EA Ropes in Ken Block for Need for Speed

Digital interactive entertainment company Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) has announced a multi-year partnership with global racing sensation and action sports icon Ken Block and Need for Speed.

According to EA, Block will become Racing Advisor for the franchise, lending his insights into what it takes to push the action and adrenaline of racing to new limits to help keep Need for Speed atop the videogame racing world for years to come.

The Need for Speed franchise is also sponsoring Block and his Ford Fiesta ST 2013 racing car and will be working with him on the release of Gymkhana SIX, the next installment of the viral video franchise, via the Need for Speed website and YouTube channel. Gymkhana SIX will be released in its entirety Nov. 11.

“Partnering with EA and Need for Speed is a natural fit for our team. I feel like we both have the same goal in mind – to let people live out a fantasy of really pushing the limits of what you can do in the driver’s seat,” said Ken Block.

Need for Speed Rivals will be in-stores Nov. 19 in North America and Nov. 22 in Europe for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC via Origin.

It will also be available starting Nov. 22 in North America for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The game will be available starting Nov. 22 in Europe on Xbox One and Nov. 29 on PlayStation 4.