The end of Need for Speed? EA statement alarms fans

The original Need for Speed launched on the 3DO in 1994 before making its way to the original PlayStation in 1996. Since then, the series has earned a permanent place in the hearts of racing game fans. Now, nearly 30 years later, the franchise could be facing its end. The latest concerns stem from an interview conducted by IGN Nordic with Rebecka Coutaz, Vice President and General Manager of EA's Battlefield Studios Europe. When asked whether Criterion might return to developing other projects in the future, Coutaz replied:

"We are solely focused on Battlefield."

She also declined to comment on any potential anniversary projects related to Need for Speed. In addition, Criterion now officially carries the tagline "A Battlefield Studio," making the studio's current direction appear fairly clear.

Fans fear the end of Need for Speed

EA has not officially announced the end of the Need for Speed series. However, many Reddit users believe there will not be another Need for Speed game anytime soon – or, in the worst-case scenario, ever again. Many fans accuse EA of mismanaging the franchise for years while ignoring the qualities that originally made it so popular. The top-rated comment in the discussion reads: "It's so easy to make a good Need for Speed game and they just kept refusing to make one."

For many fans, Need for Speed Underground, Underground 2, Most Wanted and Carbon remain some of the strongest entries in the series. By comparison, the latest installment, Need for Speed Unbound (2022), received a far more mixed reception due to its controversial comic-inspired art style, divisive dialogue and unfamiliar driving feel. As a result, many players are frustrated that EA chose not to build on the strengths of the franchise's earlier titles. Whether Criterion will ever get another chance to change that remains uncertain. The same also applies to Burnout, the beloved racing series that likewise originated at Criterion.