Asphalt Legends, formerly known as Asphalt Legends Unite, is a 2024 racing game developed and published by Gameloft Barcelona as part of the Asphalt series. The game was released as an expansion update to Asphalt 9: Legends on July 17, 2024 for iOS, Android, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Xbox, PlayStation 4 & 5, and SteamOS; and on August 19, 2024 for Nintendo Switch.
As the title refers, the game features cross-play and cross-save in different platforms. Compared to Asphalt 9, the game has improved features, including renovated UI and garage, improved game engine, dynamic lights, lightning effects and reflections, and social features including friends list and private lobbies. This game also marks the debut of the Asphalt series on PlayStation 4 and 5 gaming consoles. The player's existing progress on Asphalt 9 is also transferred to the game.
Development[]
Initial hints[]
On December 13th, 2023, Roadmap: December was posted on Asphalt 9's website, where Gameloft ID was mentioned to be featured in game that allows players to cross-save across the platforms.[1]
On January 9, 2024, Asphalt Legends Unite trademark was first filed with its logo, at the same day when the domain of the website was registered.[2] When it was found out that the trademark for the game has been filed, majority of the Asphalt community hinted it as a new installment on the Asphalt series that would be based on Asphalt 9 which will support cross-play and cross-save between platforms. The trademark was eventually registered on May 3, 2024.[3]
The Gameloft ID was first implemented in Asphalt 9's v4.5.0 update on February 19, 2024, initially for Windows, Xbox and Steam versions of the game.
On March 18, 2024, Roadmap: March was posted, which mentions the success of Gameloft ID and the launch of it in Android and iOS. In addition, it was announced that players on the Nintendo Switch platform will be able to catch-up on the said updates.[4]
| “ | Join us on Tuesday, March 26th, 12:00 CET for our grand reveal! |
” |
Roadmap: March |
||
At the end of March roadmap post, a "grand reveal" was mentioned with the date of March 26th, 12:00 CET, which would eventually be related to the trademark filed back in January.
Announcement[]
The game's teaser trailer was uploaded on March 26, 2024 on Asphalt's YouTube channel. On March 27, an announcement for the game was posted on Asphalt 9's website,[5]. At the same day, the first episode of Road to Unite was posted to showcase the details of the game.
On May 13, 2024, it was revealed that Gameloft would permanently shut down its studio in Cluj-Napoca, Romania and lay-off all of the staff who worked there[6]. The Cluj studio was responsible for developing the Nintendo Switch version of Asphalt 9.[7] The development of the said version for ALU was passed down to Gameloft Barcelona.
The second episode for Road to Unite was posted on May 16, 2024, showcasing new garage and the new UI of the game.
During Asphalt 9's v4.7.0 Update, also serving as the final update for A9 before the launch of ALU, accounts for Windows, Xbox and Steam have been added to the ALU's database.
The third episode for Road to Unite was posted on June 5, 2024, showcasing friends list, private lobbies and others.
The new gameplay trailer of Asphalt Legends Unite was released on June 20, 2024, showcasing a collaboration with actor and race car driver Frankie Muniz, as well as featuring the Ford GT Frankie Edition —a car that was added at launch. At the next day, more details for the game have been revealed.[8]
Since June 25, 2024, Gameloft have sponsored various YouTubers to promote the game in their videos with the hashtag #alupartner found in the description[9], with sponsor segments of their videos featured various clips of races in the new Singapore track.[10][11] Two new cars, the Porsche Mission R and the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut, were revealed in the revised game's artwork in one of those videos.[12] At the next day, the fourth episode of Road to Unite was released, revealing full gameplay of the Singapore track.
On July 10, 2024, a collaboration video between Asphalt Legends Unite and Frankie Muniz was uploaded, in which Muniz would announce certain features of the game as well as his own series of Time-Limited Events and a gift which was given to the players during the game's launch. Two more cars, the Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5 10th Anniv. and the Lamborghini Auténtica were revealed to be added at launch. On the next day, the released date was announced through a video presented by the ALU Community Manager, Juan "Muttley" Pombo. In it, upcoming features of the game and the trailer for the patch notes for the launch of the game were revealed.
Nintendo Switch launch delay[]
On July 16, 2024, Gameloft announced on the official website that the version for the Nintendo Switch was delayed due to "unforeseen circumstances".[13] As a result, players on this platform had to continue playing on the latest update of Asphalt 9.
On August 8, 2024, Gameloft announced on the official website that the version for the Nintendo Switch will be released on August 19, 2024.[14]. The Nintendo Switch Version was officially released on the aforementioned date.
Features[]
Technical features[]
- Cross-play: Allows players to play against other players in different platforms.
- Cross-save: Allows players to save their game progresses on different platforms via Gameloft ID. Not available for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 & 5 and Epic Games versions.
Gameplay features[]
- Most of the racing modes are returning from Asphalt 9 with new modes were introduced after the launch:
- Classic: To win the race, the player must finish in 1st.
- No Takedowns: Knockdowns are disabled.
- Ghost: Collisions are disabled.
- Money Run: Drive Syndicate-only variant dedicated to collect and secure
Syndicate Coins.
- Time Attack: To win the race, the player must finish the race before time runs out. Additional time can be gained by reaching checkpoints or obtaining the timer booster.
- Hacker Run: Reskin for Drive Syndicate events with the intention of "hacking base towers".
- Hunted: To win the race, the player must cross the finish line that are blocked with obstacles and police vehicles (named as "Asphalt Security"), before the time runs out. In this mode, police vehicles have three different variants (Sedan, SUV, Armored Vehicle) and can only get knocked down with a shockwave, 360 or sandwich knockdown. Wrecking or not finishing the race after time ran out means the player is busted.
- On The Run: Drive Syndicate-only variant featuring longer races with cutscenes.
- Slipstream: Cars behind can fill up the nitro bar by chasing the trail of the cars ahead.
- Ghost Slipstream: Combination of Ghost and Slipstream modes.
- Speeders: Introduced at launch, these are cyan-colored pads, replacing nitro bottles, and are used to give an additional speed boost. These are similar to the ones in Asphalt 6: Adrenaline and Asphalt 7: Heat.
- Pursuit: Introduced at launch. Co-op multiplayer-only racing mode. A 5v3 format consist of two teams: Security and Syndicate Drivers. Derived from Asphalt 9's Takedown mode. It is playable via its own multiplayer series.
- Boss Mode: Single-player one-on-one racing mode featuring invincible, aggressive AI opponent. Introduced in the Festive Fury Update.
- Team Racing: Co-op multiplayer-only, points based 4v4 racing series where the team scoring the most points by finishing in higher positions wins. Introduced in the Festive Fury Update and runs in various Season Series.
- Collector Mode: A mode dedicated to collect many items on track within a limited time. Introduced in the Carnival Rush Update.
- Spotlight Run: Variant for Spotlight events, has lesser collectibles on the track and more time to race.
- Rougelike Mode: Combination of Spotlight Run, Ghost and Hunted modes. Features collectibles in the track that allows the player to get into ghost mode, and Security vehicles that can only taken down when the ghost mode is about to expire. Introduced in the Phantom Riders Update.
- Spotlight Run: Variant for Spotlight events, has lesser collectibles on the track and more time to race.
- Green Streak: Multiplayer Nitro Catch-up mode. In this mode, green-colored nitro bottles rather than standard blue or orange are scattered on the track that when hit, will add more nitro for players at lower positions but less nitro for players at higher positions. This is also applied to performing stunts, drifts and knockdowns. Introduced in the Pinnacle of Speed Update.
- Classic: To win the race, the player must finish in 1st.
- Career: Helps for progressing and unlocking more features and cars in-game. Many changes were done in the Carnival Rush Update to make the progress easier.
- Multiplayer: With the implementation of cross-play, players can race against other players in different platforms. Divided into the following modes:
- World League: Annual, division-based, competitive racing series which runs for multiple splits in multiple rounds, where a limited roster of cars (with some driven in free-try) is available. Unofficially called MP1.
- Season Series: Weekly, rank-based, casual racing series that are lined up with Unite Pass seasons. In this mode, cars that the player owns or free-try cars can be used. Unofficially called MP2.
- Team Pursuit: New mode. Cooperative 5v3 racing series. Uses its own racing mode, with a different roster of cars is available each time.
- PlayStation® Tournaments: Exclusive to the PlayStation 5 version. Tournament-style feature available on the PlayStation Network (PSN), and requires PlayStation Plus membership.
- Split Screen: Local race mode for up to 4 players in split-screen. Only available for Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam and PlayStation versions of the game.
- Private Room: New feature. Players can play with other players who has the invite for lobbies or all by their own (as of Carnival Rush Update) in certain tracks or modes they would like to. Private Lobbies do not consume any fuel.
- Events: Available daily, weekly or for a certain time-window, available to all players who have the required car(s). Require tickets as an entry. Players who reached Garage Level 12 are able to auto-claim the rewards of certain events.
- Special Events: Available in each update on a separated tab with the same name. These events use the same tickets as "Events". There are certain types of Special Events, as below:
- Special Event: Multi-week long major event which generally features mid to higher-end cars as the main car to unlock after achieving certain conditions in its events.
- Mayhem Event: Off-spring of Special Events where the support cars can also be unlocked or star-upgraded. Introduced in the Carnival Rush Update.
- Linked Special Event: Series of weekly Special Events in which the main car of an event would be the support car of the next event in the chain, until the chain ends. Introduced in the Pinnacle of Speed Update.
- Starway: Special event in which the main car can be unlocked/starred up after completing each stage with a group of six matching starred-up/unlocked cars.
- Seasonal Revving: Events that features a high-end car as the main car, and 4 Special Event cars from past update. These events didn't have a title prior to the Legacy of Speed Update.
- Special Hunt: Combination of Special Event and Car Hunt.
- Showroom: Various events that can be chosen by the player and has to be finished within a certain amount of days. There are two types of Showroom events: Max-Out and Unlock, and each event have their own set of races and conditions. These events were formerly placed under their own tab in Asphalt 9.
- Drive Syndicate: Formerly story-based event which features top-end,
Key-unlockable, S Class cars and to some extent, lore-based connection. - Grand Prix: Skill-based event which features key-unlockable cars, in which the player has to compete against others by setting the fastest times to get to a rewards tier for the key and other rewards.
- Gauntlet: Skill-based events where player chooses five different cars from their garage to drive in five different tracks against their opponents. Carried over from Asphalt 9: Legends China. Introduced in the Korean Spring Update. These events are the successor to the Club Clash which required club member collaboration.
- Spotlight: Themed events with various names. First introduced in the Korean Spring Update. These events are the evolution of Treasure Hunts.
- Exclusive Content Creators Test: Events that are only available for creators in the Creators Program for testing soon-to-be-released cars.
- Special Event: Multi-week long major event which generally features mid to higher-end cars as the main car to unlock after achieving certain conditions in its events.
- Legend Pass: Season pass system for the game. Formerly known as Unite Pass between the launch and the Legacy of Speed Update, the latter in which the system was overhauled.
- VIP System: A loyalty system that allows the player to unlock permanent bonuses. Introduced in the Korean Spring Update.
Social features[]
- Friends List: Players can add or block other players and can also create parties or chat with their friends.
- Unique Names: Each player has an unique name that is consisted of randomly-generated unique number #ID.
- Clubs: In-game team-like organizations to race with or contribute. After the completion of the migration, club owners are needed to confirm their club names and mottos.
Cars[]
- Main article: Vehicle list (Asphalt Legends)
All cars released prior to the launch are returning from Asphalt 9.
Maps[]
- Main article: Asphalt Legends/Maps
All 17 maps released prior to the launch are returning from Asphalt 9.
Soundtrack[]
- Main article: Asphalt Legends/Soundtrack
All licensed or composed songs previously debuted in Asphalt 9's soundtrack are returning (except 1 being removed per community vote at launch, and later 9 being removed due to their expired licensed in the Korean Spring Update), and 30 newly licensed tracks were announced to be added in the game's soundtracks in which 9/30 were added at launch, while the remaining 3/21 were added in the Phantom Riders Update.
Supercharged Edition[]
The Asphalt Legends Supercharged Edition is the physical edition of Asphalt Legends Unite for PlayStation 4 & 5 and Nintendo Switch versions that is distributed jointly with Maximum Entertainment. Nintendo Switch version of the game is exclusive to Europe. This edition was delivered one month after the game's release and contained the following contents:
- Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4
- The car has an exclusive decal for the PlayStation versions.
- W Motors Lykan HyperSport
- Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
- McLaren 765LT
- Porsche Taycan Turbo S
- 5,000
- 5,000,000
Gameloft Club[]
- Main article: Gameloft Club
The Gameloft Club is a feature that was introduced for Gameloft games, including Asphalt Legends Unite. Players who registered their in-game accounts via Gameloft ID are able to purchase exclusive offers in the Gameloft Club such as Unite Pass, currencies and 
Blueprints. Free offers are also included in Gameloft Club.[15]
Esports[]
- Main article: Asphalt Legends/Esports
The Esports program is continued from Asphalt 9.[16]
Legends Rewind[]
Legends Rewind was a feature released on July 22, 2024, at the game's website in its own page which revealed the compilation of the game's statistics since the Asphalt 9's launch in 2018.
As written in the last sentence "And you took centerstage", players who connected their Gameloft ID to the game were able to view and download the compilation of their in-game statistics (such as how many hours played or their favorite cars) as a Legends Rewind's "license" image rendered in .png format. Nintendo Switch players were unable to review their in-game data due to the game wasn't officially launched on the platform at the time.
Legends Rewind was closed a month later on August 22, 2024.
Reception[]
Per critics in general, the game is praised for its graphics, gameplay mechanics, long-lost old-school arcade-style racing, and being free-to-play; while being criticized for in-game monetization.[17]
It won in the Game category of Microsoft Store Awards 2024.[18]
LEGO Technic[]
| “ | ” | |
As part of the collaboration between Asphalt Legends and LEGO, 4 new models for the LEGO® Technic™ line were introduced for the year 2025, as evident from the "PLAY ON Asphalt Legends" (formerly "PLAY ON Asphalt Legends Unite" for the 2025 releases) text found in the boxes. These models are based on the cars that debuted in Asphalt 9/Legends Unite, and appearing both as a physical and an in-game one. The in-game models can be obtained either from an in-game event or a redeem code that can be found on the physical models.[19]
| Car | On sale from | Price | Redeem code's rewards | Update debuted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 42205[20] | March 1, 2025 |
|
|
Carnival Rush Update |
| Aston Martin Valkyrie 42208[21] | June 1, 2025 |
|
|
Pinnacle of Speed Update |
| Ferrari FXX K 42212[22] | August 1, 2025 |
|
|
Legacy of Speed Update |
| Lamborghini Revuelto Super Sports Car 42214[23] | August 1, 2025 |
|
| |
| Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport Hyper Car 42222[24] | January 1, 2026 |
|
|
Holiday Overdrive Update |
| BMW M4 GT3 EVO Race Car 42226[25] | March 1, 2026 |
|
|
TBD |
As part of the renewed 2025 collaboration, the LEGO Technic McLaren Senna GTR, a car that was only driven in its promotional events in 2021 and 2023, and was otherwise unobtainable during the Asphalt 9 era, was made obtainable as of the Korean Spring Update, with its Key, 
Blueprints and Epic Import Parts now being available in a variety of events.
A series of 4 videos titled "RACE FOR REAL. BUILD FOR REAL" was uploaded on LEGO's YouTube channel, featuring all 4 cars released during the collaboration performing variety of actions: Crash, Spin Jump, Drift & Boost.
Gallery[]
- Main article: Asphalt Legends/Gallery
Trivia[]
- This game marks the return of Asphalt series in PlayStation consoles after 12 years, with Asphalt Injection debuted in PlayStation Vita in December 2011 for Japan and February 2012 in other regions.
- The game's Supercharged Edition also marks the return of the Asphalt series in a physical release, also after 12 years.
- However, for the Nintendo Switch version, the game is rather sold in a box containing reward codes rather than a cartridge, making Asphalt Injection the last game in the series to be sold in a cartridge.
- The game's Supercharged Edition also marks the return of the Asphalt series in a physical release, also after 12 years.
- The Ferrari 296 GTB was supposed to be included in the Supercharged Edition as it was first announced on March 27, 2024. However, the car wasn't included in the pack when the Supercharged Edition's details were announced.
- According to ProtonDB, Steam version of the game is playable on any supporting Linux distros via Proton compatibility layer as it was rated Gold (runs perfectly after tweaks).[26] Furthermore, the game has achieved Verified status on Steam Deck, Valve's handheld console that runs on SteamOS distro of Linux that comes with Proton, back in March 13, 2023.[27]
- It is often referred to as Asphalt in some versions. The word Legends Unite in its icon was removed in the v24.1.0 version.
- The iterations for the game's key artworks, along with the ones that were discarded, including the logotype, can be found on ArtStation as they were posted by Marcio Garcia Arevalo, Gameloft's Studio Art Director between 2022 – 2024.[28]
- Arevalo have later unveiled the game's art exploration studies on October 2, 2025. Including optional splash screens and garage iteration concepts featuring Lamborghini Revuelto, and the finalized version of the garage featuring Koenigsegg Gemera with the walls displaying the brand logo.[29]
- On the homepage banner of the game's official website, at the second page of the game's Supercharged Edition, the background of the The Great Wall map from Asphalt 8: Airborne is displayed, despite not being available in-game.
- The "Unite" branding was retired in the Legacy of Speed Update, resulting the game being rebranded once again from Asphalt Legends Unite to simply Asphalt Legends. The trademark for the new branding was filed on April 29, 2025.[30][31]
- The Shield logo (read as "AL") that was reminiscent to the Asphalt 9 era was introduced.
- The main color was also changed from #c800fe to #9246ff.
- As part of the "Asphalt Legends Unite" branding, the original quote appearing after the end of tutorial prior to the second rebranding was the following:
| “ | GREAT PLAYERS BREAK RECORDS. LEGENDS CHANGE THE GAME... ONLY WHEN THEY UNITE. |
” |
ANONYMOUS DRIVER |
||
References[]
- ↑ https://asphaltlegendsunite.com/news/roadmap-december
- ↑ https://x.com/Kurakasis/status/1744823876138234208
- ↑ https://euipo.europa.eu/eSearch/#details/trademarks/018972182
- ↑ https://asphaltlegendsunite.com/news/roadmap-march
- ↑ https://asphaltlegends.com/news/asphalt-legends-unite-is-coming
- ↑ https://www.romania-insider.com/gameloft-closes-cluj-napoca-office-2024
- ↑ Cluj Studio | Gameloft (Gameloft, Archived from the original on September 24, 2024, retrieved on February 2, 2025)
- ↑ https://asphaltlegends.com/news/asphalt-legends-unite-cross-platform-details
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/alupartner
- ↑ https://youtu.be/UiFvg9twwkg?si=tBDNO6PJtFehjb5R&t=220
- ↑ https://youtu.be/20o7rRTdsCE?si=RfpD4why7tbTJiPM&t=283
- ↑ https://youtu.be/9RurIn0OTL8?si=D02pBsicxlFbc4lU&t=175
- ↑ https://asphaltlegendsunite.com/news/alu-nintendo-delay
- ↑ https://asphaltlegendsunite.com/news/alu-nintendo-release
- ↑ https://shop.gameloft.com/games/Asphalt_Unite
- ↑ https://asphaltlegendsunite.com/esports
- ↑ https://opencritic.com/game/17017/asphalt-legends-unite
- ↑ https://blogs.windows.com/windowsdeveloper/2024/11/01/announcing-the-microsoft-store-awards-2024-winners/
- ↑ https://asphaltlegendsunite.com/event/legotechnic
- ↑ https://www.lego.com/en-nl/product/chevrolet-corvette-stingray-42205
- ↑ https://www.lego.com/en-nl/product/aston-martin-valkyrie-42208
- ↑ https://www.lego.com/en-nl/product/ferrari-fxx-k-42212
- ↑ https://www.lego.com/en-nl/product/lamborghini-revuelto-super-sports-car-42214
- ↑ https://www.lego.com/en-nl/product/bugatti-chiron-pur-sport-hypercar-42222
- ↑ https://www.lego.com/en-nl/product/bmw-m4-gt3-evo-race-car-42226
- ↑ https://www.protondb.com/app/1815780/
- ↑ https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1815780/view/3658650327129577314
- ↑ https://www.artstation.com/artwork/YBDnxw
- ↑ https://www.artstation.com/artwork/L4dmkR
- ↑ https://euipo.europa.eu/eSearch/#details/trademarks/019180057
- ↑ https://x.com/DevisDXx/status/1945897189605265860