Electronic Arts has once again shown just how out of touch it is with its own player base by shelving one of its most iconic franchises: Need for Speed. According to recent reports from Speedhunters’ Matthew Everingham, EA has pulled the plug on active development for the series, leaving its fanbase stunned, frustrated, and angry.
For a publisher that built its empire on beloved titles and fan-driven communities, this latest decision feels like yet another slap in the face. Need for Speed is more than just a name—it’s a decades-long franchise with a fiercely loyal following. The last entry, Need for Speed Unbound, may not have broken records, but it reinvigorated the series with its fresh style and street-racing roots. Fans were hopeful that Criterion would build on this foundation. Instead, EA has thrown it in the fridge, cold and forgotten, while Criterion is reassigned to help salvage Battlefield.
Why Does EA Keep Nuking What We Love?
This isn’t the first time EA has pulled this move—and that’s exactly the problem. Time and again, EA has shown a baffling willingness to nuke franchises that players actually care about while doubling down on tired rehashes and bland live-service cash grabs. The Dead Space series, SimCity, Command & Conquer, Medal of Honor—all gutted or left to rot, while resources are funneled into projects no one asked for.
The pattern is exhausting, and the message is clear: EA’s priorities are completely misaligned with the people who actually buy and play their games. Fans don’t want another rushed, soulless Battlefield update. They don’t want watered-down, monetized reboots of franchises they used to love. They want quality, they want respect, and above all, they want to feel heard.
Stop Rehashing, Start Listening
What’s most infuriating about this decision is how preventable it was. Players have been vocal for years about what they want: meaningful single-player content, strong online competition, and a return to what made Need for Speed special in the first place. EA had the blueprint. Instead of listening, they shelved it.
This kind of tone-deafness isn’t just disappointing—it’s self-destructive. Every time EA ignores its fans in favor of rehashed, uninspired releases, it chips away at the goodwill and loyalty that once made it a household name. And that loyalty doesn’t last forever.
The Road Ahead
EA needs to stop treating its best franchises like disposable products. If Need for Speed truly has been shelved indefinitely, it’s a shameful waste of potential. Fans deserve better—and they’re not afraid to say it anymore.
It’s time for EA to stop nuking the games people love. Stop rehashing the same tired ideas. And for once, actually listen to what the fanbase is screaming at you: give us the games we care about, or risk losing us for good.
