When Will EA Reveal Need for Speed 2022?

With Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown delayed until 2023, all eyes are on the next Need for Speed. Currently in development by Criterion Games and Codemasters Cheshire, Need for Speed 2022 is reportedly on track for a November release. EA has officially confirmed a new Need for Speed game will launch in FY 23 Q3 between 1 October and 31 December this year.

Despite this, Need for Speed 2022 still hasn’t been shown. So, when will EA reveal Need for Speed 2022? 

When will EA reveal Need for Speed 2022?

Although Need for Speed 2022 is rumoured for a November release, we haven’t seen any official teasers, screenshots, trailers, or gameplay footage yet. However, this isn’t surprising when you look at the marketing of the last NFS game, Need for Speed Heat.

Need for Speed Heat was officially announced on 14 August 2019 in a reveal trailer – just three months before it was released in November of the same year. Kylotonn Games could learn a few lessons here, as Test Drive Solar Crown due in 2023 was announced too early judging from the recent lacklustre trailer with no gameplay footage.

After NFS Heat was announced, a gameplay trailer was shown on 19 August during EA’s presentation at Gamescom 2019. While E3 2022 was cancelled, Gamecom 2022 is going ahead this year on 24-29 August. But that doesn’t mean Need for Speed 2022 will be shown at Gamescom this year.

Like Sony, Activision, and Nintendo, EA has pulled out of Gamescom this year, ruling out the possibility of Need for Speed 2022 making an appearance at the show. Instead, EA is hosting its own live events to show off new unannounced games. Alas, this makes it difficult to pinpoint exactly when Need for Speed 2022 will be revealed.

Last month, reliable leaker Tom Henderson claimed EA will reveal the new Need for Speed, Skate 4, and Fifa 23 in July. It’s nearly the end of July but Need for Speed 2022 still hasn’t been revealed.

When asked for an update by a fan, Henderson said Need for Speed was “meant to be revealed this month”. Apparently, an internal presentation for the next Need for Speed has been “pushed back slightly.”

Despite this, the next Need for Speed could still be revealed by the end of July. In mid-July, EA shared early work-in-progress footage of Skate 4, confirming the title will be free-to-play.

Last week also saw the reveal of FIFA 23 - the last Fifa title developed by EA Sports. That just leaves Need for Speed as the only new EA title yet to be revealed.

If Henderson's initial report is true, then there's a good chance Need for Speed 2022 will finally be revealed this week before the end of July. If not, we can expect to see a reveal trailer by mid-August at the latest if EA is targetting a November release.

It’s also worth keeping an eye on the official Need for Speed social media accounts. If an announcement is coming in a few weeks, EA will likely tease the next Need for Speed on social media to build excitement.

What do we know about Need for Speed 2022 so far?

Need for Speed 2022 is in development by Criterion Games, the Guildford-based studio behind the Burnout series as well as the 2010 Need for Speed Hot Pursuit and 2012 Need for Speed Most Wanted games. Following a merger with Criterion Games, Codemasters Cheshire, the team behind DiRT 5, is also working on the new Need for Speed.

According to rumours, Need for Speed 2022 will be set in a new location inspired by Chicago called Lake Shore. A leaked image of the in-game map shows there will be a variety of locations to explore, from city streets to twisty mountain roads.

Need for Speed 2022 will also adopt an unusual visual style. VentureBeat’s Jeff Grubb recently said the new NFS will combine realistic graphics with anime elements. Henderson has also backed this up, saying that smoke, wind, and fire effects will come off the car when driving fast or drifting.

As for the name of the title, rumours suggest Need for Speed Heat's sequel will be called Need for Speed Unbound, but this is not confirmed.

There’s no official release date yet, but Henderson says the new Need for Speed is launching on 4 November. It may also be a current-gen exclusive. This means the next Need for Speed could skip PS4 and Xbox One allowing the developers to maximise the game’s potential on PS5 and Xbox Series X.