Forza Horizon 4 released on Xbox One and PC to critical acclaim last year and is regarded as one of the best racing games of the generation, thanks to its approachable handling, a diverse open-world map featuring dynamic weather seasons, and a comprehensive car selection featuring new models such as the McLaren Senna.

This year, however, the Forza franchise is taking a year off for the first time since the first Forza Horizon game launched in 2012. Developer Turn 10 studios have confirmed that Forza Motorsport 8 is in development, but it won't launch until next year and will presumably be used to showcase the new Xbox console hardware. How will gearheads get their racing game kicks this year, then? Luckily, EA has announced Need for Speed Heat, the latest installment in the Need for Speed racing game franchise launching on PC and consoles later this year in November.

Set in the Miami-inspired Palm City, players will compete in sanctioned races during the day as part of a competition called 'Speedhunters Showdown' and illegal street races at night, while evading crooked cops in some intense police chases. Money earned in street racing can then be used to customize and upgrade cars.

"We're delivering more options than ever before for players to be unique and make themselves known," said Riley Cooper, Creative Director at Ghost Games. "Our fans have been clear that they want more cars, more customization, and more challenges, and we're tuning up on every aspect. From your character's style to your car's performance and your driving style, we're fuelling everyone's creativity with this new game."

Among the cars shown in the trailer include a Lamborghini Diablo, BMW M2, Ford Mustang GT, Ferrari 488 GTB, Nissan GT-R, and a heavily modified Polestar 1 hybrid, which is also the game's cover car. It's a surprising choice but starring in a popular racing game franchise like Need for Speed could introduce Polestar to a new generation of enthusiasts. If you really love the Polestar 1, you can even buy a collector's edition of the game that includes a 1:43 scale model of the hybrid sedan, but it's only been announced for Europe so far.

Judging from the trailer, Need for Speed Heat appears to combine Hot Pursuit's police chases, Underground's car customization, and ProStreet's sanctioned races. Hopefully, it will be a return to the form for the franchise, as critics weren't very kind to the last few Need for Speed games.