Need for Speed will be "shelved" by EA, says journalist

The Need for Speed franchise may be "shelved" by Electronic Arts (EA), according to statements from a journalist, indicating that the company does not plan a new release for the series in 2025. This news, if confirmed, would mark a period of inactivity for one of the most traditional racing franchises in the industry, raising concerns about the future of the series under EA's management and the company's strategy for its racing titles.

The alleged decision by EA to "shelve" Need for Speed is concerning news for fans of the franchise and for the future of the company's racing games.

The information that Need for Speed would be "shelved" came from an unspecified journalist, suggesting that EA does not have a new title in the series actively in development for release in 2025. While EA has not made an official announcement, the absence of a new Need for Speed in a year may indicate a strategic pause, a reevaluation of the franchise's direction, or even a long-term plan for a reboot.

The Need for Speed franchise has a long and varied history, with ups and downs. Since its inception in 1994, the series has gone through various developers and gameplay styles, from illegal street races to high-speed police chases. Recently, EA has entrusted Criterion Games studio to lead the series' development, with the latest release, Need for Speed Unbound, arriving in December 2022. Although Unbound has been praised for its unique visual style and solid gameplay, it failed to meet EA's sales expectations, which may have influenced the decision to pause the franchise.

It is important to note that EA also announced the shutdown of the online servers for Need for Speed Rivals on August 31, 2025, which for some, may be another indication that the company is divesting in older titles to focus on other projects, or reevaluating the viability of maintaining multiple racing properties simultaneously. EA is also the publisher of the F1 franchise, with F1 2024 released in May 2024, and the WRC series, which had EA Sports WRC released in November 2023.

The potential pause on Need for Speed reflects a trend in the gaming industry where publishers reevaluate their older franchises, especially when financial performance falls short of expectations. EA may be seeking new creative directions or market strategies for the series, or perhaps prioritizing other genres and titles in its portfolio.

This decision, if true, casts an uncertain future for Need for Speed, a franchise that was once a cornerstone of racing games. The fan community will certainly await an official statement from EA to understand the series' fate.