Need For Speed Unbound: The 'Volume 5' wait is nearly over with new cars, fits and more on deck

The weather is getting chillier - as if you needed a reason to stay indoors and game on Need For Speed Unbound, right? Say less. But how about a much-needed Volume 5 slated to arrive in less than 48 hours. Oh yes.

The ‘Need For Speed Unbound Volume 5’ drop arrives on Thursday

While Thursday can’t come soon enough, it doesn’t hurt to take a look at how much EA Sports has jam-packed into its newest update from new whips and liveries to fits and customizations, of course.

This volume provides a refreshed Speed Pass, bringing 75 free ranks with retro kaleidoscopic cosmetics and customizations up for the taking, as well as the fierce Buick Grand National GNX (1987) for racers who reach rank 50. Players can also take on the challenge of getting 25 near misses in any BMW while being chased by cops to unlock the new turbocharged BMW M2 Coupé (2023), proving that they own the streets and they’re not going anywhere.

Additionally, new premium content packs will be available in-store, including the spooky “Trick or Street Swag Pack,” which brings to life the Legendary Custom MINI John Cooper Works Countryman '17, plus a clothing pack, Skeleton Head mask, driving effect, exclusive horn, and more*.

A list of all the exciting content in Need for Speed Unbound Volume 5 can be found below: 

• All 14 Linkups: Players can take on all 14 Linkups from Vol. 3 and Vol. 4 – showing the streets why they’re at the top of their game, competing in over four rounds showcasing epic stunts and heroic driving. Players who contribute the most will be crowned as MVP in locations including the Yams Wind Farm, Marigold Golf Course, and Jefferson Quarry.

• Refreshed Speed Pass: Volume 5 delivers a refreshed Speed Pass bringing 75 ranks with free retro kaleidoscopic cosmetics and customizations – reach rank 50 and cruise the scene in the Buick Grand National GNX (1987).

• New Challenges: Take on the challenge of getting 25 near misses in any BMW while being chased by cops to unlock the New BMW M2 Coupé (2023). Players can prove their notoriety by taking on new Daily, Weekly, and One Shot Challenges to earn XP and build their Bank.

• In-Game Store: Three new premium customization and cosmetics content packs, which include new cars, cosmetics, driving effects and more, will be available in the in-game store.

• Need for Speed™ Unbound – Trick or Street Swag Pack: Available for $14.99, this premium pack contains the Legendary Custom MINI John Cooper Works Countryman '17, as well as an incredible range of classically designed artwork inspired by the rubber hose style of the golden age of American animation. These designs are featured across items including a clothing pack, Skeleton Head mask, a driving effect, an exclusive horn, and more.

• Need for Speed™ Unbound -  Volkswagen Beetle (1963) Legendary Custom Pack: This pack is available for $9.99 and offers players the Legendary Custom Volkswagen Beetle (1963) (custom bodykit and livery) and a 10 level Speed Pass boost, which will reward them with 10 exciting new cosmetic or customization items.

• Need for Speed™ Unbound - Vol.5 Customs Pack: This new customs pack offers players 3  new exclusive Custom Builds, including Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport (2017), BMW i8 Coupé (2018) and Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupe (2018) for $5.99.

• EA PLAY Subscriber Reward: EA Play subscribers will be able to enjoy their reward of the Epic Custom Mercury Cougar (1967).

Need for Speed™ Unbound is built for the new generation of technology and features 4K resolution at 60 FPS for the first time in the series. Volume 5 goes live on October 12 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. 

Need For Speed Unbound: The Volume 3 update has officially arrived

With Father’s Day (and Mother’s Day, too) now a thing of the past, it’s time to really get into letting your money stack up avoiding the late night outings and present-buying with ample hours of Need For Speed Unbound gaming goals activated. What’s better than campaign and multi-player mode? How about embracing everything Volume 3 has to offer?

Need For Speed Unbound’s Volume 3 is now available

It’s the second in a series of post-launch updates delivering some intense new races, hard-hitting playlists and new ways to earn XP - not to mention all the quirky fun cosmetics and customizations awaiting your tinkering. Oh, did I mention the DMC Delorean (1981) is officially available? Oh yes.

In Need for Speed Unbound Volume 3, players will come together to crush new challenges and earn XP for rewards. This update introduces Speed Pass, a new way to get rewarded for completing challenges and events across Lakeshore to earn big rewards, like the new Legendary Custom SRT Viper. Players will also take part in intense stunt-based driving challenges against the clock in new Linkups, allowing them to earn XP for Speed Pass and Bank to earn new cosmetics and customizations. Additionally, Volume 3 brings new events, Daily and Weekly Challenges, Chat Wheel, and much more.

The new content coming to Need for Speed Unbound Volume 3 includes:

• Speed Pass: Rank up with Speed Pass, a new progression system with free cosmetics and customization items as a reward for playing. Enjoy 75 tiers of content, including new outfits, Driving Effects, neon lights, banner stickers and more. Complete challenges to earn XP for sweet rewards, like the new Legendary Custom SRT Viper (2014).

• Linkups: Take a break from the track and tear across the map to one of seven locations, from the Seba Ski Resort to the Quarry. Join up with the Lakeshore community to crush stunt-based challenges and complete collective goals of escalating difficulty against the clock over four rounds. Players will be rewarded with XP for Speed Pass and Bank to earn sweet cosmetics and customizations; complete 12 rounds of the Linkups event to win the new DMC Delorean.

• More Ways to Play: Compete in 68 new Challenges, including 29 new Daily Challenges and 13 sets of different Weekly Challenges, to earn XP and Bank; players will also have access to the new Chat Wheel, which offers new ways to communicate quickly with the Lakeshore community. New Drift Playlists inject even more variety into the mix, challenging players to earn as much score as they can through each course.

• In-Game Store: Head to the in-game store to purchase new content packs* which include cars, cosmetics, driving effects and more, including:

• Robojets Swag Pack: Available for $14.99, players have access to an incredible range of uniquely designed Robojets-themed items, including a clothing pack, a Driving Effect, an exclusive horn and a Legendary Custom, the Mazda RX-7 Spirit R (2022).

• Ford Mustang GT Legendary Custom Pack: This pack is available for $9.99 and includes the Legendary Custom Ford Mustang GT (2015), and a 10 level Speed Pass boost which will reward players by unlocking exciting new cosmetic or customization items.

• Volume 3 Customs Pack: Enjoy access to the Volvo 242 DL (1975), the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport(2016) and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X (2008) Epic Customs - all for $5.99.

Need for Speed Unbound is built for the new generation of technology and features 4K resolution at 60 FPS for the first time in the series. Volume 3 is now live on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.

Need For Speed: The 'Unbound' Volume 2 update is officially on deck

Can you feel it coming in the air tonight? Well, whether you can or can’t isn’t important - what is though? How about the fact Need For Speed Unbound Volume 2 arriving Tuesday, March 21? It’s all about the gang-gang fun in one of the best racing games on the market with new ways to compare and compete in Lakeshore Online.

It’s all about online fun in Need For Speed Unbound Volume 2 update

Whether you just want a new way to hit the streets or really need unique ways to up those rewards, the newest update has you fully covered.

In Need for Speed Unbound - Volume 2, players will have access to new features, new rewards - including new rides, cosmetics and more. The update also delivers fresh ways to compete on Lakeshore’s streets with daily challenges, a variety of new playlists and events – with cops roaming the streets in multiplayer – and the new Keys to the Map DLC.

A list of all the exciting content coming to Need for Speed Unbound - Volume 2 is below:

• New Ways to Hit the Streets: Enjoy a plethora of additional content, including Endurance Events and brand-new Rumble Races. Players can also provoke cops into thrilling high-speed multiplayer chases with the help of friends, or turn the tables to play against them to earn the biggest rewards.

• More Ways to Play: Compete in 40 new challenges, including 3 new daily challenges to earn rewards including XP and Bank; players can also take on new Hot Laps circuits for an intense 30-second rush as they race against the clock to earn new reward content. New Playlist Events inject even more variety into the mix; complete Playlists to earn big rewards, including a Rare Custom Lotus Emira Balmain Edition.

• Rewards: Players can show off their style on the streets of Lakeshore with new driving effects, poses, stickers and more.

• Keys to the Map DLC: Available for $4.99, this DLC reveals the map location of all 260 collectibles (100 Bears, 80 Street Art, and 80 Billboards) and 160 activities. It also comes with an exclusive “Fury and Zen” clothing pack, including a jacket, T-shirt, sweatpants and cap.

The new 'Need For Speed Unbound' is beyond must-play it's a must-own

It’s rare for me to take the time to stop my regular routine to spare nearly three hours for gaming goals. In all fairness, trying out the new Need For Speed Unbound is more for review purposes but what seemed like it would be a five-minute session easily turned into multi-hours of gaming on the new title. It’s must-own. Forget just playing it.

Sure, there’s trials and GameFly opportunities available for new titles but from the opening sequence and hearing A$AP Rocky’s signature voice - and the pleasant curse words of ‘shit’ on a teen-rated game? It allowed me to quickly put aside my personal preference of playing only mature-rated games and seeing this new EA game packs as much punch as the promotion suggests.

The hype was built a few months ago when buzz ignited about a much-needed Need For Speed video game coming out for the next generation consoles. Let’s be honest - the last title, Need For Speed Heat, is still very much a thrill-seeking and adrenaline rush adventure but with it being a 2019 rollout, at best you’re going to experience a revamped and optimized version of a title made for the power of an Xbox One and Playstation 4.

Now enter Need For Speed Unbound - completely put together for 2022 and beyond but most importantly for the powerful systems of the Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, specifically. Getting to play this on the PS5? Oh my goodness. Love at first play.

The game has the gritty and fun feel of the prior releases but the decision to go with a more comic-looking cutscenes and appeal gives it a vibe you’re going to simply love. Fast-forwarding a bit?

The clothing options are fucking insane.

Yes. I said it and if you know anything about me? I hardly ever curse - at least not outside of wearing a headset and playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 or catching feelings toward someone in Madden or NBA 2K23.

The rollout of clothes are the fuel you’ll instantly use to get you wanting to immediately start racing and getting your funds up.

Fila. Vans. Very fresh. But having my heart crushed at seeing the epic-looking Versace choices and seeing my character had zip-zero funds to purchase? You better believe I could not wait to get to the racing scene and start getting my money up.

The amount of customization in this release is breathtaking. You can honestly spend an hour alone in customizing your character. From the hairstyles, color arrangements and head shape to deciding just how much of a fashion drip you want with your fit? It’s all there for the taking.

This is probably the perfect moment to highlight some great key points for all you folks itching to give Need For Speed Unbound a chance:

• Welcome to Lakeshore City: Your goal is to make enough Bank through the week to pay the buy-in for the weekly Qualifier, upgrade and customize your rides to enter The Grand and win it all to walk away with $1,000,000 Bank. To get those big rewards, you have to take risks. The more you race and win, the higher your Heat and the bigger rewards you’ll get in races and avoiding getting busted by Lakeshore’s police. Get caught and lose your hard earned cash. It’s all about risk vs reward. Check out the blog for more details and tips to get you started.

• Lakeshore Online: No two races are the same in Lakeshore Online, the online multiplayer experience in Need for Speed Unbound. Party up with friends, challenge other racers on the server, make Bank, buy cars and upgrade them visually and performance–wise, and keep going. Cross-play is available in Lakeshore Online, the online multiplayer experience in Need for Speed Unbound. 

• Ride in Style: Need for Speed Unbound is all about expressing yourself. Personalize your character, customize and upgrade your ride, dial in your Driving Effects, and stand out with your Banner (Lakeshore Online only). Complete Events, Challenges, and Activities to unlock more items with which you can customize your ride and character with household names like Champion and Vans, footwear giants like PUMA and FILA, streetwear heavyweights like Palace and Born x Raised, and legendary houses like Versace.

• Master the Art of Drifting: Drifting fills up your Burst Nitrous meter faster and lets you slide around corners with style. Choose how you initiate drifting between brake & throttle stab (on by default), brake only, and gas only to find the right fit. Take some time to go through the menu and experiment with these styles to see what feels best for you. Favoring the brake will give you a clean and distinct turn-in - reliable but not the fastest. Hitting the throttle is the smoothest way to go sideways and maintain the most speed into the corner but it takes more precision to pull off cleanly. Hit the handbrake to drift regardless of the option you have selected - It won’t be the fastest way to do it but will guarantee a sharp turn, perfect for when you’ve overshot your entry.

• Risk vs Reward: Every race gives you Heat. Choose to take on less races and you’ll gain less Heat and get an easy ride home, but you’ll also earn way less cash. If you get busted by the cops, whatever Bank they find on you is theirs so make sure to bank your Bank.  live on the edge, taking on more races and building their Heat before outrunning swarms of cops to get to the nearest spot to stash their big payout. Balancing risk with the rewards and keep these tips in mind: 1) Bank your Bank 2) Choose your escape - outrun, outmaneuver, outbattle 3) Every cop vehicle has a weaknesses - know what they are 4) Be unpredictable and consider sneaking as an option 5) Higher heat events with bigger payouts happen at night.

• Adjusting Game Settings to your Preference: Need for Speed Unbound offers a ton of customization to help players customize their experience in Lakeshore City. Make sure to head to the Main Menu and check out Settings to view or change preferences for Accessibility, Controls & Driving settings, Graphics & Audio and more. 

Is it too early to say I love this game? Nope. I really have fallen in love with the culture of racing games but what Need For Speed has done for decades? It’s like taking the beauty of Grand Theft Auto Online’s racing and just turning it into your own paradise.

You’ll instantly fall in love with your characters but the 4K resolution and crisp looks at the sights and sounds presented to you in this game? Insanely stunning. Much like Need For Speed Heat, having the cross-play feature back is very key. Having friends on both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, the most crushing thing about trying to get a Party Chat going is it’s non-existent when you want everyone connected. The problem fades away with Need For Speed Unbound.

Just a few hours into the game and I’m blown away. EA continues to push the culture forward with its releases and puts razor sharp focus on making sure the brand leads the way with new technology and enough bang to hang with all the big consoles.

If you’re still on the fence on whether or not Need For Speed Unbound is worth the dollar amount, rest assured - EA has you covered as well. How does free-99 sound? Well - sorta. 10 hours of trying out Need For Speed Unbound with no commitment? It’s the least you can expect from being an EA Play member.

Today, EA Play members can race to the top with a 10-hour Early Access trial - days before release - while EA Play Pro members can get unlimited access to Need for Speed Unbound Palace Edition. EA Play Pro members who play the game will also have access to four stunning custom cars, a clothing pack, driving effect, decals and license plate, as well as a character pose and banner artwork. 

Early access to Need for Speed Unbound puts players in the driver seat of their own street racing fantasy as they outsmart cops and prove they have what it takes to win The Grand, Lakeshore’s ultimate street racing challenge. The game brings an all-new, unique visual style blending elements of street art with the most realistic looking cars in the franchise’s history. Built for the new generation of technology, Need for Speed Unbound features 4K resolution at 60 FPS for the first time in the series. 

With EA Play’s 10-hour trials, players can get their hands on select new releases – like Need for Speed Unbound – and if they decide to buy, they can save 10% on their purchase of the full game (plus, their saved progress will carry over). Need for Speed fans score monthly with EA Play, with a selection of member-only rewards alongside a myriad of monthly rewards for several other fan-favorite games.

Buckle up and start your engine. December 2 can’t come soon enough for the world to pull up to the finish line and secure their own.