EA has quietly shifted the “Need for Speed” series into neutral, confirming what fans have been suspecting for a while. The franchise that once defined street racing in the gaming world is now on pause, with no clear timeline for when it’ll fire back up.
The Big Shift
Longtime Need for Speed collaborators and community figures have started speaking up. One of the clearest signs came from Speedhunters, the popular car-culture site sponsored by EA. Photographer Matthew Everingham confirmed on social media that the site is essentially frozen after EA pulled funding. In his words, “Speedhunters is on ice. EA shelved Need for Speed, and that means no more funding for the site.”
It’s not just Speedhunters feeling the effects. Criterion Games, the current developer behind the franchise, has been reassigned to support the next Battlefield title. EA later confirmed the move, stating that Need for Speed will take a backseat while they focus resources on Battlefield.
Server Shutdowns and Silent Closures
As part of this realignment, EA will shut down online servers for Need for Speed Rivals on October 7, 2025. Once that happens, multiplayer will be gone for good and several Xbox achievements tied to online play will become unachievable. This includes “Friendly Race” and “Buddy Bust.”
Meanwhile, the Speedhunters website has gone dark. No new content is being published, their store is offline, and their social accounts have gone quiet. That silence says more than any press release could.
So, Is NFS Dead?
Not quite. EA clarified that the franchise is not cancelled but rather paused. In a statement to international press, EA mentioned that Need for Speed will return in “new and exciting ways” once the Battlefield team is back on track. What that means in practice, nobody really knows.
No new titles are currently announced. No trailers. No teasers. No leaks. Just silence and speculation.
A Broader Racing Crisis?
It’s not just NFS that’s skidding off course. Forza Motorsport has also hit a rough patch with minimal updates and reported layoffs. Racing games as a genre seem to be in a weird limbo, stuck between arcade thrills and sim-racing purism.
With NFS Unbound and Heat already marked as “complete” with no future updates planned, the golden age of street racers feels like it’s parked for now.
Read: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 Removes Guitar Hero Easter Egg After Fan Backlash
What This Means for You
If you’re a fan, here’s what to do:
• Wrap up Rivals achievements before October 7, 2025. Multiplayer features won’t be available after that.
• Don’t expect updates for Unbound or Heat. Those games are finished, at least from EA’s point of view.
• Explore alternatives. With both NFS and Forza slowing down, it might be time to check out indie racers, classics like Burnout Paradise, or even the rumored return of Midnight Club.
Final Thoughts
Need for Speed isn’t dead, but it’s definitely benched. EA has shifted priorities and racing fans are left waiting for a green light that may take years to appear. Until then, the streets are quiet.
Stay tuned to Geekhub for updates as we keep our ears to the ground for the next chapter in this iconic series.
