Need for Speed Payback's progression system tweaked

The heated debate about microtransactions in EA's sci-fi shooter Star Wars Battlefront II, blew up in the publisher's face and forced an 11th-hour removal. Need for Speed Payback uses a slightly different system where so-called speed cards improve player cars.

Those cards allow for certain improvements in the car's performance, but after using these cards once you have to farm for them again if you wish to upgrade a second car (and to complete the game you need at least four vehicles). They can be earned slowly via steady progression and playing the game or - to put it simply - with a full wallet and a bit of luck with the 'Shipment'-loot boxes. Fans of the series did not like it, as you can read in our review and therefore the studio behind the game made changes to the system to increase player rewards and lessen the grind.

The slow progression system was updated significantly to reward players for completing missions more and therefore reduce the number of races you need to win to collect speed cards and to enhance your car. Still, most speed cards are earned through the random drops from loot chests, so we are not sure these changes are enough to make players happy. At least, it's a step in the right direction.

Here is a list of the implemented changes:

- Increased the amount of REP awarded by taking part in events.
- Increased the amount of Bank awarded by taking part in events.
- Bait crates now reward increased REP.
- Bait crates now reward increased Bank.
- Competing against a Roaming Racer will reward you with increased REP.
- Competing against a Roaming Racer will reward you with increased Bank.
- Air Suspension will now appear more frequently within Shipments.
- Slightly increased REP and Bank for finishing an event outside of first place.
- Decreased the time it takes for new parts to appear in Tune-Up shops, down from 30mins to 10mins.
- Increased rate in which parts are rewarded within Ranked Speedlists.