There’s the usual line-up of games coming out at the tail-end of this year. A new Call of Duty, another trip to the world of Skylanders and even a return trip to Gotham City in Batman: Arkham Knight. One game that you won’t see this year though? Need For Speed, as that franchise is taking a break from the 2014 hustle and bustle.
That’s according to Ghost Games general manager Marcus Nilsson, in an open letter regarding the hiatus. As Nilsson explained, that’s because EA had given the studio an extra year to work on the game, resulting in the 2015 release date for Need For Speed: Here we go again* (Citation Needed).
“We are already deep in development on our next game and want to make this promise to you: we will listen to you. We’re going to give you the game you’ve been asking for. It will be the game you deserve, but to do that will take us some time,” Nilsson wrote.
We’ve made the decision to not release a Need for Speed in 2014, so we can work towards a highly innovative Need for Speed in 2015. An experience built on a foundation we know you’ll greatly look forward to.
Nilsson also explained that until the game was released, Ghost Games would be looking to engage with the community to help “shape the future of Need For Speed”.
We want your input on future gameplay and features we know you’re passionate about. We will keep innovating, always making sure to continue the celebration of cars and the joy they bring. That’s all we can share for now but remember this is just the beginning. We’re excited and ready, so come along and join the conversation.
There’s more to this of course. Criterion Games had been in charge of Need For Speed for several years, releasing annual versions until EA decided to bring the series in under the EA Sports banner, resulting in a change of studio.
With some Criterion influence left over, Ghost Games took over and produced Need For Speed Rivals, which was Rivals was a solid entry in the franchise, and taking an extra year to add some polish is never a bad idea.
That, and with 2014 being dominated on the track by an entire starting line-up of racing games, means that skipping a year may be a good idea after all.
Last Updated: May 8, 2014
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 8, 2014 at 11:36
Header of the week right there!
Admiral Chief in Space
May 8, 2014 at 11:49
Hey man, don’t Hassle the Hoff!
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 8, 2014 at 11:50
I’m not, can see he’s having a break.
Admiral Chief in Space
May 8, 2014 at 11:51
Don’t Hassle the Hoff on his break man!
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 8, 2014 at 11:38
We greatly look forward to all our games, the problems only arrive once we get them.
Hammersteyn
May 8, 2014 at 11:40
I miss Burnout 🙁
Jedi JJ
May 8, 2014 at 12:03
Loved that game.
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 8, 2014 at 11:42
He certainly managed to hit all the currently favoured buzzwords. We’ve got innovative, passionate, experience, conversation, input & engage. BINGO!
Hammersteyn
May 8, 2014 at 11:47
EA marketing 101
KingKappie
May 8, 2014 at 11:48
We’re going to give you the game you’ve been asking for
are we getting NFS underground 3???
Admiral Chief in Space
May 8, 2014 at 11:49
Was just about to say that NFS is going “underground”
KingKappie
May 8, 2014 at 11:49
underground 2 was and still is the best NFS
Admiral Chief in Space
May 8, 2014 at 11:49
Agreed!
Jedi JJ
May 8, 2014 at 12:04
I liked the first Most Wanted.
The new one was on the level of Colonial Marines.
DrKiller
May 8, 2014 at 12:20
Its true…. but… sadly there are still achievements to get!
DBL_ZA
May 8, 2014 at 12:00
Same old same old…
What he actually meant was “We’ve taken another year so we can give you the exact same thing with some sparkly new visuals and cars, but still the same empty pointless game that will hold your attention for 5 minutes, then make you wonder why you spent $60+ on it, then force you to download all the DLC whether you bought it or not”
Jedi JJ
May 8, 2014 at 12:03
About bloody time. Can’t remember the last NFS worth paying for.
And there’s no way World of Speed will see my money either.
FoxOneZA
May 8, 2014 at 12:07
Expecting more games to be pushed to next year as DX12 comes aboard.
George S.
May 8, 2014 at 15:44
Every NFS since the first one was an assault on a dead horse, so to speak.
What breath of fresh air can this genre offer in the year 2014?
Francois Knoetze
May 8, 2014 at 16:24
Underground 2 and Most wanted(the original not this other garbage) were my favourite entries in the franchise. if they return to those games I will be dead happy