EA Reportedly Shelves 30-Year Need for Speed Franchise Indefinitely

Electronic Arts appears to be putting the Need for Speed franchise on hold indefinitely, according to reports from industry sources familiar with the iconic racing series.

Matthew Everingham, a photographer who frequently contributed to car culture website Speedhunters, announced on social media that EA has “shelved Need for Speed” and is “quietly parking” the series for the foreseeable future.

The developments suggest a significant shift in EA’s priorities for one of gaming’s longest-running franchises, which launched in 1994 with the original “The Need for Speed” on PlayStation and Sega Saturn consoles.

The series has produced more than 20 games over three decades, becoming synonymous with arcade-style racing and car culture in video gaming.

Supporting evidence for the franchise’s uncertain status includes the closure of Speedhunters, an EA-funded car culture website that last updated in April 2024 and will reportedly cease operations.

The website served as a key component of EA’s broader Need for Speed marketing and community engagement strategy, making its shutdown particularly significant for the franchise’s future.

Internal restructuring at EA further indicates reduced commitment to the racing series. Earlier this month, the publisher announced it would shut down online servers for “Need for Speed Rivals” on October 7, while Criterion Games, the primary developer behind recent Need for Speed titles, has shifted most of its staff to focus on the Battlefield franchise.

In 2023, EA left only a “core group” of developers working on Need for Speed projects, but Battlefield head Vince Zampella told EuroGamer earlier this year that the remaining Need for Speed team would be “joining their colleagues working on Battlefield.”

This consolidation effectively eliminates dedicated development resources for the racing franchise.

The most recent entry, “Need for Speed Unbound,” launched in December 2022 to mixed reception, currently holding a “Mixed” rating with over 40,000 reviews on Steam.

The lukewarm response may have contributed to EA’s decision to reassess the franchise’s commercial viability and resource allocation priorities.

EA has not released an official statement regarding the Need for Speed franchise’s future, leaving fans and industry observers to interpret these various signals about the series’ status.

The apparent pause comes as the gaming industry faces increased pressure to focus resources on proven franchises and live-service games that generate consistent revenue streams.

The potential shelving of Need for Speed represents a significant shift for EA’s portfolio, as the franchise has been a consistent presence in the company’s annual release schedule for decades.

Whether this represents a temporary hiatus for retooling or a more permanent strategic shift remains unclear pending official confirmation from Electronic Arts.