EA Confirms Need for Speed Franchise Will Continue
Portal Game World – The Need for Speed franchise will continue, according to developer Criterion Games. However, the Electronic Arts (EA)-owned studio hinted that the next installment is still far from release.
Between NFS 2 (1997) and NFS Rivals (2013), the series consistently launched annual titles. However, after 2013, the release pace slowed. Over the last eleven years, four new mainline games were introduced alongside one mobile title, NFS: No Limits (2015), developed by Firemonkeys Studios.
The latest game in the series, Need for Speed Unbound, debuted in 2022. Since then, EA has provided no updates about a sequel. Despite this slowdown, Criterion Games assured fans that the franchise is not ending. In a recent statement to Eurogamer, the studio reaffirmed that Need for Speed still has a future.
While a new game is inevitable, Criterion Games currently has other priorities. The Guildford, UK-based studio did not specify these projects, but EA may have assigned them to other tasks within the company.
This shift in focus raises questions about when fans can expect the next Need for Speed installment. EA has not confirmed whether Criterion will lead development or if another studio will take over.
Despite the uncertainty, Need for Speed remains a key franchise in the racing genre. Its strong fan base and legacy ensure that it will eventually return. However, fans may have to wait longer than expected for the next adrenaline-fueled racing experience.
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Criterion Games, the studio behind Need for Speed Unbound, is now fully focused on developing the next Battlefield game. A company spokesperson confirmed to Eurogamer that Criterion’s Need for Speed team has joined colleagues working on Battlefield, signaling a shift in priorities for the EA-owned developer.
Criterion has previously contributed to Battlefield 2042, supporting its development since early 2021. This involvement led to Need for Speed Unbound’s release being delayed until 2022. The studio also played a supporting role in Battlefield 5 (2018) and Battlefield 1 (2016), reinforcing its long-term connection to the first-person shooter franchise.
While Criterion previously balanced both projects, its full transition to Battlefield suggests that the next Need for Speed game is no longer in active development. This shift likely occurred after the studio ended post-launch support for Need for Speed Unbound in late 2024.
The decision raises concerns among Need for Speed fans, as EA has yet to announce which studio, if any, will lead the next racing title. With Criterion now focused on Battlefield, the future timeline for the next Need for Speed installment remains uncertain.
The next Need for Speed game may still be years away from development. With Criterion Games now fully focused on Battlefield, the future of the racing franchise remains uncertain.
In early February 2025, EA announced the Battlefield Labs community testing program, revealing that the next Battlefield game is still in its pre-alpha stage. This early development phase suggests the shooter could take several more years before release. Given that modern AAA game development cycles last about five years on average, the next Need for Speed game might not begin active development until after Battlefield’s launch.
This timeline indicates that Need for Speed fans may have to wait until the early 2030s for a new installment. If Criterion remains occupied with Battlefield, it could lead to the longest gap between two Need for Speed games since the franchise debuted in 1994.
Alternatively, EA could assign a different studio to develop the next Need for Speed game. While the franchise has switched developers before, finding a studio that matches Criterion’s expertise in racing games may be challenging. Given this difficulty, EA is unlikely to rush a new entry without a capable team.
As December 2025 approaches, it will officially mark the longest period between two Need for Speed titles in the franchise’s history. While fans remain hopeful for a new installment, Criterion’s focus on Battlefield suggests that the wait will be much longer than anticipated. Until then, EA has yet to confirm any plans for Need for Speed’s future.
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