TheGRIDseries is a staple of Electronic Arts' various racing franchises, providing tons of racing action into one package. In the newest entry,GRID Legends, Electronic Arts plans on putting players closer to the experience than ever with enhancements toGRID’s single player offerings.
It has been a few years since the lastGRIDtitle, that being 2019’s aptly titledGRID. The series, developed by Codemasters, began in 2008 withRace Driver: Grid, and has seen new installments every couple of years since. Previous titles included special story mode features that allowed players to compete against other racing clubs like inGrid2and potentially accept offers to join them like inGrid: Autosport. Where other Electronic Arts' games likeBattlefield 2042are doing away with single player attention,GRID Legendsis seemingly going in the other direction.
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At EA Play Live, Electronic Arts unveiled the latest game in theGRIDseries,GRID Legends. Unlike previous entries,GRID Legendswill have a full fledged career mode that includes a unique story and live-action cutscenes featuring actor Ncuti Gatwa. During the showcase, Senior Game Designer at Codemasters, Becky Crossdale, detailed that the game will be using the extended reality (XR) technology seen inThe Mandalorianto bring the game world to life. WhilenoStar Warsgames will be announced at EA Play Live, it seems thatStar Warsstill managed its way into the show.
The XR technology is a program that syncs up a background image displayed behind the actors, to the movements of a camera. Unlike a green screen where actors cannot see what they are supposed acting towards or where their setting is, the XR technology makes all of this visible, providing a more immersive experience. In theGRID Legendstrailer, the technology can be seen in action in the live-action shots like when Gatwa’s character is suiting up in the race-pit or when he is confronting the character Nathan Mccain, at the trailer’s end. At least through this route, Electronic Arts can hire actors to perform the story and not have to worry about glitchy andunfinished facial animations like inMass Effect: Andromeda.
What remains to be seen are this technology’s implications on the gameplay ofGRID Legends. Although the story will certainly be compellingly visually due to the XR technology, it seems like the extent of is usage will be to the game’s cinemeatics. A reoccurring message of theGRID Legendspresentation is to bring the players into theGRIDworld, and this artificial reality seems to do so. Games likeQuantum Breakhave attempted live action narrativesbetween its gameplay segments so it will be interesting to see how Electronic Arts' attempt goes.
GRID Legendswill launch in 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
