EA Autolog

Need for Speed
Series typeface and logo used since the 2015 reboot.
Genres	Racing
Developer(s)	Current Ghost Games (2013–present) Firemonkeys Studios (2012–present) Previous Criterion Games (2010–13) EA Black Box (2002–11) EA Bright Light (2009) EA Canada (1994–2000) Eden Studios (1998–2000) Exient Entertainment (2006–10) Firebrand Games (2008–11) Piranha Games (2008) Slightly Mad Studios (2009–11)
Publisher(s)	Electronic Arts
Platforms	List 3DO Android Game Boy Advance iOS Microsoft Windows Mobile game MS-DOS Nintendo 3DS Nintendo DS Nintendo GameCube OS X PlayStation PlayStation 2 PlayStation 3 PlayStation 4 PlayStation Portable PlayStation Vita Sega Saturn Wii Wii U Windows Mobile Windows Phone Xbox Xbox 360 Xbox One Zeebo
Platform of origin	3DO
Year of inception	1994
First release	The Need for Speed August 31, 1994
Latest release	Need for Speed Payback November 10, 2017

Need for Speed, also known by its initials NFS, is a racing video game franchise published by Electronic Arts and currently developed by Ghost Games. The series centers around illicit street racing and in general tasks players to complete various types of races while evading the local law enforcement in police pursuits. The series released its first title, The Need for Speed in 1994. The most recent game, Need for Speed Payback, was released on November 10, 2017.

The series has been overseen and had games developed by multiple notable teams over the years including EA Black Box and Criterion Games, the developers of Burnout. The franchise has been critically well received and is one of the most successful video game franchises of all time, selling over 150 million copies of games. Due to its strong sales, the franchise has expanded into other forms of media including a film adaptation and licensed Hot Wheels toys.

Almost all of the games in the NFS series employ the same fundamental rules and similar mechanics: the player controls a race car in a variety of races, the goal being to win the race. In the tournament/career mode, the player must win a series of races in order to unlock vehicles and tracks. Before each race, the player chooses a vehicle and has the option of selecting either an automatic or manual transmission. All games in the series have some form of multiplayer mode allowing players to race one another via a split screen, a LAN or the Internet. Since Need for Speed: High Stakes, the series has also integrated car body customization into gameplay.