Need for Speed: The Run is a 2011 racing video game developed by EA Black Box and published by Electronic Arts. It is the eighteenth installment in the Need for Speed series and is Black Box's final entry in the series, before the studio's closure in April 2013.[5] Following an extensive marketing campaign, the game was released on November 15, 2011, for PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360, 3DS, and Wii.[a] Unlike previous entries in the series, The Run features an extensive collection of races set against various real-life locations, including the cities of New York, Chicago, Las Vegas and San Francisco, and features a wide variety of real-life cars to drive in. In the game's single-player campaign, players assume the role of street racer Jack Rourke, who is taking part in a large-scale race from San Francisco to New York, seeking to win it against various odds. An assortment of multiplayer modes are also included. Upon release, the game received mixed reviews from critics. In May 2021, The Run became unavailable for purchase in any online stores; its online servers were also shut down in August 2021.