The mid-90s shift to CD storage allowed developers to include high-fidelity audio. This gave birth to the concept of the "licensed soundtrack"—using real, commercially available songs in a game. While games like Wipeout popularized this trend, Need for Speed II brought it to the mainstream racing world. It signaled that video games were no longer just toys; they were lifestyle products. The music wasn't just there to fill the silence; it was there to define the player's identity.