For many the best in the series: Need for Speed classic returns in 4K

Opinions differ on which Need for Speed game is the best. One thing is certain, though: 2005's Most Wanted consistently ranks near the top in community discussions and is considered one of the greatest racing games of all time by many fans. Anyone looking to revisit the racing classic now has a new option thanks to a fan project – featuring the graphics of the Xbox 360 version, up to 4K resolution, 60 FPS and widescreen support.

For those who haven't played Most Wanted: The ninth installment in the popular racing series takes place in Rockport, where illegal street races and wild police chases are part of everyday life. After players are forced to hand over their BMW M3 GTR to the shady street racer Razor, they must work their way through the so-called Blacklist – a ranking of the 15 most wanted street racers. This means winning races, upgrading cars and shaking off the cops. At the end, a showdown with Razor awaits, offering the chance to reclaim the beloved BMW.

SpeedBreaker: Most Wanted now runs on modern hardware without an emulator

With SpeedBreaker, developer Alex Ugarte is bringing Most Wanted to modern hardware. What makes the project special is its approach: Instead of polishing up the old PC version or emulating the Xbox 360 release, it uses a technique known as static recompilation. This translates the original program code so that the game can run directly on modern hardware – without an emulator. So far, supported devices include the Steam Deck and other Linux devices, as well as Macs with Apple Silicon chips. Most Wanted is also said to be playable on iPhones and iPads using a custom-built version. A Windows version is planned as well, but is still in the testing phase.

There is one small catch, however: SpeedBreaker doesn't include any game files. Installation requires a backup of the US Xbox 360 version. The project itself is available as a free download on GitHub. Anyone who owns the original game can create a backup copy of their disc using a compatible drive. Alternatively, the US Xbox 360 version can be purchased secondhand, for example on eBay. While the developer also points to ISO files available online in a Reddit post, downloading them without the necessary authorization is legally problematic.

On Reddit, the revival has been largely well received. However, some players wonder what SpeedBreaker offers over a modded PC version. Ugarte explains: “The PC version imitates the 360 version, SpeedBreaker IS the 360 version.” Another topic of discussion is the developer's extensive use of AI assistance during development. However, he assures players that he has reviewed all changes and thoroughly tested the game on real hardware. And it seems the project has left him wanting more: Need for Speed: Carbon is also set to receive a similar revival.