Hot on the heels of announcing “Year 2” support for Need for Speed Unbound, EA is today revealing the first of the year’s four content updates — also available from today.
Volume 6 brings along a number of changes, tweaks, and of course new content as EA looks at building the title into “the ultimate NFS experience, all in one place”. The headline act for that is the return of the Audi brand to the series after it was absent from Heat.
There’s a total of three models from the brand, with the 2019 R8 supercar and S5 Sportback returning from Payback and the first appearance of the 2020 model RS6 Avant wagon. Naturally all three come with a wide range of custom visual upgrades, and there’s special rare custom models of each too — although there’s a small catch on that one.
That comes with the introduction of a new “Premium Speed Pass” tier, which brings new and exclusive cosmetics under a paid, $/€9.99 add-on to the regular Speed Pass.
This new 30-level pass unlocks as you gain XP, giving exclusive Rare Custom versions of the three new Audis, as well as instant access to the RS6 Avant, a special bodykit for the RS6, and new “projections” and “infinity” rims and plates.
Of course the regular Speed Pass continues with its 45-level progression system. You’ll earn the Audi R8 and S5 as rewards along the path, bodykits for both, new banner titles, and new character skins for Justicia, Ross, and Youmna in multiplayer.
In both cases — whether free or paid — the rewards will only persist until Volume 7 launches, which is currently slated for May to July, so be careful not to miss out if you do buy into the Premium Speed Pass.
Unbound is leaning hard the 30-year history of the game series with new “NFS Legends” content too. You’ll see some of that in the Premium Speed Pass, as the Rare Custom R8 is a replica of the Le Mans Quattro concept car driven by Darius in 2006’s Need for Speed: Carbon.
However it also includes some content that regular players can enjoy, with specific challenges in the Weekly Playlist. The first features the Ferrari Testarossa, harking back to the second-gen 512TR from the original 1994 title, Road & Track Presents: The Need for Speed.
A new “Rank” system will be introduced in Volume 6 too, as a further way of showing off your skills and speed. You’ll earn Rank whether in single-player or multiplayer, allowing you to unlock new decals, banner frames, and banner titles (also added in the update) as you progress to each Rank Division.
That’s accompanied by a new PVP mode, which allows players to race head-to-head directly from the multiplayer garage or in free roam, with 25 new races available right away. There’s also weekly PVP playlists, with three curated lists swapping out each week. These will include NFS Legends events and races centering on the new Audi vehicles to start with, and there’s performance tier lists too.
The Volume 6 update for Unbound launches today on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, and PC, with the Premium Speed Pass available as a $/€9.99 add-on. PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium subscribers can access the game for free through the Game Catalog at the moment, and there’s catch-up packs for the Volume 3 and 4 content available for $/€9.99 apiece.
