Do people still play NFS Heat in 2026? Absolutely!

Despite releasing back in 2019, Need for Speed Heat has seen a huge resurgence of interest in 2022, with record active players on Steam and extremely positive recent reviews. Thanks to substantial discounts, free play weekends and the imminent reveal of a new Need for Speed title, NFS Heat is more popular now than ever before. This article will provide an in-depth look at what‘s driving this arcade racer‘s enduring appeal almost 3 years later.

Gameplay Overview – The Best of NFS

Need for Speed Heat was released worldwide in November 2019 by EA and Ghost Games. Set in the huge open world of fictional Palm City, players race illegally at night to earn cash for cars and upgrades while avoiding the cops.

During daylight hours, you can take part in sanctioned Showcase events to build your reputation and unlock new parts. The more races you win, the more performance parts, visual customization items and cars you can unlock.

Heat‘s varied event types include sprints, circuits, off-road, drift and time trials. Each car handles differently with its own traits, allowing you to fine-tune for your style. The intuitive drifting and grip model sets Heat apart from earlier NFS entries and caters to different approaches.

Unlike Payback, Heat has no loot boxes or slot machine upgrades. Everything is earned through racing. The risk/reward night and day cycle creates a satisfying progression loop. Overall, Heat captures the best elements of classic Need for Speed paired with stunning Miami-inspired visuals and sound.

Recent Steam Player Count Surge

In September 2022, Need for Speed Heat hit an incredible all-time peak of over 15,439 concurrent players on Steam (source), surpassing its previous record of 12,478 at launch in 2019.

For comparison, here are some of NFS Heat‘s peak concurrent players counts on Steam over the years:

Date	Peak Players
November 2019	12,478
December 2019	11,027
December 2020	3,674
August 2022	4,219
September 2022	15,439

This recent surge came after the Deluxe Edition was discounted 95% to $4.99, paired with a free play weekend from September 29 – October 3, 2022 (source). Trying before buying seems to have converted many new fans.

Clearly with over 15,000 concurrent players in 2022, the appetite for NFS Heat‘s blend of street racing, tuning and cop chases remains stronger than ever.

Multiplayer and Crossplay

Asynchronous online multiplayer makes it seamless to race against friends‘ times without lobbies or wait times. You‘ll see their cars ghosted alongside you.

For direct head-to-head racing, NFS Heat also supports online crossplay. This means whether you‘re playing on PC, PlayStation or Xbox, you can matchmake against players on other platforms for maximum online population.

Crossplay has undoubtedly helped keep the community thriving and multiplayer lobbies populated even 3 years after launch. Of course you can disable it and play solo offline if you prefer.

Reviews Are Overwhelmingly Positive in 2022

Recent Steam reviews for Need for Speed Heat are Extremely Positive, with 91% of over 5,000 recent reviews recommending the game.

Here‘s just a sample of the praise from 2022 reviews:

"Best NFS since Most Wanted 2005"

"The customization is amazing and the controls are buttery smooth"

"Night time is when this game truly shines"

"If you enjoy arcade racing games, cop chases and car customization you‘ll love it"

Critics like IGN praised Heat at launch for its "thrilling cop chases" and "excellent progression system." In their 8/10 review, they summarized: "Need For Speed Heat is a vibrant, thrilling return to form for the series" (source).

Clearly the blend of tense police pursuits with satisfying car customization still holds huge appeal.

Grindy Progression…Or Satisfying Rewards?

On the surface, Heat‘s reputation grind seems repetitive – complete races to unlock new events, all while avoiding the cops.

However, pulling off risky escapes under pressure with the odds stacked against you is immensely rewarding. The feeling of satisfaction when finally unlocking that engine swap or widebody kit you‘ve been eyeing up for hours can‘t be overstated.

While certainly grindy for some, to fans of arcade racers, building reputation and a collection of customized cars is the gameplay loop that keeps them engaged. Heat absolutely nails the compelling risk/reward cycle from previous NFS classics.

Estimated Gameplay Hours

HowLongToBeat estimates main story completion time for NFS Heat at around 15 hours. For 100% completion, expect approximately 55 hours. There‘s plenty of races, collectibles and challenges to extend your playtime (source).

Sales Numbers – A Commercial Success

Exact sales figures haven‘t been shared by EA, but early estimates indicate Need for Speed Heat has sold between 3-4 million copies since launch (source).

It reached #9 in UK retail sales at release, and was the 5th best selling title on PlayStation 4 charts for November 2019 (source), indicating solid commercial performance.

Selling millions of copies is very impressive for a racing genre facing stiff competition from Forza Horizon and GT.

Why Is Heat Popular Again Now? Steam User Spike Explained

So why has Need for Speed Heat seen a dramatic resurgence on Steam in 2022? A few key factors:

• Generous 95% discount reducing the Deluxe Edition price from $79.99 to $4.99

• Free weekend event from September 29 – October 3, removing the need to buy before trying

• Imminent reveal of the next NFS game in 2022 rebuilding hype

• Continued support for online crossplay keeping fan base united

It‘s clear Steam‘s promotions have introduced NFS Heat to thousands of new fans who may have missed it originally. Judging by the outpouring of praise, the game still holds up incredibly well.

Solo Experience vs Online Multiplayer

Solo play offline offers a more controlled experience to take in the atmosphere, story and events at your own pace. However, evading cops at night can be challenging without the backup of real players.

Online opens you up to seamless co-op or competition via asynchronous play against friends‘ times and reps. Head-to-head racing and coordinating with allies to bait cops or block rivals provides a more unpredictable social experience.

Ultimately the choice comes down to your preferences. Both modes are smooth and let you progress completely.

Will We Get a NFS Heat Sequel?

Sadly a direct sequel to build on Palm City seems unlikely with development of Need for Speed switching from Ghost Games to Criterion. The rumored 2022 NFS title will probably feature an all-new setting and story.

However, we can hope Criterion preserve and expand on Heat‘s successful mechanics like the day/night structure, cop chases and extensive customization. In many ways, Heat was a return to form, so expect its DNA to live on.

Tips for New Players

If you‘re jumping into Need for Speed Heat for the first time, here are some handy tips:

• Difficulty – Start on Easy difficulty if you want a more forgiving experience with easier cop chases. You can increase it later.

• Starter Car – The Nissan 180SX Type X ‘96 is regarded as the most well-rounded first car to choose.

• Making Money – Focus on getting Heat Level 5 during night races then escaping for big bank. Legal races pay less but safely build rep.

• Upgrading Cars – Improving top speed is crucial for outrunning cops. Focus on engine and ECU parts first.

• Restting Progress – To restart career, delete save data from system storage on your platform.

Take it slow, focus on a couple of cars at a time, and you‘ll be ruling the streets of Palm City in no time!

Why I Love Need for Speed Heat

In my opinion, NFS Heat captures the adrenaline and style of underground street racing better than any previous NFS. Cruising Palm City feels vibrant and lived in. The city comes alive at night with neon lighting and reflections.

Upgrading cars both visually and performance-wise is insanely addictive. I must have spent 10 hours alone just fine-tuning my starter 180SX! No two cars ever feel the same due to the wealth of customization.

Of course, cop chases are the highlight. The thrill of wrecking a pristine Lamborghini to escape the law never gets old. Moments like these create stories you can‘t wait to tell friends.

Heat is undoubtedly repetitive, but epitomizes the "just one more race" compulsion. It‘s easy to see why so many players are still gripped in 2022.

Conclusion – A Modern NFS Classic

With extremely positive recent reviews and over 15,000 concurrent players, Need for Speed Heat clearly still offers an addictive, polished experience in 2022. The expanded customization, gripping police chases and stunning Miami vibe hit the sweet spot for arcade racing fans.

If you‘ve yet to try NFS Heat, do so – you‘ll find a vibrant world with endless customization to get lost in. For long-time fans, it‘s the return to form the series desperately needed. Here‘s hoping the rumored 2022 Need for Speed builds on Heat‘s successes!

So do people still play Need for Speed Heat? Absolutely. In fact, Palm City is more alive than ever before.