Everything You Need To Know About Need For Speed Payback’s Derelict Discoveries

Alongside the fast, frantic and explosive-looking single-player campaign in Need For Speed Payback, there’s also a smaller, but more intricate and intriguing feature in the up-coming game.

Set for release on the 10 November for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC, NFS Payback will feature derelict cars – run-down, unloved vehicles ready to be taken care of and nursed back to health… and then modified.

While it isn’t the biggest feature in NFS Payback, which will clearly be the single player campaign (with its Fast and Furious meets GTA vibe), the derelicts sound like a fun additional feature to hunt down and explore. It gives you another thing to focus on.

We got the chance to delve deeper into derelicts, with associate art director Bryn Alban giving us a wider and more detailed overview of what this section of the game actually includes and involves – as the recent customisation trailer only went over the basics.

There are five derelicts to find, and also lots of parts to discover, which will help players to rebuild the derelicts and transform them into racing machines. They’re gradually introduced as the single player campaign progresses, with the odd hint or tip helping gamers find them.

It’s a good way not only to explore some of the trickier or hard-to-reach areas of the vast map, but derelicts also allow players to feel the satisfaction of discovering and working on a project car in the virtual world – with NFS Payback’s improved, enhanced and expanded customisation features.

Explaining in more detail about the customisation options, Alban said:

“It’ll feature our deepest suite of customization options, with the return of our staple options, but we’ve also added more parts to areas where they were needed. Further to those though is where our derelicts start going even further. Once you’ve tiered up and you’re ready for the next step, you’re able to Super Build your car. Once this happens you’ll take the car to the extreme, whether it’s a jacked up off-roader or a slammed street drifter.”

Sounds pretty bonkers, to be honest (in a good way). You’ll have to unlock customisation options as the game progresses. Some parts will be available right away but others will require you to work for them, win them or find them. So, if gamers want to make their cars as crazy as possible, there’s work to be done.

Alban was able to confirm the derelict cars that’ll be hunted down, and as you’d expect from a US setting, there’s a sprinkling of Americana with the 1965 Ford Mustang, 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air and 1965 Chevrolet Stepside Pickup. Plus, there’s a battered Nissan Fairlady 240 ZG and an original (but not in good condition) 1963 VW Beetle.

It’ll probably be easy to think derelicts are simply a side-project but they’re also incorporated into the campaign, as Albon explains:

“The derelicts, through the Super Builds, are some of the most extreme cars you can build and drive in Payback so in that respect if you want to be able to compete at the highest level in some of our events you may need to invest in one to be able to win.”

Incorporating derelicts into the game was a challenge, with Alban admitting “the idea of taking what is effectively an explore and find mechanic into a building mechanic and ultimately into a playstyle and driving mechanic is rather complex”. Adding that into the story complicates things further, and visually, it took some time to perfect the look of the derelicts.

But, it sounds like all the hard work will be worth it, as derelicts sound like an enjoyable and engaging addition to the NFS franchise. We’re excited to get searching for these hidden beasts. What do you make of the derelict cars in NFS Payback? Share your thoughts in the comments!