[3] EA, however, developed a new online racing game, called Need for Speed: World.

Many fans of Motor City Online consider Need for Speed: World a spiritual successor of Motor City Online, although EA has denied any direct link between the two games.

Originally conceived as part of the Need for Speed series under the title Need for Speed: Motor City,[4] all single player elements that may have been developed for the game were discarded in favor of an online-only model.

The game featured some role-playing video game elements, such as leveling up after completing tasks (e.g. winning races), and a functional, supply and demand economy for players to get involved in.

IGN gave the game a score 7.9 of out 10: "When the tumbleweeds roll through a city, you know there's something wrong."