Honestly? I’m finding it harder and harder to get into subscription services when you can just take the monthly payments and just purchase solid video games like Need for Speed Unbound - however, whether you own this traditionally or can’t get enough of it on your EA Play sub, the bottom line is the ‘Vol. 8 Cops Vs. Racers’ update is insanely fun.

Just personally speaking? Owning this game is beyond awesome and fun - so pardon my mini-rant on the subs discussion. This is a title I see myself playing for years and when you have major updates like this one? Giddy up and get pumped about this Vol. 8 drop.

Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) and Criterion Games™ revealed Need for Speed™ Unbound Vol. 8: Cops vs. Racers*, the latest in a series of live service updates to the game. Launching on August 22 on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, Vol. 8 continues to deliver the ultimate Need for Speed experience in one place with the return of the classic Hot Pursuit mode, drawing inspiration from Need for Speed Hot Pursuit. The volume will introduce Pursuit Tech and all-new Cop Progression, plus the arrival of the iconic Porsche 959 S ‘87 and new meta-car candidate, Lotus Evija ‘23.
Players can relive the original thrill of the chase with high-octane, 4v4 action in Vol. 8’s Hot Pursuit mode, pitting Cops against Racers in a fierce battle to see who truly owns the streets. Players will experience two intense rounds, swapping roles between Cop and Racer. As a Racer, the goal is to reach the finish line without getting busted. As a Cop, players can utilize a range of Pursuit Tech, including Spike Strips, EMPs, and the ESF battering ram, coordinate with their squad, and get support from AI units to thwart Racers. Those embarking on the Cop Career can unlock nine unique cop customs inspired by police forces worldwide as they rise through the ranks.

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“Vol. 8 bridges the past and present of the Need for Speed franchise and brings back the fan-favourite Cop Vs Racer battles that our players crave in this Hot Pursuit mode,” said John Stanley, Senior Creator Director at Criterion Games. “We’ve captured the essence of the iconic heart-pounding chases that are at the core of the Need for Speed DNA and infused them with modern thrills that we hope everyone will enjoy.”
In Vol. 8, The League, Free Roam’s single-player progression system first introduced in Vol. 7, is also refreshed with new opponents, and Speed Pass* offers more cars and cosmetics up for grabs. Racers can unlock 45 tiers of customization content, including the Lotus Evija ‘23, a futuristic and fully customizable hypercar with nearly 2000 horsepower. The Vol. 8Premium Speed Pass** brings 30 additional tiers of unlockable content, the 80s legendary Porsche 959 S ’87, fully customizable with three bodykits, and an additional five Rare Custom versions of both new cars arriving in this volume, including two original Speedhunters designs and two NFS Legends customs.
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.
For more information about the game and Vol. 8’s new and returning features, please visit Need for Speed’s website and follow @NeedforSpeed on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates.