14 DAY TRIAL // Electronic Arts has announced that it plans to launch Need for Speed World, the MMO based around its popular racing franchise, on July 20 of this year, aiming to create a persistent world that offers exciting racing and intense social interaction. A significant portion of the experience will be offered for free to all those who download the client for Need for Speed World but those who want access to the entire content will have to pay for it.
The free client will be accessible on July 20 and all races and pursuit events will be available to those who get it, the level cap being set at 10. Those who are prepared to spend some money and actually preorder Need for Speed World will be able to download the client one week earlier than the masses and will be receiving more experience points for the first week of play.
They will also be guaranteed a place to all the Need for Speed beta stages that will take place between the moment they preorder and the day the game goes live for everyone. Another advantage is the fact that they can reserve their driver name the moment they preorder and that they will get a new VIP badge for the profile.
EA announced Need for Speed World last year, with the Black Box studio handling the development duties. The open world will encompass more than 150 square miles and players will be able to race both one another and the ever present police in a combination of the best bits of the long running Need for Speed series. Light role playing game elements are added in order to keep players interested and include the progression element that is central to the MMO genre.
Black Box and Criterion are at the moment rumored to be working on new Need for Speed games that will aim to revamp the more single player focused aspects of the series.