Is Need for Speed Owned by EA?
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Need for Speed (NFS) is indeed owned by Electronic Arts (EA), a renowned American video game company that has been publishing the franchise since its inception, with the current development handled by Criterion Games, the developers of the Burnout series. The Need for Speed franchise has undergone significant transformations over the years, with EA playing a pivotal role in shaping its direction and ensuring its continued success in the gaming industry.
Introduction to Need for Speed and EA
The Need for Speed series was originally developed by Distinctive Software, a video game studio based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, before Electronic Arts acquired the company in 1991. This acquisition marked the beginning of EA’s involvement in the Need for Speed franchise, which has since become one of the most popular and enduring racing game franchises in the world.
History of Need for Speed
The Need for Speed series has a rich history, with the first game released in 1994. Over the years, the franchise has undergone significant changes, with various developers contributing to its growth and evolution. EA has played a crucial role in shaping the franchise, introducing new features, and exploring different genres, such as Need for Speed: World, which was the first high-budget NFS game to be completely free-to-play.
FAQs
General Questions
- What is Need for Speed? – Need for Speed is a racing game franchise published by Electronic Arts and currently developed by Criterion Games.
- Why did EA shut down Need for Speed: World? – EA shut down Need for Speed: World on July 14, 2015, as the publisher felt that the game no longer lived up to the high standard set by the Need for Speed franchise.
- Is Need for Speed Heat made by EA? – Yes, Need for Speed Heat is developed by Ghost Games and published by Electronic Arts for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One.
EA and Need for Speed
- Is Need for Speed in EA Play? – Yes, Need for Speed is included with EA Play, which offers instant access to Need for Speed Unbound and other best-loved titles from EA, plus a 10% member discount and member-only content.
- When did EA buy Need for Speed? – Electronic Arts acquired Distinctive Software, the original developer of Need for Speed, in 1991.
- How much is EA Play? – EA Play costs $4.99 a month or $29.99 for a full year, while EA Play Pro costs $14.99 a month or $99.99 for a full year.
Game-Specific Questions
- Is Need for Speed Hot Pursuit on EA Play? – Yes, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered is now on The Play List with EA Play.
- Is NFS Unbound made by EA? – Need for Speed Unbound is developed by Criterion Games and published by Electronic Arts.
- Does Need for Speed Heat swear? – Yes, Need for Speed Heat contains some profanity, including the words “sht” and “ashole“.
- Can you get banned in Need for Speed Heat? – Yes, players can get banned in Need for Speed Heat if they are found to be cheating with the intention of ruining the game for others.
Additional Information
- Does Need for Speed still exist? – Yes, Need for Speed is still an active franchise, with the latest installment, Need for Speed Unbound, released in 2022.
- What game did EA stop making? – EA stopped making FIFA games after FIFA 23, as their licensing agreement with FIFA came to an end.
- What games are EA shutting down? – EA is shutting down several games, including Battlefield 1943, Bad Company, and Bad Company 2, as well as Crysis 3, Dante’s Inferno, and Dead Space 2.
- Do EA employees get free games? – Yes, EA employees receive game credits and console reimbursement, allowing them to play the games they help create.
- Is EA Play only 10 hours? – EA Play offers a 10-hour trial for select new release games, with the option to purchase the full game and carry over saved progress.