The last Need for Speed, released on consoles last year, really wasn’t terrible. It was an attempt by Ghost Games and EA to go back to the series roots a little and it was mostly successful. A few issues (and a few really, really annoying characters) let the game down a little, but they’ve since largely been fixed, and much of the annoying stuff’s been excised too. If you’ve not played it, it’ll certainly be worth taking for a spin – especially on PC.
The PC version is coming mid-way through March, bringing with it a host of improvements only a platform like the PC can provide: 4K visuals, Manual Transmission, Wheel Support and an unlocked framerate. The question, of course, is what sort of hardware you’ll need to run the game. Ghost Games has answered.
Here’s the sort of machine you’ll need.
Minimum Requirements for 720p30 at low settings:
- OS: 64-bit Windows 7 or later
- Processor: Intel Core i3-4130 or equivalent with 4 hardware threads
- Memory: 6GB RAM
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB, AMD Radeon HD 7850 2GB, or equivalent DX11 compatible GPU with 2GB of memory
- Hard Drive: 30 GB free space
Recommended Requirements for 1080p60 at high settings:
- OS: 64-bit Windows 7 or later
- Processor: Intel Core i5-4690 or equivalent with 4 hardware threads
- Memory: 8GB RAM
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 4GB, AMD Radeon R9 290 4GB, or equivalent DX11 compatible GPU with 4GB of memory
- Hard Drive: 30 GB free space
They don’t say what sort of hardware you’ll need to be packing to hit those sweet, sweet 4K visuals. On top of that, they’re released a list of the wheels that the game will support.
Supported Wheels
- Logitech G27
- Logitech G29
- Logitech G920
- Thrustmaster TX
- Thrustmaster T150
- Thrustmaster T300
- Thrustmaster T500
- Fanatec CSR
“Not the best of reboots, but certainly not the worst, the latest Need For Speed plays it safe with a reborn franchise that is focused on finding the lust for momentum that it had lost in previous instalments. A solid start, even if it doesn’t finish ahead of the pack.”
From all of the patching though, his stance has softened a bit, and the game is decidedly more fun to play. It’s coming to Pc on March 17.
Last Updated: February 19, 2016
VampyreSquirrel
February 19, 2016 at 08:10
That’s a pretty wide range of cards from the 750 to the 970, and from the HD7850 to the R9 290… should give a lot of play room for many people to be able to play and enjoy the game… if they don’t have it on a console already.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
February 19, 2016 at 08:12
Support for a fanatec wheel in an arcade racer… Ok…
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 19, 2016 at 08:20
Er… Am I misunderstanding something… or does the PC version get manual transmission while console version only has automatic? Because…if so… um… BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA OMG BWHAHAHAHAHA OMG *dies*
Commander Admiral Chief
February 19, 2016 at 08:24
xD
Umar
February 19, 2016 at 08:25
They’re updating the console versions with manual transmission. Find it funny it was omitted at all
Captain JJ and his ensigns
February 19, 2016 at 08:25
It was the only reason why I refused to go near the game.
Commander Admiral Chief
February 19, 2016 at 08:26
I thought it was because you are intimidated by proper cars?
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 19, 2016 at 08:27
I know I’m intimidated by German engineering. Particularly the software engineering. That shit can kill me.
Captain JJ and his ensigns
February 19, 2016 at 08:28
Proof why I don’t find you intimidating.
Commander Admiral Chief
February 19, 2016 at 08:30
Most other cars >>> KIA
Captain JJ and his ensigns
February 19, 2016 at 08:31
One day you too will understand how mechanics and design work.
Commander Admiral Chief
February 19, 2016 at 08:34
Mechanics + design + KIA = bwahahahahahahahaaaaaahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Captain JJ and his ensigns
February 19, 2016 at 08:34
Shame
Commander Admiral Chief
February 19, 2016 at 08:35
Friends don’t let friends drive crappy cars, hence why I constantly rag you about it
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 19, 2016 at 08:42
Is he still in the one litre brandy, two litre coke, three litre Cortina phase?
Commander Admiral Chief
February 19, 2016 at 08:46
I’m not close enough to the western parts of SnorToria to qualify
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 19, 2016 at 08:47
From where we are, it all looks the same.
Commander Admiral Chief
February 19, 2016 at 08:49
Sorry, forgot, the republic of cape town thinks everything outside is strange
Hammersteyn
February 19, 2016 at 08:50
Not strange, scary as f**k
Umar
February 19, 2016 at 08:28
It’s incredible. What’s the thought prcess behind leaving out manual, something that’s been in racing games even in 90’s games.
Captain JJ and his ensigns
February 19, 2016 at 08:32
Well, EA said themselves that the game is complex enough as it is.
An arcade racer
complex
……
….
then the execs over at EA probably all wear shoes with Velcro, because tying shoelaces must be just too complex.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
February 19, 2016 at 11:31
Ergh, Uhm, that’s like saying a BiebBLURGH, urgh, this again, a pop song is too complex, so they left out the song writing…
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 19, 2016 at 08:26
Oh good. Kinda silly not to do that if they’re doing it for the PC.
HairyEwok
February 19, 2016 at 08:33
It’s their next selling point for the game… NFS, now with manual transmission!
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 19, 2016 at 08:44
We should all be grateful they’re not charging for it. Gearbox (heh, the irony) would.
Hammersteyn
February 19, 2016 at 08:49
Because it would f**k up the AI rubber banding when you shift from 2nd to 5th
Hammersteyn
February 19, 2016 at 08:50
fixed
Commander Admiral Chief
February 19, 2016 at 09:02
When I shit from 2nd to 5th, the toilet paper better be in the fridge
Hammersteyn
February 19, 2016 at 09:18
Its FIXED, leave me alone!
Captain JJ and his ensigns
February 19, 2016 at 08:26
XD
Hammersteyn
February 19, 2016 at 08:49
I read it as micro transaction and not manual transmission O_o
Captain JJ and his ensigns
February 19, 2016 at 08:25
They actually put in manual transmission.
Looks like EA actually do read some of their customer rants after all.
Only took them 5 years to figure it out too.
That must be a new record for EA.
Viking Of Science
February 19, 2016 at 10:07
But Didn’t Most Wanted (2005) and Carbon have Manual options? I’m fairly sure they did…
Captain JJ and his ensigns
February 19, 2016 at 10:22
The first Most Wanted and Carbon did have manual in, yes. And both were decent games. But that’s more than 5 years ago. 😀
Viking Of Science
February 19, 2016 at 10:31
Christ now I Feel old as Balls!
The Sten
February 19, 2016 at 08:26
“Thrustmaster”
Captain JJ and his ensigns
February 19, 2016 at 08:27
Only thing is, even considering all the improvements. The game is kind of old news now that it’s been out on console for so long. So I’d rather wait longer and buy it on sale than fork out full price for a game that’s hype has come and gone already.
Commander Admiral Chief
February 19, 2016 at 08:30
Oh for fork sake
Captain JJ and his ensigns
February 19, 2016 at 08:33
It’s the truth man. It wasn’t a timed exclusive only because they didn’t call it that, but it’s the same thing.
Besides it being EA and me not buying anything of theirs unless it’s dirt cheap.
Commander Admiral Chief
February 19, 2016 at 08:34
What if it comes with a day-one make-up bag?
VampyreSquirrel
February 19, 2016 at 08:40
I’d rather get it like I got the “newer” Most Wanted… free from EA themselves. 😛
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
February 19, 2016 at 11:38
I’d rather go with a new and more realistic racing game for now, wait it out and when it has a price reduction of about free, then I’ll consider getting it, rubber banding opponents is the most simplistic form of describing how little effort was put into creating a racing game, no matter how you look at it…
Captain JJ and his ensigns
February 19, 2016 at 11:56
Yea man. True
HairyEwok
February 19, 2016 at 08:31
That is the most in-depth system requirements list I have ever seen, It gives you the fps you’ll get at that certain resolution AND even how many hardware threads you need woot!
Pariah
February 19, 2016 at 08:49
… K this graphics card stuff is making me sad. To play at 1080 you need a 970? Dafuq man…
Viking Of Science
February 19, 2016 at 10:06
You Could Probably get the same on a 780…. i Believe what they listed, are just what they actually tested on… I mean, this is still EA we’re talking about
Tammie Hawkins
February 19, 2016 at 09:18
Very Good………..
Dane
February 19, 2016 at 09:53
I wish I had just bought myself a R50 soccer ball when I was 13. A R50 freakin’ soccer ball.
Fox1 - Retro
February 19, 2016 at 10:18
Game is often going on sale for R299 on XBL. Still not worth it after playing the early access. There’s more “juice” in Forza Horizon 2 pres. Fast Furious.