Need for Speed: Mobile, also known as "Need for Speed: Assemble (极品飞车集结)" in China, is an upcoming mobile game in the Need for Speed series.
It is a multiplayer open-world mobile game set in Heat Bay with multiple different licensed cars and a character customisation system.
It was developed by TiMi Studio Group, a subsidiary of Tencent, and runs on Unreal Engine 4.[1]. It is published by Tencent in the Chinese market, although Electronic Arts retains the rights to the Need for Speed series and is also publishing the game outside of the Chinese market.
Tencent has worked with Electronic Arts' Need for Speed series before with two prior products published only within the Chinese market:
- Need for Speed: Online: A Chinese market exclusive MMO live from mid-2017 to January 27, 2022. It reused a number of assets from Need for Speed: Edge, a Korean market exclusive MMO developed by EA Spearhead, which in turn is based off of Need for Speed: Rivals.
- Need for Speed: Duel: A Chinese market exclusive mobile game rendition of Need for Speed: No Limits with added multiplayer functionality and was limited to a few open test sessions. It reused a number of key art assets from Need for Speed: Online and Need for Speed: Edge.
Multiple testing sessions were held within the Chinese market, but it was formally announced outside of China on July 9, 2023 with an Australia-only limited test session held between July 12, 2023 at 00:00 (UTC) to July 19, 2023 at 13:59 (UTC) for both the Android and iOS releases.
Cars[]
Cars can be purchased with either in-game cash or a premium purchased currency.
Police[]
- BMW M4 Coupe (2014)
- Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 (2014)
- Lamborghini Huracán LP 640-4 EVO (2019)
- McLaren GT (2019)
Heat Bay[]
Heat Bay is a fictitious city used as the game's open world setting and is a "cyberpunk-style future world" iteration of Palm City featured in Need for Speed: Heat.
The locations has multiple additions and alterations such as a desert area, waterfalls, and a more varied topography. Across the various districts of Heat Bay, players can take part in Balloon Challenges, collect Bashing items, and take part in Activities.
Events[]
Players can participate in real-time multiplayer races, semitruck car delivery missions, and police chases. They are also able to exit their vehicle at certain locations and interact with other players on foot.[2]
Pre-Release[]
Closed Beta Test 2
On November 14, 2023, a post in the official Need for Speed: Mobile Discord server announced a second closed beta test session would be taking place in December 2023.
Pioneer Test
On November 15, 2023, a smaller "Pioneer Test" session was announced to run from November 15, 2023 to November 24, 2023. Participants had to complete an application for an invitation to the test session, and was limited to residents of Australia, Canada, Indonesia, and Mexico.
System requirements were also announced for mobile devices eligible to participate in the test session:
- OS: Android 9 or newer
- CPU: Snapdragon 845, Kirin 820, Dimensity 1000L, or better
- RAM: 6GB or more
- Storage: 6GB
"China GameTest"
A China only test session announced on November 15, 2023 was held between November 16, 2023 to November 20, 2023.[3]
Closed Beta Test 1
On July 9, 2023, "NFS Mobile" was listed on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store, followed by an announcement on July 11, 2023 via the official Need for Speed website[4].
The announcement highlights a limited test session from July 12, 2023 at 00:00 (UTC) to July 19, 2023 at 13:59 (UTC) for an Android and iOS release, although it is limited to residents of Australia, but also points out that a second test session will be held soon after the initial session concludes.
Alongside the announcement of a limited test session, the article lists items will be made available for purchase in-game at a later date.
"Experience Recruitment"
On September 30, 2022, a post on WeChat - Tencent's mobile messaging system - announced a signup questionnaire for users to register for an "online game experience activity" to take place in early October 2022.[5]
iOS Test Session
In mid-May 2022, an invite-only play test session was held for a "Codename: Racing" iOS game through the Tencent Pioneer app. Over 1,500 players participated and were asked to give feedback.[6][7]
Following the session's completion, gameplay footage was leaked on the Need for Speed subreddit, as well as various pictures.[8][9]
The setting for the game, the assets used, and included music are derived from Need for Speed: Heat.[10]
Job Listings & 3Q21 Results
On January 2, 2022, job listings appeared on the Tencent Careers page with roles at TiMi Studio Group described as working on a "real-world racing mobile game" for a "Well-known IP". As part of the job listing, two advertisements were circulated highlighting the game to be developed using Epic Games' Unreal Engine 4 and that it would be a "AAA" game.[11][12][13]
As well as the listings of various roles at TiMi Studio Group, a product list was published by Tencent with their third quarter release schedule for 2022, and includes a licenced "Need for Speed Online Mobile" game listed with a "to be confirmed" (TBC) date.[14]
Tencent's third quarter for their fiscal year is from July 1st to September 30th.
Daniel Ahmad Tweet
On August 4, 2021, Daniel Ahmad, a Senior Analyst at Niko Partners, posted a series of tweets regarding Electronic Arts' financial results for their first quarter of fiscal year 2022. One of the tweets in the series was with regards to Electronic Arts' plans with regards to the Need for Speed series, of which a mobile game for the series being developed by Tencent was mentioned alongside a new console game.
| “ | EA also said that they have plans to bring Need for Speed back. This would probably include the Need for Speed Mobile game which is in development at Tencent, in addition to a new console game Nothing to share on Dead Space today, other than the response from fans was positive |
” |
— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX)[15]
| ||
Pre-release Footage (March)
On March 30, 2023, footage of pre-release gameplay was posted by multiple users to bilibili; a video sharing website based in Shanghai.[16]
The footage showcases gameplay representative of the retail release of the mobile game, which includes Palm City from Need for Speed: Heat, boosting mechanics prevalent in Need for Speed: Edge, elements of Need for Speed: Unbound, and a few licensed vehicles.
Pre-release Footage (May)
On May 3, 2023, pre-release footage was posted to YouTube showcasing freeroam, player vs. player outrun, challenges, and haulage gameplay.[17][18]
The footage shows the Rockville, Fort Callahan, and Frontera Hills districts both redesigned and altered into a desert area. Some areas of the countryside also differ from their appearance in Need for Speed: Heat featuring more drastic landscapes, topography, and natural landmarks.
Gallery[]
Trailers[]
(Gameplay Trailer)
(March 14, 2024)
(CBT2)
(CBT2)
(CBT2)
(CBT2)
(CBT2)
(CBT2)
Gameplay[]
(CBT4 (China))
(CBT4 (China))
(CBT4 (China))
(CBT4 (China))
(CBT2)
(CBT2)
(CBT1)
(CBT1)
(CBT1)
(CBT1)
(CBT1)
Guides[]
(Locations)
Promotional Images[]
App Icons[]
Trivia[]
- During development, it was referred to as "Codename: Speed" (代号：Speed) and "Zeta".
- In the Chinese release, police vehicles are referred to as "security" vehicles.
References[]
- ↑ Website: yxbao.com (2022) 代号speed (code speed). Available at: https://www.yxbao.com/shouyou/325150.html
- ↑ Tweet: @NFSZeal "You can choose to get out of the car and interact #NeedForSpeedMobile #NFSZeal #NeedForSpeedZeal" Available at: https://twitter.com/NFSZeal/status/1724721014536593716
- ↑ Tweet: @NFSZeal "China GameTest. Test Date:Test date ends November 16-20 (UTC + 8) Android: dlied4.myapp.com/myapp/1108169089/cos.release-70713/89900006_com.tencent.nfsonline_h2868101_0.18.88.1436905_qh8Gix.apk… #NeedForSpeedMobile" Available at: https://twitter.com/NFSZeal/status/1724757726037995871
- ↑ Website: needforspeed.com (2023) Need for Speed Mobile. Available at: https://www.ea.com/en-au/games/need-for-speed/need-for-speed-mobile
- ↑ Website: mp.weixin.qq.com (2022) 「体验招募」心跳加速，驰骋赛道！代号：Speed体验服招募开启！ ("Experience Recruitment" beats the heart and gallops on the track! Code Name: Speed Experience Server Recruitment Open!). Available at: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/okBdOJtdn64r7Uw1s-DV2g
- ↑ Website: gamer.qq.com (2022) "Codename: Racing" Pioneer ios test recruitment. Available at: https://m.gamer.qq.com/v2/task/detail/821/9494
- ↑ Image: "Codename: Racing" Pioneer ios test recruitment screenshot
- ↑ Website: eurogamer.com (2022) Footage of Tencent-developed Need for Speed Mobile seemingly leaks online. Available at: https://www.eurogamer.net/footage-of-tencent-developed-need-for-speed-mobile-game-reportedly-leaks-online
- ↑ Website: reddit.com/r/needforspeed (2022) Need for Speed Mobile 2022 (Tencent) Gameplay Leaked. Available at: https://www.reddit.com/r/needforspeed/comments/un9hfb/need_for_speed_mobile_2022_tencent_gameplay_leaked/
- ↑ Video: Unknown Gamer39 (2022) NFS 2022 ||Need for speed 2022 mobile game leaked gameplay #leaks #nfs #viral #viralvideo. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qC9bSnPObHo
- ↑ Website: screenrant.com (2022) Need for Speed Game Reportedly Being Developed By Pokémon Unite Studio. Available at: https://screenrant.com/need-for-speed-mobile-pokemon-unite-studio-job-listing/
- ↑ Website: careers.tencent.com (2022) 15569. Available at: https://careers.tencent.com/search.html?keyword=15569-UE4%E7%9F%A5%E5%90%8DIP%E5%A4%A7%E4%B8%96%E7%95%8C%E5%86%99%E5%AE%9E%E8%B5%9B%E8%BD%A6%E6%89%8B%E6%B8%B8
- ↑ Website: reddit.com/r/needforspeed (2022) So Timi is working on an open-world Need For Speed for mobile, according to job offers (codename : Need for Speed online Mobile). The game seems to have made a good progress because it no longer appears in the 3Q21 pipeline, this most likely means it will be in testing phase soon. 2022 ? Available at: https://www.reddit.com/r/needforspeed/comments/ru62nd/so_timi_is_working_on_an_openworld_need_for_speed/
- ↑ Website: inf.news (2022) Is Tencent going to attack "Need for Speed"? Available at: https://inf.news/en/game/f10f56a88e170aa0b1f09d5f4df0df1f.html
- ↑ Tweet: @ZhugeEX "EA also said that they have plans to bring Need for Speed back. This would probably include the Need for Speed Mobile game which is in development at Tencent, in addition to a new console game. Nothing to share on Dead Space today, other than the response from fans was positive." Available at: https://twitter.com/zhugeex/status/1423033471535091719
- ↑ Video: NFSLYY (2023) Need for Speed Online Mobile - 18 Minutes Gameplay (leak footage by Tencent). Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjQcaCA68yU
- ↑ Video: NFSLYY (2023) Need for Speed Online Mobile - 27 Minutes Freeroom Mode Gameplay. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmlah4a2TAU
- ↑ Video: NickySanID (2023) INFORMASI FITUR BARU Need for Speed Mobile BETA RILIS - Need for Speed Mobile Informasi Indonesia. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-Wa0YMYfoM
