Gamasutra reports that EA has launched a closed beta for the first MMO racing game based on its Need For Speed franchise. The company is recruiting players to help test Need For Speed World in preparation for an expected summer release on PC. Gamasutra says the strategy behind the game is twofold. EA has been vocal about expanding the digital portion of its game business, and doing so using its popular franchises such as Need For Speed, Madden football and Tiger Woods golf. It also wants to turn the Need For Speed franchise into a line of online racing titles catered to different markets. The game’s announcement described Need For Speed World as offering 150 miles of open world racing based in different cities and with an an unparalleled social experience. EA also trumpeted the game as the world’s first MMO racer, a statement that Gamasutra points out surprisingly ignores the company s own previous effort with Motor City Online,” among other games.
Read more at Gamasutra.
