PLAY THE INCREDIBLE.

Interview with Will Ho, Creative Director of Need for Speed Payback.

Play the incredible.Interview with Will Ho, Creative Director of Need for Speed Payback.

22. Aug 2017

Yesterday during the Gamescom 2017, BMW presented the world premiere of the brand new BMW M5 with M xDrive (fuel consumption in l/100 km combined: 10.5*; CO2-emissions in g/km combined: 241*) – on the stage of Need for Speed (NFS) Payback. We met Will Ho, Creative Director on the new NFS, for an interview.

Will, NFS Payback is more than just a pure racing game. What is NFS Payback about?
Will Ho: NFS Payback is a revenge story involving a street racing crew pitted against The House, a shadowy organization that controls the city’s competition, casinos, and cops. Our heroes Tyler, Mac, and Jess must build their bank, cars, and reputation to enter an ultimate race in which the winner takes all.

Will Ho, Creative Director of NFS Payback.

The story is set in this fictitious location named Fortune Valley – inspired by Las Vegas. Why there?
Fortune Valley is designed as the ultimate driving sandbox in a gambler’s paradise. We knew we wanted a free open world. Offroading was high on the list. A great variety in landscapes and vistas were a must. So we combined elements from various locations in California, Nevada, and Arizona. We also sprinkled in some elements of Macau and Monte Carlo for good measure.

” BMW M5 is the perfect car for the job. ”

But what our readers are most interested in, what role plays the BMW M5 in all of this?
This game expands our driving canvas from our core racing events to action driving full of blockbuster moments. Racing towards a finish line is one thing. Racing against time, bad guys, and cops in action movie scenarios is quite another. You can’t transport VIPs to safety in a tiny hot hatch or a mid-engine exotic, right? The BMW M5 is a race car for everyday use. That’s why it’s the perfect car for the job.

And how did you get the car into the game?
Our car team is the best in the business, hands down. And we have faithfully recreated BMW cars in NFS for many years now. The Frozen Red paint on the all-new BMW M5 is a unique colour that surprised us. But I think we nailed it.

Bruno Spengler and Frank van Meel play NFS Payback

BMW factory driver Bruno Spengler and Frank van Meel, President of BMW M Division, on a test drive with NFS Payback (from left).

Bruno Spengler, BMW factory driver, Frank van Meel, President of BMW M Division, Marcus Nilsson, Executive Producer Need for Speed, Patrick Söderlund, Executive Vice President EA Worldwide Studios (from left).

Customization was always a key-part of the NFS games. How much customization will be included in Payback?
The last NFS game reset expectations for visual and performance customization in a mainstream driving game. We’ve continued to build on that solid foundation. You have complete creative freedom to express yourself through paint, body kits, and wraps. And we’ve streamlined our performance upgrades and tuning to make it easier for gearheads and casual players to improve and tinker with their cars.

And the customization of the BMW M5?
Every car needs to have NFS level customization, and the BMW M5 is no exception. Start simple with new paint and rims. Go further with new spoilers, mirrors, and lights. Go big with mixable parts from multiple body kits. And make your BMW M5 truly unique with the tools and graphics in our Wrap Editor, which makes any livery you imagine possible.

NFS has always been a multiplayer game, too. What will the multiplayer mode look like?
Online multiplayer is geared towards a streamlined casual experience in which you can easily drop into playlists, match with friends, and compete for minutes or hours. We also have Autolog, for pushing your friends’ best times and scores in every race in the campaign and every activity in the open world.

” We’ve got the right riffs and beats for any situation. ”

Also the soundtrack plays a big role in your games. What can we expect from Payback?
I feel NFS soundtracks nail whichever vibe is portrayed in each game. The new soundtrack mirrors the wide diversity of locations, scenarios, and gameplay. Whether you’re drag racing in the city, bombing down rocky roads, or drifting around an industrial park, we’ve got the right riffs and beats for any situation.

It’s the third time Ghost Games is developing a NFS. What is so fascinating about this series that you always want to return to it?
NFS is one of the most durable franchises in video game history. The first game came out almost a quarter-century ago. Driving iconic cars in exotic places never grows old. Who doesn’t crave that universal fantasy? I’ve met fans of the early games who have introduced NFS to their kids. I guess everyone in every era has, excuse me, a need for speed.

The new Need for Speed Payback comes out the 10th November 2017.

What’s your favourite BMW M and your favourite playable car from the game?
I’ve always loved the BMW 3. I remember when I worked on NFS Underground, a friend of mine coincidentally got an M3. Experiencing what that car could do really opened my eyes. I couldn’t believe how well it cornered anywhere, anytime. Since then, the BMW 3 became a racing game icon in NFS Most Wanted (2005) and an aftermarket customs legend in real life. It remains one of my very favourite cars of all time.

And what kind of car do you drive?
I have an older Honda Civic that I’ll turn into a project car someday. But only after I take delivery of an M2 (laughs).

Thanks a lot for your time. We are all awaiting the new NFS with eager anticipation.

The new BMW M5 with M xDrive.

Experience now

Need for Speed Payback.

Go to NFS Payback

* These figures are preliminary values and have not yet been confirmed. Subject to change.

Further information about the official fuel consumption and the official specific CO2 emissions for new passenger automobiles can be found in the 'New Passenger Vehicle Fuel Consumption and CO2 Emission Guidelines', which are available free of charge at all sales outlets, from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern, Germany, or under http://www.dat.de/en/offers/publications/guideline-for-fuel-consumption.html. The figures are not based on an individual vehicle and do not constitute part of the product offer; they are provided solely for the purposes of comparison between different vehicle types. CO2 emissions caused by the production and provision of fuel or other energy sources are not taken into account in the determination of CO2 emissions pursuant to Directive 1999/94/EC.

All vehicles, equipment, combination possibilities and varieties shown here are examples and can differ in your country. In no way do they constitute a binding offer by the BMW M GmbH. Visit your local BMW website or see your authorised BMW M Retailer for accurate details on the offers in your country.

PLAY THE INCREDIBLE.

Interview with Will Ho, Creative Director of Need for Speed Payback.

The new Need for Speed Payback comes out the 10th November 2017.

The new BMW M5 with M xDrive.

Need for Speed Payback.

MORE HIGHLIGHTS:

The BMW M5 First Edition.

M Portraits #1.

M Style.

DTM: Season-opener at Oschersleben.

In-car gaming in the BMW i5.

24h Nürburgring: ROWE Racing on the podium.

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PLAY THE INCREDIBLE.

Interview with Will Ho, Creative Director of Need for Speed Payback.

The new Need for Speed Payback comes out the 10th November 2017.

The new BMW M5 with M xDrive.

Need for Speed Payback.

MORE HIGHLIGHTS:

The BMW M5 First Edition.

M Portraits #1.

M Style.

DTM: Season-opener at Oschersleben.

In-car gaming in the BMW i5.

24h Nürburgring: ROWE Racing on the podium.

Website currently not fully available