Need for Speed goes Undercover November 18

Maggie Q to star in live-action sequences in EA's next installment of underground street racer for 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, Wii, DS, and PC.

The Transporter isn't typically positioned as a high-water mark for which a product should aspire to. However, EA CEO John Riccitiello did just that during an investor conference in June, saying that the next Need for Speed game, Need For Speed Undercover, would be a "much better game" than Need for Speed ProStreet. Rather than focus exclusively on racing, the game would sport a stronger mission structure and "narrative hook" akin to the 2002 Jason Statham action flick.

The delectable Maggie Q.

Today, EA officially announced Need for Speed Undercover for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Nintendo DS, PC, and mobile devices. True to Riccitiello's word, the street racer will feature a number of live-action cutscene sequences, and the publisher has secured the talents of starlet Maggie Q (Balls of Fury, Mission Impossible III) to lead its efforts. Ms. Q will play the role of Agent Chase Linh, who oversees players as they infiltrate the underground racing scene to upend an international crime syndicate.

As noted by Riccitiello, Undercover will feature gameplay that resembles 2005's NFS: Most Wanted, emphasizing car chases, underground racing, and highway battles. The shift in direction, according to Riccitiello, was possible because EA's Vancouver-based Black Box is no longer being "tortured" by a one-year development cycle. GameSpot will have its first impressions of the retooled racer next Wednesday.

Need for Speed Undercover is expected to drift onto retail shelves in North America on November 18, with a European release following on November 21.

475 Comments

  • Cranio3000

    Posted Nov 7, 2008 1:20 pm PT

    I'm tracjking and whishing this game, I SIMPLY LOVE ONLY BY WATCHING, i saw everything about it, every video, but, please send me a message about the differences between the PS3 version and the PSP version(everything plz, graphics, comparison, features, etc...)( i don't have a PS3, i'll wish it for Christmas ( i'm a litle behind compared to u all, i live in Portugal...) and i hope my mom buys it( she's kinda espiritual and doesn't likes games and TV, etc...))
    LOL to much: ()

  • skaters119

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 8:55 am PT

    Cant Wait For this Game to Release

  • dc_8888

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 10:05 pm PT

    when does this game release in australia? because i hope it releases erly enough for christmas

  • mr_killer_man

    Posted Sep 17, 2008 9:37 pm PT

    I hope they don't screw it up with high def graffics and leave off all the good stuff!

  • Lukester13

    Posted Sep 14, 2008 1:40 pm PT

    Thank god we have police chases this time.

  • Rasmita

    Posted Sep 14, 2008 5:08 am PT

    i can't wait play this game

  • eliascastro912

    Posted Sep 11, 2008 2:14 pm PT

    yay the cops are back

  • joeallen06

    Posted Sep 5, 2008 7:30 am PT

    this one better av da audi R8 ferrari f430 porsche GT3 and carrera GT and renault Cleo V6

  • Schwarte

    Posted Sep 5, 2008 3:51 am PT

    The PS3 version will probably be better @CoupeD
    Just a guess from past experience.

    I really hope it's not gonna be like most wanted 2 much, as I didn't adore that game too much.
    Just do Underground 3 for heavens sake, I want to play around with Vinyls and get rated for it again!

  • lostboy85

    Posted Sep 5, 2008 1:42 am PT

    Kill it EA! Kill it!

  • Drebin27

    Posted Sep 4, 2008 11:12 pm PT

    well cant be worst than pro street so thats a start looks great and video shows driving that ressemble hot pursuit style but maybe im wrong we will all know on nov 18

  • CoupeD

    Posted Aug 28, 2008 9:23 am PT

    Which version do you think will be better PC or PS3?

  • nexusjupiter

    Posted Aug 25, 2008 11:31 pm PT

    Awesome NFS new series... Definitely will buy this game...Hope my pc can handle it...

  • daniel_beck_90

    Posted Aug 23, 2008 7:56 am PT

    for the love of god what is the exact release date ?

  • hiroyukiwu

    Posted Aug 22, 2008 8:27 am PT

    More asians and street racing, really tired of this stereotype, it's getting boring

  • chilipepperman

    Posted Aug 20, 2008 4:37 pm PT

    this looks great and i am greatly looking forward to it, i hated prostreet, loved underground and MW, but i havent played carbon, so i wouldnt know about that. I didnt like NFSU 2 though. I am looking forward to this coming to pc. the graphics and cops look awesome!

  • shadowdynasty15

    Posted Aug 20, 2008 12:06 pm PT

    Glad the cop chases are back

  • nnids4

    Posted Aug 20, 2008 5:26 am PT

    a very needed change in direction

  • Vahe-s-2k7

    Posted Aug 20, 2008 4:01 am PT

    I think so far the best NFS is UNDERGROUND 2 because u can do the inside of cars,cool stickerzs,sweet bodykits and many more but im not sure of this 1 if its like PRO STREET its bad

  • arcfear

    Posted Aug 20, 2008 2:02 am PT

    First Brooke Burke now Maggie Q. SWEET! Maybe this new NFS will make me like Jason Statham on his movie, which I love, The Transporter.

  • SweetMusic

    Posted Aug 19, 2008 10:46 pm PT

    Skip this. Get Midnight Club: Los Angeles, October 7th, 2008.

  • PS2_pro

    Posted Aug 19, 2008 3:09 pm PT

    NFS Most Wanted is the best!
    I want something like it!
    With good cars,graphics,soundtrack,story and GIRLS!

  • payback_56

    Posted Aug 19, 2008 1:25 pm PT

    ur right, since Most Wanted, it took a turn for the worst, but i loved Most Wanted so much, i am hoping every game, that one day they will get it right once again...

    Until then...there is always gamefly! Money saved!!! lol

  • johny52

    Posted Aug 19, 2008 6:47 am PT

    i have noticed that since most wanted the game series has pretty much gone downhill i liked most wanted because of the detail and the police chases and underground 2 was the best the detail wasnt as good as most wanted in some cases but the costomization was sweet i mean what is better than neon under the car the speakers in the back the magazine photo ops i miss all those thing. i hope they put the folowing in the next 1 everything from nfs u2 and mw and day/night/weather efects in real time and maby interior designes and player costomization (because im sick of seeing me as a dead non moving body in side a car and out side) and more realistic damage instead of this 3 stage thing and alot more veriaty in cars and race tracks and the lighting effects (the kind when you are doing a drag race on nfs u/u2 where a tiny light turns into a long light like motion blur or something) but it in all types of races and more than 6 people on 1 track and mabye an online free roam where you can see othher people and their cars and you race for pink slips or hold a ternament with a grand prize and that and if you dont show up you get no points and thats about it i wouldnt mind if you had to install for 30 min as long as its gona be good

  • tawagivercetti

    Posted Aug 19, 2008 5:35 am PT

    Enough of this over-hyped franchise already.

    Token nfsu2 comment not included

  • Jebril

    Posted Aug 19, 2008 4:55 am PT

    Bring back Underground 2's Racing Style!! As far as I'm concerned that game had the best handling in cars in terms of realism and fun.

  • vido4eva

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 11:26 pm PT

    we need some supercars, lots a tuners a few muscle and exotics. tru street racing details like blinking hazard lights to start a race with the cops poppin out on ya unexpectedly crazy

  • vido4eva

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 11:21 pm PT

    i hope they get a bunch a cars in this one fully cutomisable on everything plus the cops more rougher and more insane battles and my fav wud be intense drag racing details

  • yatatabien

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 11:18 pm PT

    Most Wanted FTW

  • yatatabien

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 11:18 pm PT

    Most Wanted FTW

  • Crosses4545

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 10:36 pm PT

    i agree 100%...nfsu2 was by far the best and they should bring it to the 360 and ps3 for sure!!

  • evanawda2005

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 7:33 pm PT

    i kno i want to NFS:UNDERGROUND 2 tooooooooooo cuz it was the best and i jus loved the night time and the customization was SICKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!

  • replicant_2019

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 5:31 pm PT

    I'd love it if they went back to the good old days of 'NFS 3: Hot Pursuit' but obviously with updated graphics. NFS:HP2 was a pretty good attempt at updating it but the track design in NFS3:HP was one of the best in any racing game and more importantly, fun! I had loads of hours playing that over and over with friends.

  • PLAYER-ONE

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 4:21 pm PT

    lets say NFS: Undergound 2 was the best, it was sooo cool, well to be honest i want it to be like Underground 2, but with cops....(oh and it can turn night and day in real time) that'd be cool.....we need the NEON UNDER THE CARS PEOPLE!!!!

  • agentzero23

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 4:02 pm PT

    maggie Q is hot!

  • corn999

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 3:19 pm PT

    Seriously,

    This franchise needs to take a good four to five year hiatus in order to rejuvenate itself. Take a break, come back once you have an interesting plot to offer players.

  • whiteharrier

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 3:09 pm PT

    I hope it looks like NFS: underground 2 wit the new gameplay, and better looking envirement, better looking cars more tunning and stuf, i liked the neon in NFS: underground 2, stil playing the game.

  • Peter_Desert

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 2:32 pm PT

    NFS MW with better looking cars & environment? good!
    i just REALLY hope the fix the crappy damage system and put it in the game. seriously, in PS, if the car roof touches the ground, its totaled, but if your car performs a mid air 900 spin + backflip and goes flat on a wall, it would drive away with "light damage" that really sucked!(also, the rest of PS sucked badly, but there is no need to waste words with that...)

    Undercover FTW!

  • brendanrkhan

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 2:00 pm PT

    i hope it av drift's cuz most wanted didnt av but i like it. lolz. wat about underground 3?? lol

  • daniel25994

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 1:52 pm PT

    this game will be like NFS MW...but the graphics are way better...i hope that this game will be the best in racing genre

  • Clank17

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 1:27 pm PT

    oh WTF

  • Clank17

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 1:13 pm PT

    i am glad i didn't have to buy Pro poop XD because a friend gave it to me

  • AAwiidog

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 12:48 pm PT

    definetly gettin it if its gets an 8 plus review

  • plague32390

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 12:39 pm PT

    Most Wanted was probably the best NFS game sense NFS3: Hot Persuit. Im glad to hear that they are going back to that.

  • Blank2k2

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 12:36 pm PT

    NFS: Most Wanted
    NFS: Hot Pursuit 2
    NFS: Hot Pursuit

    Underground 1 goes in there some where, dunno where though.

    all the others kinda stank it up, really hope Undercover takes after Most Wanted properly, definately a buy.

  • Khotu

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 12:25 pm PT

    if undercover is like most wanted, surely i will buy it.. because i think NFS most wanted was the best NFS game..

  • hotrider12

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 11:17 am PT

    prostreet is proof

  • hotrider12

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 11:13 am PT

    if undercover is like most wanted I will not buy it.
    why can't you next-gen player see most wanted is crappy??
    we need a classic NFS up-dated we dont need a black list to climb up, we dont need drifting. drag racing YES!!! added .... no more street racing b.s AND MOST OF ALL COP CHASING. any NFS game without cops
    is not worth buying!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • localgod325

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 10:31 am PT

    im cautiously optimistic - Most Wanted was by far my favorite NFS

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