Action racing game where you drive exotic sports cars through traffic-filled tracks while dodging or playing as police. Hot Pursuit mode returns with two new twists: Getaway tasks you with escaping cops within a time limit (or catching speeders as the police), while Time Trap requires finishing a race before the clock runs out or arresting all racers. Career mode debuts here—complete challenges to earn trophies, unlock cars, and buy repairs or upgrades. The titular High Stakes races let you bet your car against opponents; on PlayStation, winners take the loser's vehicle immediately, deleting it from their memory card. Damage modeling affects both how your car looks and handles, a first for the series. Multiplayer supports pursuit modes where you can team up or take opposite sides. Platform differences exist for spike strips and roadblocks.
