Need for Speed: Rivals Hitting the Brakes? EA's Pulling the Plug on Multiplayer... Again!
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
EA's shutting down *Need for Speed: Rivals* multiplayer servers in October 2025, joining a growing list of NFS games meeting a similar fate, but the single-player mode remains intact, so it's not all doom and gloom for solo racers.
Right, buckle up, racing fans, because EA's at it again. According to Game Rant, *Need for Speed: Rivals* is having its multiplayer servers shut down on October 7th, 2025. (Yep, 2025 – plenty of time to squeeze in a few more races before the digital lights go out.)
Now, *Rivals* isn't exactly a spring chicken, having launched back in 2013 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Co-developed by Ghost Games (now EA Gothenburg) and Criterion Games, it's actually a pretty solid entry in the *Need for Speed* franchise. So, why the chop?
Well, as usual, it's the circle of life for online games. Servers cost money, player populations dwindle, and eventually, the bean counters decide it's time to pull the plug. This isn't the first time EA's given a *Need for Speed* game the ol' heave-ho, either. Game Rant notes that *Rivals* will be the *seventh* NFS title to bite the dust this decade alone.
But here's the kicker: the single-player mode will remain perfectly playable. So, if you're more of a lone wolf racer, you're in the clear. And, the game is still available for purchase and accessible through EA Play, so you can still get your fix – just without the, uh, rivals. But what *does* this mean for future games and what support the players should continue to expect for them?
Speaking of the future, EA's got other server shutdowns lined up, too. *NHL 21* is getting the axe on October 6th, followed by *Madden 22* and *FIFA 23* later in the month. Blimey, it's a server shutdown fiesta! But honestly, and I'm not talking from an EA perspective here... It makes sense.
What's next for Need for Speed? Criterion Games, who were previously developing NFS titles, were reassigned to *Battlefield*. But never fear, EA has confirmed that the Need for Speed franchise will continue. Whether that will involve Web3 elements or not remains to be seen, though I suspect EA will watch the market closely.
In short, enjoy what you have while you've got it, and maybe don't buy any digital games that rely *too* heavily on online multiplayer (unless you accept that their lifespan is limited). It's a bit of a downer, sure, but that's just how the digital cookie crumbles.
Tags: Need for Speed, EA, Server Shutdown, Racing Games, Multiplayer
Original article: Game Rant