Need for Speed Fans: Get Ready for a Long Wait for the Next Game

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Summary

  • Criterion Games has promised that the Need for Speed franchise has a future.
  • However, the EA-owned studio is currently focused on the next Battlefield game.
  • Assuming the NFS Unbound sequel doesn’t enter active production until the next Battlefield is out, NFS fans may have to wait until the early 2030s for a new entry in the franchise.

The “Need for Speed” franchise will carry on, as promised by developer Criterion Games. Yet, they hinted that the next installment of “Need for Speed” may take some time before it’s released.

From 1997 with the release of NFS 2, until 2013 when NFS Rivals came out, the Need for Speed series saw an annual release of new games. Over the subsequent 11 years, four mainline sequels followed, along with one mobile game – Firemonkeys Studios’ NFS: No Limits, introduced in 2015.

As a passionate gamer, I can’t help but reminisce about my recent thrilling ride with “Need for Speed Unbound” in 2022, which, as of now, remains the latest addition to this iconic series. The rumors about its sequel are yet to materialize on the horizon, but fear not, fellow speed enthusiasts! The creators behind the wheel, Criterion Games, have reassured us that the “Need for Speed” franchise is far from over. In a recent conversation with Eurogamer, they made it clear that the series is alive and kicking, albeit with different focus areas at the moment. So, while we eagerly wait for the next installment of high-octane racing action, let’s keep our engines revving!

NFS Developer Is Currently Focused on the Next Battlefield Game

According to a spokesperson’s statement to Eurogamer, the team behind “Need for Speed” at Criterion is now working together with their colleagues on “Battlefield.” Previously, Criterion had been contributing to the development of “Battlefield 2042,” joining the project as a support studio in early 2021. This shift caused the release date of “Need for Speed Unbound” to be moved to 2022. The team at Criterion has also played significant roles in developing “Battlefield 5” (released in 2018) and “Battlefield 1” (released in 2016). It seems that the upcoming “Battlefield” game is now their primary focus, or perhaps it became their main priority after they stopped supporting “Need for Speed Unbound” towards the end of 2024.

The Need for Speed team at Criterion are joining their colleagues working on Battlefield.

Next Need for Speed Game Might Not Arrive Until 2030s

It seems clear that the upcoming “Need for Speed” game is not expected soon, as the current state of the next “Battlefield” game is referred to as “pre-alpha,” indicating it could be several more years before release. Typically, AAA game development cycles last about five years, and with Criterion Games stating they won’t start work on the next “Need for Speed” until after the new “Battlefield” title launches, fans might have to wait until the early 2030s for a fresh installment in the series.

Meanwhile, EA might assign another game studio to create a fresh “Need for Speed” title while Criterion works on something else. However, it’s worth noting that this wouldn’t be an unprecedented move as the series has changed developers before. Yet, finding a studio with comparable expertise in racing games could prove challenging for EA, making such a decision less probable. As a result, December 2025 will signify the longest interval between two “Need for Speed” releases since the franchise’s debut in 1994.

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2025-02-04 00:38