Need For Speed: Underground remaster free for you to download and keep now

With it having been over 20 years since Need for Speed: Underground was first released, it is safe to say that the racing game is due for a bit of an upgrade. However, with EA showing no signs of giving the fans what they want, it is down to the modding community to bring the game to 2024.

Released in 2003, Need for Speed: Underground was the seventh instalment in the Need for Speed racing franchise and saw the title come to PC as well as the PlayStation 2 and Game Boy Advance. However, with the popular title way over 20-years old, its graphics leave a lot to be desired even if the gameplay is enjoyable.

Check out another entry in the Need for Speed franchise below!

Luckily one modder has been working on bringing life to the game by adding a whole lot of features designed to modernise the title. As a result, modder ‘alessandro893’ has released an alpha version of a RTX Remix mod for Need for Speed: Underground. Better yet, it’s completely free.

The mod adds real-time Path Tracing effects to the game as well as over 1000 additional lights, path traced global/direct illumination, upscaled textures and more. Many textures have been given an overhaul for better image quality. However, with the project still ongoing, alessandro893 adds that only 80% of the lighting job is complete. Additionally, some features such as the trees around the track still retain their 2003 look.

Although the mod pack is free, there are still a few bugs and glitches that are being worked on. Additionally, just a few cars such as the Skyline and MX5 have headlights so far. Despite these small issues, the RTX Remix mod still turns Need for Speed: Underground into a modern-looking game.

One thing that does not have to be updated is the game’s soundtrack which fans agree is still unmatched after all this time.