According to fresh reports, Electronic Arts has placed the Need for Speed franchise on ice—funding cuts have even shuttered Speedhunters, EA’s once‑built car‑culture outlet. Matthew Everingham of Speedhunters posted on Instagram: “Speedhunters is on ice. EA shelved Need For Speed, and that means no more funding for the site.” This comes after Speedhunters’ last upload on April 8, 2025.

Why Now? Battlefield Takes Priority

In September 2023, EA redirected Criterion Games to focus on the new Battlefield 6, with only a small team left supporting Need for Speed Unbound. Then, in February 2025, EA publicly confirmed Need for Speed development was on pause while Criterion dedicated resources to Battlefield. That same update noted Unbound’s updates had ended.

Past Performance: Why the Stall?

Between 2015–2019, Need for Speed saw three underwhelming titles from Ghost Games. Unbound (2022), co‑developed by Criterion and Codemasters, earned mixed reviews and modest sales, not enough to green‑light a sequel.

EA has shifted toward franchises with broader reach—Battlefield 6 aims for 100 million players, whereas Forza Horizon 5, a top‑tier racer, lags behind at around 45 million (including Game Pass)

What’s Next?

EA assures players that Need for Speed isn’t dropped permanently—just delayed. Criterion’s team leaders, including Vince Zampella, promise the franchise will return “in new and interesting ways”. But no timeline has been shared. The gap between Unbound and the next likely spans several years.