Some disappointing news for those hoping for a new Need for Speed title in 2021. The next installment in the popular racing series will be delayed until next year.
All signs point to Electronic Arts’ Battlefield series for the delay. Criterion Games, developers of Burnout and the original Need for Speed series, is being reassigned to support the EA DICE crew in getting Battlefield 6 up and running for this fall.
In a statement to Polygon, EA chief studios officer Laura Miele noted the realities of developing a game in the midst of a pandemic. “It’s hard; it’s hard to make games from home, and the [EA DICE] team is fatigued a bit.”
EA’s $1.2 billion purchase of Codemasters is likely another key factor in the company’s decision. The acquisition allows Electronic Arts to supply the DICE team with reinforcements since at least one racing title will release in 2021.
EA made a promise to investors back in November that a new Need for Speed game would launch on next-gen consoles by March 2022. In the meantime, fans of the Need for Speed series will have to stick with last year’s remaster of Hot Pursuit or other classics in the game’s back catalog.
Disappointingly, other fan-favorite racers like Gran Turismo have also been pushed back to next year. The coronavirus pandemic has certainly left its mark on the gaming world.
What are your thoughts on EA’s decision to push Need for Speed back? Do you trust that the racing franchise can return to greatness? Leave a comment and let us know. As always stay with us at Sports Gamers Online for all the latest.
