Need For Speed: Shift Dated News

Arguably the most impressive looking driving game for 2009 has been given what seems to be a rock-solid release date of September 18th 2009, when it will launch on the PS3, Xbox 360, PC, and PSP.

Alongside the announcement, EA also detailed a few features from the game such as one of the tracks (Brands Hatch), a few of the cars that will be in the final game (Pagani Zonda, Lotus Elise, and Porsche 911 GT2), as well as an exposition of the game's visual effects such as "perception based G-forces".

It's all stuff we saw in our first look earlier in the month, so have a read here to get a more detailed impression of the considerable makeover that EA is applying to its Need For Speed series.

"With Need for Speed SHIFT, we set out to create a racing game that pushes the genre and delivers something never before seen in a Need for Speed title," said Patrick Soderlund, Senior Vice President at EA Games Europe. "By focusing on the driver's experience through the first-person view, we are able to capture the high-speed intensity and gripping emotions of racing."

While the next-gen and PC versions of the game are being handled by British developer Slightly Mad Studios (of GTR2 fame), the PSP title is in development at EA Bright Light studio.