EA has reportedly placed its long-standing Need for Speed franchise on pause, casting uncertainty over the future of this iconic racing series. Although there’s been no official statement yet, signals from within the Need for Speed community and EA’s recent business strategies suggest that the gaming titan might be making a significant shift—perhaps permanently.
The Need for Speed series has been a cornerstone of EA’s offerings since it debuted with 1994’s The Need for Speed, known for its adrenaline-pumping arcade racing, vast world exploration, and remarkable customization options. However, over the last decade, the Need for Speed franchise has seen a decline in its popularity, with its latest title, 2022’s Need for Speed Unbound, underperforming commercially after an initial hopeful launch.
Concerns about the series’ future started to gain traction when Criterion Games, the developer behind Need for Speed, got fully involved in the development of Battlefield 6 earlier this year. Criterion reassured fans that the Need for Speed franchise would continue, but recent insights cast doubt on that promise. Matthew Everingham, a longtime expert associated with EA’s favored car culture site Speedhunters (closely linked to Need for Speed), recently shared on Instagram that Speedhunters is “on ice” due to EA putting Need for Speed on hold. The absence of updates on the site since April 2025 lends further support to his statements.
Need for Speed and Speedhunters Could Be at Risk
Furthermore, given the close relationship between Speedhunters and Need for Speed, shelving one could reasonably lead to the other facing similar jeopardy. While EA has not commented on these rumors, their latest NFS announcements include the impending closure of online services for Need for Speed Rivals on October 7, 2025. This upcoming service shutdown is unlikely a strong indicator of the franchise’s next steps, especially since Criterion’s full workforce is now dedicated to Battlefield 6. Thus, even if a new NFS title is being developed, it would likely not see the light of day until 2030 at the earliest.
These past weeks have been challenging for racing game enthusiasts. Following major layoffs at Xbox last week, developers at Turn 10, known for Forza Motorsport, faced severe staff cuts which jeopardize the future of the circuit racing series. The looming uncertainty surrounding Need for Speed, facing a similar fate, is disheartening, and hopefully EA will recognize the franchise’s potential—especially in light of the success of Forza Horizon 5.
