BlackBox making next Need for Speed title for November 2011

EA Europe VP Patrick Soderlund has revealed to Eurogamer that mainstay series developer BlackBox will be making a new Need for Speed for release next November.

This year's edition, Hot Pursuit, comes from Guildford-based Criterion. But back in August, EA announced a Need for Speed: Shift sequel for the end of FY2011.

Slightly Mad Studios did the first game. BlackBox's last console NFS was Undercover in 2008, but has launched MMO Need for Speed: World.

Soderlund says it's all down to an alternating studio strategy similar to the one had at Activision for Call of Duty.

"We want to reach a mass-market audience, and Hot Pursuit is a more mass-market appealing product than Shift," said Soderlund.

"We want to come back with an action adventure type of product on an annual basis, but from a developer that's been working on it for a couple of years.

"Maybe there are two or three developers going at it every second year. Then, when the market permits and when we feel ready, we'll come up with Shift versions as well."

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit launches on November 19 in the UK. Read Joe's impressions and chat with Soderlund here.