EA has just the one Need for Speed racing franchise, but the brand operates more as an umbrella division than a congruous series. In November, the publisher released the Criterion Games-developed Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, which melded Criterion's Burnout stunt racing franchise with a cops-and-robbers chase sequence bent, to substantial critical acclaim. Next up, EA's simulation-style NFS will take the stage, with the publisher announcing today a March 29 release date for Shift 2 Unleashed.

　　In-cockpit racing will again be an emphasis for the NFS: Shift series. EA began its diversification of the NFS brand with the original Shift in 2009. Unlike its campy predecessor, Need for Speed Undercover, Shift focused more on the experience of driving and was oriented around first-person, in-cockpit-perspective racing. The game also featured more licensed cars than any previous installment in the series, as well as a number of real-world tracks, including the UK's Brands Hatch course.

　　For Shift 2, EA's Slightly Mad Studios has again been tasked with development, and the game will be available for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. Within the package, gamers will find a number of different modes, including 40 single-type race events, where the playing field is leveled and gamers compete in the same make of car.

　　Gamers will also find the Old vs. New Challenge events, where classic cars go head-to-head with their modern-day counterparts, as well as the Manufacturer Showdown, which pits rival companies against one another on the track.

　　For more information, check out GameSpot's previous coverage of NFS: Shift 2 Unleashed.

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　　Shift 2 Unleashed: Need for Speed Marcus Nilsson Interview

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