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need for speed heat, drift

Need for Speed Heat: How to Drift

This article is over 5 years old and may contain outdated information

Need for Speed Heat, the new game in the famous racing series, keeps a lot of what you’d expect. It’s back in a faux-Miami setting and it’s all about street racing, but some of the driving mechanics have been altered. So that you can take tight corners quickly, here’s everything you need to know about how to drift in Need for Speed Heat.

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Drifting allows you to turn sharply around corners, without losing too much speed. As always, it takes a little while to get used to, but it’s fun to use once you get into the rhythm.

How to Drift in Need for Speed Heat

There are actually a few different ways to drift, but one is much better and more promoted than the rest. First of all, you can press square if you’re on PS4 (X if you’re on Xbox One) to use the handbrake, which will allow you to drift a little.

Then, in cars that are more set up for drifting and have more sensitive brakes, you will be able to start a drift by just holding the brake (L2/LT).

The best way to drift in Need for Speed Heat, however, is by pumping the accelerator as you turn. While speeding towards a corner, let go of the R2 button if you’re on PS4 (RT on Xbox One) and then press it again while turning in.

After a brief moment, your car will start to drift and you’ll be able to control it with the left thumbstick. It takes a few attempts to get used to, and you’ll have to avoid trying to control the speed by switching between the brake and accelerator, but it does help you take corners at speed once you’ve learned it.

It may sound like a weird way to drift, but it actually feels quite natural once you’ve learned how to use it correctly.

PlatformDrift Button Input
PS4Let go of R2, then press it again while turning.
Xbox OneLet go of RT, then press it again while turning to drift.

That’s everything you need to know about how to drift in Need for Speed Heat. For more tips and tricks on the game, be sure to search for Twinfinite. We have also listed some other helpful guides on the game down below.


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Author
Image of Tom Hopkins
Tom Hopkins
Having been Editor on multiple sites, Tom has a wealth of video game knowledge and is now Managing Editor at Twinfinite. He's an expert on Call of Duty, sports games, PlayStation exclusives, and blockbuster action games. If he's not playing the new release, he'll be grinding on EA FC 24.