Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit

This article is about the 1998 video game. For the 2010 video game, see Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (2010 video game).
Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit
North American Windows cover art featuring a Lamborghini Diablo SV being chased by a police car
Developer(s)EA Canada (PS)
EA Seattle (PC)
Publisher(s)Electronic Arts
Producer(s)Hanno Lemke
Programmer(s)
  • Brad Gour (PS)
  • David Lucas (PS)
  • Sam Deasy (PC)
Artist(s)
  • Scott Jackson (PS)
  • Peter King (PS)
  • Stefan Schwartz (PC)
  • Steve M. Suhy (PC)
Writer(s)Tony Whitney
Composer(s)
SeriesNeed for Speed
Platform(s)PlayStation, Microsoft Windows
ReleasePlayStation
Windows
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit is a 1998 racing video game developed for PlayStation by EA Canada and Microsoft Windows by EA Seattle, and published by Electronic Arts. It is the third major installment in the Need for Speed franchise, incorporating police pursuits as a major part of gameplay. Hot Pursuit remains focused on racing using exotic sports cars, but features races that primarily take place in locations within North America, including varied settings and climates. Police AI is improved over the first game, utilizing several tactics to stop both the player and opponent. The PlayStation version was released on March 25, 1998, while the Windows version was released on October 12 the same year. The game received critical success, with praise for its graphics and customization options. It received a direct sequel in 2002 and a reboot in 2010.

  1. ^ "PlayStation: New Releases". Daily Mirror. April 3, 1998. p. 16. Retrieved January 7, 2024. Need for Speed 3//Out Today
  2. ^ Johnston, Chris (March 25, 1998). "In Stores This Week". GameSpot. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on February 3, 1999. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  3. ^ GameSpot staff (September 23, 1998). "NFS III Update". GameSpot. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 22, 2000. Retrieved November 8, 2019.