Need for Speed on Ice? EA Rumours Spark Fears for the Racing Franchise
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Rumours are circulating that EA may have put Need for Speed on hold, with potential impacts on the racing game community; the news comes after layoffs at Xbox and the shuttering of Speedhunters.
Right, buckle up, racers. Word on the digital street is that EA might be hitting the brakes on the *Need for Speed* franchise. Yeah, *that* *Need for Speed*, the one that's been burning rubber since before half of us were born. According to a report from Game Rant, the rumours are swirling thicker than tire smoke, suggesting the series might be getting parked indefinitely.
Now, before you chuck your steering wheel at the monitor, this is just a rumour for now. EA hasn't officially said anything, but a few things are raising eyebrows higher than a souped-up Skyline's spoiler.
First up, Criterion Games, the folks who've been keeping *Need for Speed* alive, got drafted into the *Battlefield* trenches earlier this year. They promised *Need for Speed* wasn't dead, but promises, promises, eh?
Then there's Speedhunters, an EA-funded car culture website that’s basically *Need for Speed*'s cool cousin. A longtime contributor mentioned on Instagram that Speedhunters is "on ice" because "EA shelved Need for Speed." The site hasn't seen an update since April 2025, which... isn't exactly encouraging, is it?
And look, I get it. *Need for Speed* hasn't exactly been firing on all cylinders lately. *Need for Speed Unbound* (2022) showed promise, but it didn't exactly set the sales charts on fire. Maybe EA's thinking it's time for a pit stop, a chance to refuel and come back stronger.
Adding fuel to the fire, EA's also shutting down online services for *Need for Speed Rivals* this October. While old games losing online support isn't exactly earth-shattering news, it does kinda feel like they're clearing the decks.
But what does this all mean? Well, if Criterion's busy with *Battlefield*, and Speedhunters is on hiatus, a new *Need for Speed* title isn't likely to zoom onto our screens anytime soon. We're probably talking 2030 *at the earliest* if it happens at all.
And let's be honest, the racing game scene has been a bit of a demolition derby lately. The recent layoffs at Xbox gutted Turn 10, the studio behind *Forza Motorsport*. Losing both *Forza* and *Need for Speed* would be a massive blow for racing fans.
Hopefully, EA sees the potential in the franchise, especially when open-world racers like *Forza Horizon 5* are still smashing it. Maybe a bit of healthy competition is all they need to kickstart the engines again?
We can only wait and see if EA spins out, or if they decide to keep the *Need for Speed* legacy alive. Fingers crossed they don’t leave us stuck in neutral.
Tags: Need for Speed, EA, Racing Games, Criterion Games, Gaming Rumors
Original article: Game Rant