Ea Is Reportedly Hitting The Brakes On The Need For Speed Franchise

The Need for Speed franchise could beryllium making its past laps — astatine slightest for nan clip being. Matthew Everingham, a photographer who often contributed to car civilization website Speedhunters, said successful societal media posts that Electronic Arts has "shelved Need for Speed" and is "quietly parking" nan series. Speedhunters, which was funded by EA and was past updated successful April of this year, will besides reportedly cease operations for now.

EA hasn't released an charismatic connection connected nan destiny of nan Need for Speed franchise, but respective soul decisions constituent to an uncertain future. Earlier this month, nan patient announced that it would unopen down online servers for nan cult classical Need for Speed Rivals connected October 7. Before that, nan developer down Need for Speed, Criterion Games, shifted astir of its labor to attraction connected nan Battlefield franchise, leaving only a "core group" to proceed moving connected nan racing bid successful 2023. However, Battlefield caput Vince Zampella told EuroGamer earlier this twelvemonth that nan remainder of that Need for Speed squad would beryllium "joining their colleagues moving connected Battlefield."

The longstanding franchise dates backmost to 1994 erstwhile nan first title, The Need for Speed, was released connected nan original PlayStation and Sega Saturn consoles. Since then, nan bid pumped retired much than 20 games, pinch nan astir caller being Need for Speed Unbound. Released successful December 2022, nan latest title successful nan franchise is presently sitting astatine a Mixed rating pinch much than 40,000 reviews connected Steam.