The original The Need for Speed was first made for the 3DO console.
Released in 1994, the game was developed by EA Canada, then known as Pioneer Productions, and published by Electronic Arts. Its first release on 3DO came before ports for MS-DOS, PlayStation, and Sega Saturn. That makes 3DO the canonical answer, even though many players encountered the game later on another system.
The original 3DO edition was notably focused on realism. Electronic Arts worked with Road & Track magazine to reproduce vehicle behavior, specifications, engine sounds, and even gear-lever noises. It featured licensed cars such as the Ferrari 512TR and Porsche 911, plus traffic and police pursuits.
A common mix-up is confusing the first release with the most familiar release. The PlayStation and Saturn versions arrived in 1996 and added content, while the PC versions followed in 1995 and 1996. Those ports do not change the 3DO's status as the franchise's debut platform.