Which Need for Speed game introduced the 'All-Drive' seamless multiplayer system?

Need for Speed: Rivals introduced the All-Drive seamless multiplayer system. All-Drive was designed to blend solo and online play inside the same open-world racing experience.

Instead of placing players in completely separate single-player and multiplayer modes, Rivals could matchmake drivers into the same world. Players could race as street racers, pursue others as police, cooperate, or simply continue driving alone. The system was one of the game's main technological features and influenced its online-focused design.

Need for Speed: Rivals was developed by Ghost Games with support from Criterion Games and released in 2013. It used Frostbite 3 and emphasized dynamic police chases, open-world events, and social competition. The 2015 reboot, Need for Speed: Heat, and Need for Speed: Payback used different online structures, but they did not originate the All-Drive feature.

A common mix-up is confusing All-Drive with Autolog. Autolog, created for earlier Need for Speed games, tracked friends' times and achievements; All-Drive actually placed players together in a shared racing world.