Forza Horizon 5, Gran Turismo 7, and Forza Motorsport 7 Could All Be Part of a Massive Need for Speed Reboot

Certain facets of the racing gaming genre have seen a rebirth in recent years. While the sheer diversity that marked the genre's PS2-era glory days has been lost, numerous large-scale titles have captured players' imaginations. The release of Forza Horizon 5 and Gran Turismo 7, as well as a pandemic-fueled surge in esports sim racing, have all contributed to reviving what had become a niche segment of gaming. As a result of this success, EA's shortcomings in providing a high-quality Need for Speed game have grown increasingly obvious.

For numerous decades, the arcade racing series served as a cornerstone of gaming, providing enthusiasts with high-octane thrills. Need for Speed, which pioneered 3D racing games on consoles in 1994, has now fallen from grace. Since the release of 2012's Most Wanted, the franchise has seen a decline in critical and financial acclaim. To compound issues, features such as loot box advancement, formulaic storylines, and mandatory always-online DRM have left the series without a distinct personality. Due to the popularity of Forza Horizon 5 and Gran Turismo 7, Criterion Games now has a roadmap for its future Need for Speed entry.

Lessons from Gran Turismo 7

When it comes to significant lessons, Gran Turismo 7 and Forza Horizon 5 both have plenty to teach Criterion Games, although for very different yet equally vital reasons. For instance, while its fall from grace was not as precipitous as Need for Speed's, Polyphony Digital's driving simulator has encountered and overcome some of the same difficulties.

Simultaneously with Need for Speed reaching its undoubtedly pinnacle on the PlayStation 2, Sony's first party racing series was also reshaping the racing world. It's difficult to imagine now, given the narrative-driven experiences that have defined its recent success, but Gran Turismo was once comfortably the publisher's highest-selling and most consistent franchise.

Gran Turismo's reputation was harmed throughout the PS3 era, however, by perplexing design decisions and an uneven attitude to content. After attempting to reinvent the wheel with the multiplayer-focused GT Sport, it turns out that fans desired a return to the franchise's roots all along. Gran Turismo 7's popularity can be ascribed in part to the return of iconic mechanics such as the used car dealership, licence tasks, and an attractive hub-map interface. While Gran Turismo 7's prominence of optional microtransactions is disappointing, the on-track experience is undoubtedly better than ever.

Given that Need for Speed predates Polyphony Digital's by a few years, it's easy to see it tapping into the same kind of nostalgia. After all, with 24 primary episodes produced, Criterion Games has a wealth of material from which to take inspiration. Gran Turismo's resurrection has opened the path for Need for Speed to succeed commercially as well.

Racing fans have already reconnected with one critically praised revival, so it's reasonable to assume they'll do so with another. With over 150 million copies of Need for Speed sold since 1994, it's worth noting that there is a sizable following waiting for a quality new game.

Lessons from Forza Horizon 5

While Gran Turismo 7 indicates how a critically praised racing game comeback is possible in 2022, Forza Horizon 5 provides a gameplay template for the next Need for Speed entry.

While the arcade series began as a closed-circuit racer similar to Polyphony Digital's, the arcade series' most successful entries resemble Playground Games' open-world spin-off. A large part of Forza Horizon 5's popularity may be credited to the fact that the excitement of racing has always been the primary focus of the package. While the game offers a loose storyline based on the Horizon festival, no other mechanic ever interferes with how players choose to compete.

Recent Need for Speed chapters cannot make this claim, with loot box improvements and cringe-worthy storylines routinely mentioned as impediments to enjoyment by fans. EA and Criterion Games must take steps to rebalance the experience ahead of the game' anticipated resurrection in 2022. A more stripped-down approach that prioritises exciting, high-octane gameplay is nearly necessary at this stage. Aspects of Forza Horizon 5's success, such as its densely packed open environment, which entices players to explore it through missions and treasures, would also be a good design idea to emulate.

While achieving success will be difficult given the series's current state, Forza Horizon 5 and Gran Turismo 7 have provided a possible path back to glory for Need for Speed.