EA Game Shutting Down on March 19

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Electronic Arts has announced that Real Racing 3 will no longer be available after March 2026. As of December 18, 2025, the game has been removed from app stores, giving players a limited time to enjoy it before it’s permanently discontinued. This news highlights the important issue of game preservation, particularly for online games that can be lost completely when their servers are shut down.

Originally released on mobile devices in 2013 as a follow-up to 2010’s Real Racing 2, Real Racing 3 received numerous updates over the years, adding more real-world tracks and officially licensed cars. Even after 12 years, it remains one of the top mobile racing games, delivering realistic online competition on a smaller screen. Players can race against up to seven opponents online, and the game has surpassed 200 million downloads. While its free-to-play system wasn’t without criticism, Real Racing 3 was largely successful.

EA Confirms Real Racing 3 to Shut Down on March 19, 2026

Image via EA

Electronic Arts (EA) has announced that servers for the mobile racing game Real Racing 3 will permanently shut down on March 19, 2026, making the game unplayable after that date. The game is no longer available for download on the App Store or Google Play Store, though existing players can still redownload it from their account history. Purchases within the game are currently disabled, but players can still use any in-game currency they already have until the shutdown. As a final gift, EA will provide all players with 1000 gold, an Audi S1 e-tron quattro, and a 2023 Rimac Nevera. Players who already own these items will receive additional gold instead.

The announcement that Real Racing 3 will shut down in 2026 makes it the newest EA game to be discontinued. Several other popular EA games are also scheduled to stop working next year, including Anthem and The Sims Mobile. Recently, NBA Live 19 was also confirmed to be closing in January. EA maintains a list of all its previously shut-down games and generally gives players advance warning. While it’s disappointing to see these games go, fans will have some time to enjoy them before they disappear. So far, four EA games are slated for closure in 2026, but given how often this happens, we might see even more added to that list next year.

All EA Games Shutting Down in 2026 (So Far)

  • Anthem (January 12, 2026)
  • The Sims Mobile (January 24, 2026)
  • NBA Live 19 (January 30, 2026)
  • Real Racing 3 (March 19, 2026)

The recent shutdown of Real Racing 3 has brought the issue of game preservation, particularly for online games, back into the spotlight. The “Stop Killing Games” campaign has gained a lot of attention this year, but it’s still unclear if it’s actually making a difference in protecting games for the future. It’s a continuing challenge, and one that will likely persist for a long time.

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2025-12-20 00:04