"Next Need for Speed Release Delayed Indefinitely"

EA's Executive Vice President, Vince Zampella, recently provided an update on the current state of the Need for Speed series. It's been over two years since the release of NFS Unbound, and since then, EA has not announced any new developments in the franchise. The reason for this hiatus is clear: Criterion Games, the developer behind Need for Speed, is currently dedicating its efforts to the creation of the next installment in the Battlefield series.

According to Zampella, EA's primary focus at the moment is the upcoming Battlefield game, which is being developed with a keen ear to player feedback. This ambitious project involves collaboration among four different studios, signaling EA's full commitment to its success. Zampella has emphasized that the team aims to steer clear of the missteps seen with Battlefield 2042, which faced significant backlash at launch due to contentious gameplay choices. This player-centric approach is also being applied to new content for NFS Unbound.

It appears that EA will likely shift its attention back to Need for Speed only after the launch and initial support phase of the new Battlefield game. This delay might actually benefit the NFS franchise. Fans have expressed dissatisfaction with recent titles, and a pause could provide the opportunity for a successful reboot by truly listening to player feedback. Allowing time for fans to move past previous disappointments and rekindle their nostalgia could be a strategic move.

In any case, fans of the Need for Speed series should not anticipate any new announcements in the near future.