According to GamesIndustry.biz, an EA spokesperson revealed that the company has decided to shut down Project CARS to focus on games that are “socially-led with long-term live services.” On a similar note, a different employee revealed that EA is also canceling the Dirt franchise. The cancelation of both Project CARS and DIRT franchises makes for unfortunate news but it’s far from unexpected. You could say that the writing was already on the proverbial wall as soon as Electronic Arts bought Codemasters for $1.2 billion last year. It’s worth noting that Codemasters purchased Slightly Mad Studios, the developers of the Dirt and F1 racing games, two years earlier in 2019. Given that these two are some of Need for Speed’s biggest competitors, it makes a lot of sense for EA to “consolidate” assets and effectively force gamers to spend money on Need for Speed. Unfortunately, the statement by the EA spokesperson effectively confirms Need for Speed: Unbound will have in-game purchases and microtransactions. At the time of Codemasters’ buyout, Slightly Mad Studios had a staff of 150 employees. It’s not clear how many people are working at the studio these days, but EA reassures fans that “everyone impacted” by the shutdown will be transferred to other EA studios. Speaking of Electronic Arts, the publisher is currently preparing for a heavy slate of games next quarter that includes Dead Space, Wild Hearts, EA Sports PGA Tour, and Star Wars Jedi Survivor. Before then, EA will release Need for Speed: Unbound on December 2.
