Key Takeaways
1. Electronic Arts (EA) has placed the Need For Speed series on hold indefinitely to focus on profitability within its gaming portfolio.
2. Speedhunters, a site closely linked to the NFS brand, has lost funding and is now “on ice” due to EA’s decision.
3. The Need For Speed franchise, which began in 1994, has struggled with popularity, especially after three unsuccessful titles released between 2015 and 2019.
4. Despite a positive reception for the 2022 game Need For Speed Unbound, it did not meet sales expectations, leading EA to shift resources to other projects like Battlefield 6.
5. The competitive racing game market, dominated by Forza Horizon, poses challenges for the Need For Speed series, which is now at risk of being overshadowed.
Reports indicate that Electronic Arts has decided to place the Need For Speed series on hold indefinitely as it focuses on achieving greater profits within its gaming portfolio. This news comes from Speedhunters, a website that celebrates car culture and was supported by EA for its Need for Speed-related projects, which is now reportedly “on ice.”
Announcement on Instagram
On his Instagram account, Matthew Everingham, a long-time contributor to Speedhunters, shared that EA is discontinuing the Need For Speed franchise, leading to a reduction in funding for the site.
Everingham stated, “Speedhunters is on ice. EA shelved Need For Speed, and that means no more funding for the site. Grateful for everything — the trips, the stories, the lifelong mates. I’m still shooting, just shifting gears into more video.”
The History of Speedhunters
Speedhunters was a blog focused on automotive culture and was closely linked to the NFS brand. The last update on the site was on April 8, 2025, and it has stayed “on ice” since that time. EA has not yet officially confirmed that the franchise has been shelved.
The decline of the NFS series has been noticeable. First released in 1994, the franchise has launched over 20 titles but has struggled to keep its former stature. From 2015 to 2019, the Need For Speed series faced a downturn, with three games created by Ghost Games failing to achieve the popularity and community approval they sought.
Recent Developments
Although the 2022 installment, Need For Speed Unbound, made by Criterion and Codemasters, received a more positive response, it still fell short in sales needed to approve a sequel. Following this, EA redirected Criterion Games to the EA Entertainment division, tasking them with the development of Battlefield 6 along with another racing title.
It seems that the reported halt of the NFS franchise indicates that EA has either paused the project or redirected its resources entirely to Battlefield 6, which aims to attract a player base of 100 million.
The racing game market has remained highly competitive over the years, with Turn 10 and Playground Games’ Forza Horizon leading the way, boasting over 45 million players since its launch, even before it was available on the PlayStation 5.
Matthew Everingham from Speedhunters has expressed concerns about this shift, as the franchise that once thrived appears to be in jeopardy.
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