Lakeshore City in Need for Speed Unbound was inspired by Chicago, Illinois.
Lakeshore City is a fictional open-world setting, but its layout and visual identity draw from Chicago. The game uses the city as a stylized street-racing environment rather than presenting a literal one-to-one recreation. That approach lets Criterion Games combine recognizable urban features with fictional districts, roads, race routes, and landmarks.
Need for Speed Unbound was developed by Criterion Games and released in 2022. Its setting supports the game’s street-racing story, police pursuits, takeovers, collectibles, and The Grand competition. The Chicago inspiration is part of the game’s world-building, while the cel-shaded characters, graffiti-like effects, and realistic cars create its distinctive visual mix.
Players sometimes confuse Lakeshore City with settings from other Need for Speed games, many of which use fictional cities inspired by real metropolitan areas. Lakeshore is not Seattle, Boston, or Detroit in the game’s official description: Chicago is the named inspiration.