By Sagar V. Mankar 
Electronic Arts (EA) has officially announced the ending of support for Need for Speed Unbound. This racing game, which hit the streets in December 2022, will no longer receive new content updates as its developer, Criterion Games, redirects its full attention to the upcoming Battlefield project.
The UK-based developer recently completed its second year of updates for NFS Unbound which added themed content, new modes, events, challenges, ranks, progression opportunities, and mostly prioritized player-requested bug fixes.
While the game will remain available for purchase, allowing players to enjoy the base game and all nine content updates, no new content will be coming in the future.
Speaking to IGN, Vince Zampella, Head of Respawn and Group General Manager for EA Studios, stated, “The Need for Speed team at Criterion are joining their colleagues working on Battlefield.” He emphasized that over the past year, EA has actively listened to the Need for Speed community to develop content for Unbound. With a deeper understanding of player preferences, EA plans to revitalize the franchise in innovative ways in the future.
Criterion Games, renowned for the Burnout series, developed Need for Speed Unbound and has a history of contributing to the Battlefield franchise. The studio has previously assisted with titles like Battlefield V and Battlefield 2042. This experience positions Criterion to make significant contributions as they collaborate with other EA studios on upcoming Battlefield projects.
While the immediate focus is on Battlefield, EA remains committed to the Need for Speed franchise. Zampella noted his personal passion for cars and expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with a dedicated team to explore “new directions” for the series. This indicates that, although there are no immediate plans for a new Need for Speed title, the franchise is expected to return with fresh and engaging experiences in the future.