EAs Need for Speed Franchise Races Past 100 Million Copies

October 21, 2009

EA’s
Need for Speed Franchise Races Past 100 Million Copies

Innovation and Intensity are the
Only Constant for a Racing Franchise that Re-Invents Itself Year After Year

Electronic Arts Inc. is proud to
announce today that the Need for Speed franchise has surpassed 100M units sold
life to date.* The newest release, Need for Speed SHIFT, pushes the franchise
over the 100M mark, making it the best-selling racing brand in the gaming world.
Need for Speed has become a driving force for innovation in the racing genre.
Known for delivering unparalleled white-knuckle racing, creative customization
and street style, the Need for Speed series has generated over $2.7B in
life-to-date sales and has become a powerful pop culture phenomenon.

“Few videogame franchises ever reach
the 100M units mark, so this is a huge honor. We have millions of fans to thank
for driving us to this milestone,” said Frank Gibeau, president, EA Games Label.
“With the launch of Need for Speed SHIFT and the upcoming release of Need for
Speed NITRO, we hope to continue to deliver the most entertaining, action-packed
racing experiences.”

Since the release of Need for Speed
in 1994, the franchise has…

  • Launched 15 blockbuster titles
    across more than 14 platforms

  • Released in 22 languages in over
    60 countries

  • Players have raced over 279
    billion miles of roads & race tracks

  • Generated over 17 trillion
    user-generated vehicle customizations

  • Featured actors, models &
    musicians including: Brooke Burke (Wild On), Christina Milian (Ghosts of
    Girlfriends Past), Emmanuelle Vaugier (Two and a Half Men), Josie Maran
    (Sports Illustrated swimsuit model and actress), Maggie Q (Mission: Impossible
    III), Kanye West, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Prodigy

  • Debuted exclusive remix from Snoop
    Dogg of The Doors’ classic song Riders on the Storm

  • Sold more games than all new
    passenger cars sales in the U.S since 1994**

  • If Need for Speed boxes were laid
    out end-to-end, it would span 173,609 football fields

  • 100M units represents nearly every
    household in the United States and is 3x the population of Canada

This year, there are three titles
being launched under the Need for Speed franchise. Need for Speed SHIFT delivers
a true driver’s experience and has been heralded by press worldwide for being
the most exciting and polished Need for Speed game in years. SHIFT is available
on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, and PlayStation Portable. Shipping in
November, Need for Speed NITRO has been developed specifically for the Wii and
Nintendo DS to capture the fun and exhilaration of arcade racing at 200 MPH.
Need for Speed World Online for the PC is the largest open world game in the
history of Need for Speed, with an extensive roster of licensed cars and game
modes – all for free online. The game follows the free to play business model
which generates revenue through advertising and in-game item sales. World Online
will begin the beta process in Taiwan this winter and will open to players
around the world in fall 2010.

More information about the Need for
Speed franchise can be found at
www.needforspeed.com,
or follow it on Twitter at NeedforSpeed. 

*According to internal EA data

**93.8 Million according to Bureau
of Transportation Statistics