EA Just Delisted 5 Need For Speed Games

I might have the need for speed, but it turns out EA doesn’t. Or at least they don’t desire it. In a new Reddit post from community manager Max_Joker (thanks, PC Gamer), Max noted that the company has cut back on the number of Need for Speed games listed on EA’s online platforms.

All with an aim of “shifting gears to focus on the future of Need for Speed.” This news comes after the next Need for Speed was reportedly pushed into 2022 following a planned release for this year. Working from home during the pandemic possibly took a toll on the development cycle. In the comments, Max noted, “the number of players has come to a point where it’s no longer feasible to continue the work behind the scenes.” As of yesterday (May 31st), the following games have been dropped from storefronts.

Need for Speed: Carbon
Need for Speed: Undercover
Need for Speed: Shift
Need for Speed Shift 2: Unleashed
Need for Speed: The Run

In the statement, Max noted that the games will continue to work online for a short while, but the online store should now be inactive. Online portions of the games will continue until August 31st, with offline modes being your only option for these games from September 1st onward. In the closing of the announcement, the company hopes you keep playing many of its newer Need for Speed games.

See, I wouldn’t have minded this announcement if it weren’t for the timing. It is very little for anyone to do in those cases if they want the games but have external factors playing on why they can’t buy them right now. A good example of the announcement of de-listing is what Microsoft does. We’ve seen it recently as Forza Horizon 3 was pulled from online stores, but you were given weeks to put a little bit of money aside. Giving people hours is a little strange in my opinion, and an example of how not to announce de-listings.