Leaked Need for Speed Unbound screenshots reveal new art style

The first Need for Speed Unbound screenshots have leaked ahead of the game’s imminent reveal.

The screenshots included in the tweet below were originally published by Japanese retailer Neowing.

They back up claims that the next series entry is called Need for Speed Unbound, that it features a new art style, and that it will be released in December for current-gen consoles.

The game appears to feature a cross between polygonal cars and environments, and cel shaded characters seemingly inspired by anime art styles

Electronic Arts will officially announce the new Need for Speed game on Thursday with a trailer premiering at 8am PT / 11am ET / 4pm BST.

EA confirmed in May that the next Need for Speed game would be released in the fourth quarter of 2022.

It’s been claimed that the title will be set in a fictionalised version of Chicago called Lake Shore City.

A short gameplay clip of the title seemingly leaked in August, showing a car crashing while attempting to jump through an obstacle.

EA announced in February 2020 that it had handed Need for Speed development duties back to Criterion Games as it planned to restructure Ghost Games, which made the previous four entries in the racing series

Further reading

EA will reveal the new Need for Speed this week

A reveal trailer for the new game will be published on Thursday

UK-based Criterion is best known for the Burnout series and has also developed two previous Need for Speed titles: 2010’s Hot Pursuit and 2012’s Most Wanted. It contributed to 2013’s Need for Speed Rivals too.

Codemasters’ Cheshire team, the outfit behind Dirt 5, was integrated into Criterion earlier this year “to create the future of Need for Speed”.