EA's Executive Vice President, Vince Zampella, recently provided an update regarding the current state of the *Need for Speed* franchise. It’s been over two years since the release of *NFS Unbound*, and since then, there has been little to no official news about what’s next for the iconic racing series.
The reason behind this silence is largely due to Criterion Games’ current focus on the development of the upcoming *Battlefield* title. As explained by Zampella, EA’s top priority at the moment is delivering a strong new entry in the *Battlefield* franchise. The project is being developed with deep consideration for player feedback and involves collaboration between four different studios, highlighting EA’s full commitment to its success.
Zampella also reiterated that the team is determined not to repeat the missteps of *Battlefield 2042*, which faced heavy criticism upon launch due to divisive gameplay changes and technical issues. This player-first strategy extends beyond *Battlefield* and is being applied to ongoing content updates for *NFS Unbound* as well.
It appears that EA will likely shift its attention back to the *Need for Speed* franchise only after the new *Battlefield* launches and enters its post-launch support phase. Considering the lukewarm reception of recent *NFS* titles, this delay might actually be beneficial. If EA aims to reboot the series successfully by incorporating fan input, allowing time for past disappointments to fade and nostalgia to rebuild could prove to be a smart long-term strategy.
For now, fans shouldn’t expect any major announcements related to *Need for Speed* in the immediate future. Patience may be required, but it could also pave the way for a stronger, more fan-driven return when the time is right.
