'Need for Speed' 2017 release date, gameplay news: New game confirmed, to bring back offline single player mode

Promotional image for the 2017 "Need for Speed" game. Ghost Games/Electronic Arts

Ghost Games has confirmed that a new "Need for Speed" game is currently under development.

According to the official website of the game, the biggest change that players can expect from the game is not actually a new feature but the return of an old one. Players will now be able to play on a single-player mode offline. This also means that they can now pause the game in the middle of playing. This was possibly made in response to players' complaints about the reboot, which forced them to go online in order to play the game.

This feature is interesting, considering that Polygon previously reported that Electronic Arts chief executive officer Andrew Wilson told investors that the game will have a "competitive online focus." He also revealed then that this will be the "best-looking" "Need for Speed" title that Electronic Arts has produced so far.

A new feature that will be added is off-road driving. This will give players more room to explore, since they will no longer be limited to the path ahead of them to dictate where they can go. It is unclear yet, however, if this will mean that "Need for Speed" will have an open-world setting, although that decision would make sense, considering that recently released and upcoming games have also opted for that.

Customization will continue to be a part of "Need for Speed," not just for the upcoming game but also for future titles within the series. The game will also feature cop chases. Jumps can be made in the game to escape them.

The new "Need for Speed" game will be released before the year ends. The exact date has not been announced yet by Ghost Games and Electronic Arts. In another article, Polygon speculates that more news will be announced about the game between now and in June, given that the new game's first image released by Ghost Games and Electronic Arts bears "June 2nd."

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