors, models & musicians including: Brooke Burke, Christina Milian, Emmanuelle Vaugier, Josie Maran, Maggie Q, Kanye West, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Prodigy
• Debuted exclusive remix from Snoop Dogg of The Door’s classic song Riders on the Storm
• Sold more games than all new passenger cars sales in the US since 1994
This year, there are three titles being launched under the Need for Speed franchise. Need for Speed Shift delivers a true driver’s experience and is the most polished Need for Speed game in years. Shift is available on the PlayStation3, Xbox 360, PC and PlayStation Portable.
Need for Speed Nitro has been developed specifically for the Wii and Nintendo DS to capture the fun and exhilaration of arcade racing at 200mph.
Need for Speed World Online for the PC is the largest open world game in the history of Need for Speed, with an extensive roster of licensed cars and game modes – all for free online. The game follows the free to play business model that generates revenue through advertising and in-game item sales. World Online will begin the beta process in Taiwan this winter and will open to players around the world in fall 2010.