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    HomeGadgetsEA is Reportedly Hitting The Brakes On The Need For Speed Franchise

    EA is Reportedly Hitting The Brakes On The Need For Speed Franchise

    Big and surprising news is coming from the gaming world—EA might be stopping work on its famous racing game series, Need for Speed. This franchise, which previously held a special place in every gamer’s heart, is now probably going on a long break.

    Electronic Arts, a major name in the racing game and gaming industry, has launched dozens of high-speed titles to date. The most popular name in their Electronic Arts racing games lineup has always been the Need for Speed franchise.

    Now that EA is showing signs of stopping the game, fans are feeling confused and sad.

    A Brief Look at All Need for Speed Games

    When we talk about all the Need for Speed games, a long list comes to mind.

    Started in 1994, the Need for Speed franchise became a true icon for the racing genre. Each new game brought new features, visuals, and intense race moments. This series was not just a game but a nostalgia for gamers.

    As the racing series evolved, the graphics and physics engine improved, but some games did not meet fan expectations. Still, EA’s franchise has created a solid legacy in the gaming industry.

    The Shocking Report: EA Quietly Parking the Franchise

    A recent report surprised everyone when it said that EA is quietly parking the franchise. Matthew Everingham, a photographer who frequently contributes to the Speedhunters website, posted that EA has shelved Need for Speed—meaning the franchise is on pause for now.

    He clearly mentioned that EA is reportedly hitting the brakes, and this decision points to an uncertain future. It is not officially announced yet, but EA announced its intentions to put this popular brand of racing on the shelf.

    This is quite disappointing for hardcore fans because the Need for Speed franchise could be coming to an end, at least for now.

    Speedhunters & the Car Culture Connection

    Speedhunters, a popular car culture website with a direct connection to Electronic Arts, is shutting down. The website was funded by EA and contributed to a very engaging car culture website experience.

    The major visual contributor to the Speedhunters website was Matthew Everingham, the contributor to the Speedhunters website, who gave this breaking news. His work and the content on the website highlighted the car culture that was clearly visible in the NFS series.

    Since EA has paused Speedhunters, a major visual storytelling element has also been lost.

    EA’s Silent Moves That Hinted the End

    If you look back, some of Electronic Arts’ (EA’s) decisions already indicate that they are shifting their focus away from NFS. The publisher recently announced that online servers for Need for Speed Rivals will be shut down in October 2025.

    Along with this, the Speedhunters website will also cease operations. All these steps together show that EA’s direction regarding NFS is now uncertain. Even without an official statement, these silent actions are indicating something.

    The Role of Criterion Games & Battlefield Shift

    As far as development is concerned, Criterion Games has played a major role. But now the majority of the developer team has shifted to working on Battlefield.

    Only a small team was left that was continuing to work on the racing franchise, but after 2023 it also merged with the Battlefield team.

    This clearly shows that EA removed Criterion from racing and put it in other projects, and now there is no active development for NFS.

    Latest Release: Need for Speed Unbound’s Mixed Reception

    Need for Speed Unbound was released in 2022, which is the latest title of the franchise so far. This game has received more reviews on Steam, but the rating is still “Mixed.”

    By 2025, the racing game had garnered a somewhat divided response in the online community. Some people liked the game’s new art style and mechanics, but many people called it average.

    All this shows that the NFS brand is no longer generating the same craze as it used to.

    Industry Impact: What the Shelving Means for Racing Games

    EA’s move could be a big signal for the racing game and the entire gaming industry. When such a large franchise is shelved, there is scope for new developers.

    After this report, there is speculation in the industry about whether any other publisher will fill this space. Whatever the case, NFS has always played a very important role in the development of the racing genre.

    This franchise kept Electronic Arts racing games at the top. Now that EA has put it on pause, it seems either this is a long pit stop… or the race is over.

    Conclusion: Is This the Final Lap?

    For now, it’s hard to say if this is the end of all Need for Speed games or a long break. But EA has clearly put the brakes on the Need.

    For fans, this series was an emotion. For them, this pause is a tough pill. This move by EA points towards an uncertain future.

    There are hopes for a new revival in the future, but for now, the iconic franchise has gone off track.

    David Novak
    David Novakhttps://www.gadgetgram.com
    For the last 20 years, David Novak has appeared in newspapers, magazines, radio, and TV around the world, reviewing the latest in consumer technology. His byline has appeared in Popular Science, PC Magazine, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Electronic House Magazine, GQ, Men’s Journal, National Geographic, Newsweek, Popular Mechanics, Forbes Technology, Readers Digest, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Glamour Magazine, T3 Technology Magazine, Stuff Magazine, Maxim Magazine, Wired Magazine, Laptop Magazine, Indianapolis Monthly, Indiana Business Journal, Better Homes and Garden, CNET, Engadget, InfoWorld, Information Week, Yahoo Technology and Mobile Magazine. He has also made radio appearances on the The Mark Levin Radio Show, The Laura Ingraham Talk Show, Bob & Tom Show, and the Paul Harvey RadioShow. He’s also made TV appearances on The Today Show and The CBS Morning Show. His nationally syndicated newspaper column called the GadgetGUY, appears in over 100 newspapers around the world each week, where Novak enjoys over 3 million in readership. David is also a contributing writer fro Men’s Journal, GQ, Popular Mechanics, T3 Magazine and Electronic House here in the U.S.

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