Lockdown mode is a PvPvE (Player vs. Player vs. Environment) experience that puts a twist on Need for Speed Unbound's street racing. To do so, it proposes that players form five teams of up to three runners, who compete against each other while completing contracts, entering blocking areas and overcoming them to take over the extraction truck. The blockade zones are dynamic, they are protected by the Lakeshore police with EMP technology and as soon as you enter them your Heat level will rise to 5. However, they also hide the biggest rewards.
Loot available to players in Lockdown mode includes the custom '05 BMW M3 GTR owned by Clarence «Razor» Callahan, Most Wanted's antagonist Razor, and 14 other cars inspired by this installment's Blacklist. Another of the great rewards of this mode is the 2019 BMW S 1000 RR motorcycle, which becomes the first two-wheeled vehicle that can be piloted in the Need for Speed franchise. We will see if this marks a turning point in the saga, which could find a new attraction in motorcycles for a future installment that, if it exists, has yet to be announced.
The Vol. 9: Prepare for Lockdown update also includes new PvP content, 14 new playlists with over 60 routes and event settings, as well as a new Speed Pass with a Premium track offering 75 levels of unlockable content.
«We hope Vol. 9 sparks excitement among our players by mixing the nostalgia and iconic vibes of Most Wanted with new experiences and innovative gameplay,» says John Stanley, Senior Creative Director at Criterion Games. «As we celebrate the franchise's incredible 30th anniversary milestone, this volume represents the culmination of our live service journey anchored by continuous improvement to deliver the definitive, complete Need for Speed experience.»