EA Announces End of Online Support for Need For Speed: Rivals in October 2025

EA to End Online Support for Need for Speed: Rivals

Electronic Arts (EA) has confirmed that the online functionality for Need for Speed: Rivals will cease on October 7, 2025. This announcement was first highlighted by Delisted Games, following a reader’s discovery of Rivals’ listing on EA’s official service updates page.

Game History and Platform Availability

Launched on November 15, 2013, Need for Speed: Rivals was initially available on PS3, Xbox 360, and PC. It later expanded to next-generation consoles such as Xbox One and PS4 in October 2014. With the impending termination of online services, players using these platforms, including the latest PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, will have no access to online modes post-October 7, 2025.

Legacy of Offline Gameplay

While the cessation of online play might be disappointing for fans who relish competitive racing, Rivals will still offer an offline mode. This allows players to continue enjoying single-player experiences even after the online component is discontinued. However, this is a silver lining compared to other titles like Anthem, which is also facing an online shutdown in early 2026, rendering it unplayable.

Community Response and Advocacy

The concerns surrounding the removal of online services are feeding into the broader Stop Killing Games initiative. This campaign aims to establish regulations that protect consumer rights concerning digital games purchased, emphasizing the notion that players should retain access to titles they bought. Since its inception last year, the petition advocating for these changes has garnered over 1 million signatures.

Industry Impact and Opinions

In response to the Stop Killing Games movement, leading game publishers and developers have warned that enforcing its proposals would make producing online-oriented games excessively costly. This sentiment reflects ongoing tensions in the gaming industry surrounding game access and consumer rights.

Markus Persson’s Commentary

The discussion has also spurred comments from notable industry figures, including Markus Persson (better known as Notch), who remarked, “If buying a game is not a purchase, then pirating them is not theft.”This statement highlights a critical viewpoint regarding gamers’ perceived purchasing power versus the license to use a game.

The conversation surrounding online service discontinuation and game preservation remains a crucial topic within the gaming community and among developers alike.

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