The Need for Speed video game franchise is over twenty years old. The first game in the series came out way back in 1994, and it has had over 22 versions since then (an average of more than one per year). One would think that with a franchise this old with such devoted fans, there would be constant pressure from Ghost and EA Games to squeeze as much money out of the players with downloadable content (DLC) and Microtransactions for the recently released Need for Speed reboot. That doesn't look like this will happen, and this is what is known about Need for Speed DLC Release Date and Reviews.
The latest version of the racing game is not going to have any microtransactions, and there will be no plans for any paid downloadable content (DLC). CNET recently interviewed creative director Craig Sullivan to share why the popular video game franchise took this approach.
Sullivan said that "Everything we're doing is focusing on listening to what the fans are asking for. They're certainly not saying to us, 'Can you build a load of stuff and charge us for it?' They're not saying that, so we're not doing that. I know some people when we do press like this, they say, 'Yeah, but I'm sure it'll all change in a week or two, or six months.' It's not going to. The plan is that there are no transactions in this game. All of the content that we're going to give you--a pretty substantial amount in the future, starting pretty soon--is going to be free. That's what players deserve."
So it looks like Need for Speed players can be content that their DLC will be free, at least for now. The game doesn't even have any in-game store, so it is not possible to get any paid DLC or microtransactions at this present time. Right now, paid expansion packs and microtransactions are big for games like Destiny, as well as newer games like Halo 5: Guardians, Assassin's Creed Syndicate, as well as Rise of the Tomb Raider.
That being said, what can be expected for Need for Speed DLC? Most likely, it will be some extra cars, which makes a lot of sense. However, PlayStation Lifestyle asked Executive Producer Marcus Nilsson what his plans for DLC for Need for Speed, and he said that the studio has "pretty significant plans" for the game to make sure that fans will play Need for Speed longer than its previous iterations. They also plan to have more DLC than just extra car packs, but candidly admitted that they didn't know what they had in store in an interview held last August.
So far, there hasn't been any official release date on when the free DLC will be released for Need for Speed, but it would make sense if it was delayed until after the holiday season. There should be more than enough in an average video game to keep players occupied for at least a month, so it would make sense if it was delayed until 2016.
Need for Speed was released to Xbox One and PlayStation 4 on November 3rd, and it has been receiving some mediocre reviews like three out of five stars on IGN.
