Players still crave new Need for Speed entries, but the road ahead might be much longer than anyone hoped. A contributor to Speedhunters magazine—funded by EA for Need for Speed promotions—claims the franchise’s development is on ice. Growing signs suggest EA has put its iconic racing series in neutral for years to come.

The gaming world is filled with legendary racing franchises, but few have left a mark like Need for Speed. For decades, EA’s flagship has defined arcade racing, with every new release met by fans’ excitement. While Need for Speed Unbound landed in late 2022, fans are now left wondering if they’ll ever see a new game in this beloved series.

What’s Happening with the Need for Speed Saga?

In recent years, the future of the franchise has become a mystery. EA’s silence and the studio’s shift to Battlefield have unsettled fans who long for more rubber-burning action. Matthew Everingham, a contributor to Speedhunters—a car culture magazine previously supported by EA for Need for Speed marketing—shared his concerns on Instagram, drawing attention from the community.

The photographer posted: “Speedhunters is on hiatus. EA has ‘shelved’ Need for Speed, and that means no more funding for the site.” Everingham’s statement implies that funding has dried up, directly tied to the franchise’s pause. EA has not officially confirmed the news, but it’s worth noting that Criterion Games is now focused on Battlefield, likely helping with vehicles and destruction technology.

For fans holding out hope, there’s a silver lining: thanks to a devoted fan, Need for Speed: Most Wanted Remake is already playable, with nearly an hour of Unreal Engine 5 gameplay available online. As for Criterion, they’re unlikely to return to Need for Speed until after the next Battlefield launches on March 31, 2026—meaning it could be years before another NFS title hits the streets.

To add to the woes, EA just pulled the plug on Need for Speed Rivals servers, making the online modes inaccessible—though the game remains available offline.

Source: 3djuegos