DigitalBattle.com

The Need for Speed series has gone down the drain in the last couple of years, with each installment lowering the standard more than its predecessor. Despite all this, and the recent layoffs at series developer Black Box, EA has not given up on the franchise and is going to push out three titles this year, with four titles in the development.

First up is NFS Shift, which is being billed as a “hardcore racing simulation”. It is being developed by Slightly Mad Studios, which was founded by veterans of SimBin and Blimey who are responsible for the GTR racing simulation series. Production is being overseen by Black Box executive producer Michael Mann and DICE co-founder Patrick Soderlund.

The second game will be an arcade racer dubbed NFS Nitro. It is being developed for Wii and DS by EA Montreal and is said to feature a more “mischievous” look. Both games are due out this fall.

Finally, the third game is NFS World Online, a free-to-play racing MMO that will launch this summer in Asia, before being released in North America in winter. Black Box and EA Shanghai are working on it.

Lastly, the fourth game is a “secret NFS game” that is in the works at Black Box.