EA has reportedly shelved the Need for Speed franchise following the quiet shutdown of its car culture site Speedhunters. With Criterion focused on Battlefield, the future of the iconic racing series remains uncertain.
The long-running Need for Speed franchise may have been put on indefinite hiatus by Electronic Arts, according to recent reports and insider claims. While EA has not issued an official statement, the sudden halt in activity from its car culture website, Speedhunters, funded and tied closely to the NFS brand, along with comments from key contributors, suggests that the racing series has been shelved for the foreseeable future.
The speculation began when Matthew Everingham, a long-time photojournalist for Speedhunters, announced on Instagram that both the website and the Need for Speed series were effectively “on ice.” He cited the end of EA’s funding as the primary reason behind Speedhunters’ halt, adding: “EA shelved Need for Speed, and that means no more funding for the site.” The last post on Speedhunters dates back to April 8, 2025, signaling a significant slowdown before this unofficial confirmation.
Speedhunters was established in 2008 as a passion project backed by EA to spotlight car culture, serving as a thematic extension of Need for Speed‘s core identity. The site became an essential part of the franchise’s ecosystem, offering deep dives into motorsport, modified cars, and iconic vehicles like Most Wanted’s M3 GTR. With its closure, fans have begun questioning the viability of Need for Speed moving forward.
The timing aligns with EA’s earlier decision to reassign Need for Speed developer Criterion Games to support Battlefield 6. Back in early 2025, EA stated that Criterion would be working alongside DICE and Ripple Effect on Battlefield, pausing further development on Need for Speed until their work on the shooter was complete. At that time, EA’s Vince Zampella had reassured fans that Criterion would eventually return to the racing franchise, armed with fresh insights and player feedback. However, with recent developments, this promise now feels increasingly unlikely.
This isn’t the first sign of trouble for Need for Speed. Despite the moderate critical reception of 2022’s Need for Speed Unbound, it failed to generate strong commercial success. The previous entries between 2015 and 2019, primarily developed by Ghost Games, also underperformed. A rumored remake of the beloved 2005 Most Wanted had sparked brief excitement in 2023, but no concrete details ever emerged.
Adding to the uncertainty, EA recently announced the upcoming shutdown of online services for Need for Speed Rivals in October 2025. While not necessarily indicative of the franchise’s fate, the move underscores the growing distance between EA and its once-prized racing series.
With Criterion’s full focus now on Battlefield 6, rumored to be EA’s next flagship shooter aiming for 100 million players, it seems the publisher is shifting priorities away from racing games. Unless EA changes course, fans may have to wait until the next decade for another Need for Speed installment; if one ever comes at all.
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