Can a game this long-lived vanish without warning? Electronic Arts may have quietly put its Need for Speed series on hold. Insider Matthew Everingham on Speedhunters claimed that EA removed funding for the site after shelving the franchise. No new Speedhunters posts appeared after April 8, 2025. The report suggests that EA shifted Criterion Games from racing to bolster Battlefield. Fans remain unsure if this is permanent or just a pause.
Who stops a series with fans around the world? What leads EA to step back from Need for Speed? When did the change begin? Where did the news come from? And why shift priorities now? The headlines answer those questions clearly for SFI.COZA readers.
”Need for Speed, the iconic racing franchise, is reportedly on indefinite hold as EA shifts focus to Battlefield. Criterion Games has been reassigned, and Speedhunters, the car-culture site, has paused updates. While no official announcement has been made, the future of NFS remains uncertain amid these major changes”.
Analytics Insight
EA appears to have pivoted in early 2025. It cancelled support for Speedhunters, cut development on new NFS titles, and reassigned resources. The move reflects EA’s focus on bigger hits like Battlefield 6 and Madden NFL 26. With those projects on track, EA may have zeroed in on franchises with broader reach and higher returns.
Recent NFS entries failed to match rivals. Ghost Games’ efforts from 2015 to 2019 did not impress. Even 2022’s Unbound, co‑developed by Criterion and Codemasters, did not meet sales thresholds. Critics gave mixed reviews. Gamers moved on. Meanwhile, Forza Horizon 5 reached millions more players. EA acted.
Everingham claimed that Speedhunters lost support once NFS paused. He stated on Instagram that the site is “on ice” now that EA shelved Need for Speed. No official word came from EA or Criterion. But no updates on Speedhunters since April raise questions. Some design staff reportedly began supporting Battlefield content and online features.
Criterion Games may now play a central role in Battlefield’s future. Internal sources suggest EA moved the studio to help build content for Battlefield 6’s multiplayer and single‑player modes. That shift may offer a better return on investment than racing games currently offer. It aligns with industry patterns where AAA developers follow audience trends.
EA announced it would end online support for Need for Speed: Rivals by October 7, 2025. That move cuts ties with older titles. It may be the final clue that EA has stepped back from active investment. Fans may still play those classics—but updates will stop. That speaks volumes about EA’s direction.
Sources close to EA point out that corporate priorities now tilt toward Madden and Battlefield. Madden NFL 26 has a multi‑year NFL deal and will release in October 2025. That partnership will fuel revenue. Need for Speed lacks such institutional support, even though it once led EA’s racing catalog.
Still the core fan base hopes for a return. Without EA confirmation, the series remains technically alive. The silence may mask internal discussions. Some believe EA may relaunch NFS later with a fresh vision. Others see a permanent break. Only official word can confirm.
The loss of Speedhunters funding may hint at broader branding changes. That site offered coverage of car culture tied to NFS marketing. Its absence means EA may cut promotional roots too. Such sites supported niche engagement among enthusiasts outside game content.
Need for Speed holds nostalgia for many. Its quiet stalling hurts longtime fans. The series once defined street racing gameplay in the early and mid‑2000s. Now it seems a relic as EA reallocates key studios. Still no public statement leaves room for hope—or disappointment.
For now fans wait. EA may revive the franchise someday. If not, the pause may mark the end of an era. Criterion’s work on Battlefield could deliver big results for EA. Either way, the road ahead looks different without Need for Speed in the fast lane.
The journey may restart. Or it may end. Either outcome will shape EA’s legacy.
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