Write off. Updated on 1 June 2021
EA has pulled five Need for Speed games from sale ahead of an August shutdown of online services.
On 31st May, EA announced the removal of Need for Speed Carbon (2006), Need for Speed Undercover (2008), Need for Speed Shift (2009), Need for Speed Shift 2: Unleashed (2011) and Need for Speed The Run (2011) from digital storefronts. In-game stores have also closed.
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EA said this move, which was announced and implemented on the same day, is in preparation for the retirement of the online services for these games, which is set for 31st August. Until then, you can still play and race your friends online. But from 1st September onwards, you can play offline only.
Need for Speed The Run
Additionally, their in-game stores for added content have also been closed.
This is all in preparation for the online server shutdown that is set to take place on 31st August 2021, meaning you can only play these games offline after that point. This will include both online multiplayer and online features, like Rivals.
Need for Speed’s community manager explained:
Decisions to retire games are never made easy, but we are now shifting gears to focus on the future of Need for Speed. The development teams and operational staff have put a lot of time and passion into the development, creation, release and upkeep of the game over the years, and we love to see you play. But the number of players has come to a point where it’s no longer feasible to continue the work behind the scenes required to keep Need for Speed Carbon, Need for Speed Undercover, Need for Speed Shift, Need for Speed Shift 2: Unleashed and Need for Speed The Run up and running.
Electronic Arts has taken the bold step of removing several of the older titles in the Need for Speed franchise from digital storefronts. As of Monday, Need for Speed: Carbon, Need for Speed: Shift, Need for Speed Shift 2: Unleashed, Need for Speed Undercover, and The Run are no longer available for purchase digitally
If you remember some of the older Need for Speed games fondly, you’d better hope you have them preserved somewhere whether online or on physical formats because five of them just got delisted abruptly. Electronic Arts announced this week on Monday that it would be taking down five different Need [.]