Electronic Arts studio Black Box announced the closed beta launch of Need for Speed World, a massively multiplayer online take of its popular Need for Speed racing game franchise.

The company will give away access to the beta to thousands of gamers who sign up at world.needforspeed.com. Black Box says fans who are picked for this testing phase will not only receive an early look at the game but will have the chance to submit feedback its team can use to "add polish, finesse and tuning to the final product."

Billed as "the first MMO action racing game", Need for Speed World allows players to compete against others in online battles and police pursuits across a 150-mile open world setting. The 3D environment combines the fictional cities featured in the series's console games, Need for Speed Most Wanted and Need for Speed Carbon, to create the biggest racing world ever in the Need for Speed universe.

Since its debut 16 years ago, the Need for Speed franchise has sold more than a 100 million copies across many platforms and titles. Need for Speed World, which is co-developed by EA Black Box and EA Singapore, will release for PC some time this summer. You can see screenshots of the MMO action racing game after the break.

"Need for Speed World is the world's first MMO racer -- a completely new entertainment experience for speed junkies all over the world," says the game's senior producer John Doyle. "We have expanded Need for Speed's classic adrenaline fueled racing with an all-new power up system and deep RPG style progression to create a truly massive, socially-connected white-knuckle Need for Speed experience."