It's a disappointing day for Need for Speed: Rivals enthusiasts worldwide, as Electronic Arts has officially terminated the game's online multiplayer services. While this development was anticipated by many following EA's earlier announcements, it nonetheless represents a significant milestone for the franchise's dedicated community. After more than a decade of high-speed online competition, Need for Speed: Rivals multiplayer functionality ceased operations on October 7, 2025.

Despite launching back in 2013, Need for Speed: Rivals continues to be regarded by many racing game aficionados as one of the franchise's standout entries. The title experienced various technical issues and bugs during its initial release but evolved into a refined experience that numerous players believe remains impressive even by contemporary standards. Unfortunately, those wishing to experience the game now must do so in isolation, as Rivals' online multiplayer capabilities have been permanently discontinued.

EA had previously disclosed its plans to shut down Need for Speed: Rivals servers along with several other titles earlier in 2025, and the scheduled date has now arrived. As communicated in prior announcements, October 7 marked the definitive conclusion of the game's online multiplayer features. While Rivals remains accessible for single-player experiences, players are now limited to offline modes competing against AI-controlled opponents. Given that multiplayer racing constituted one of the game's primary attractions, this server shutdown effectively signals the end for much of the remaining player community, especially considering the absence of local multiplayer options. Rivals isn't the only EA title losing online support this month either, with Madden NFL 22 and FIFA 23 servers scheduled for termination on October 20 and 30 respectively.

While server discontinuations for aging titles represent standard industry practice, particularly within EA's portfolio, the closure of Rivals' online services carries additional significance. Recent developments indicate that EA is repositioning Criterion Games as an exclusive Battlefield development studio, leaving the future of the Need for Speed franchise in a state of uncertainty. Although EA could potentially transfer the series to another internal studio to maintain its continuity, speculation suggests the company might be placing the intellectual property on indefinite hold. This strategic shift at Criterion appears to signal at least a temporary conclusion for the NFS series. While these remain unconfirmed rumors for now, their timing alongside Rivals' server shutdown creates additional concern within the fan community.

Beyond the Need for Speed franchise, Electronic Arts has maintained an accelerated pace of server shutdowns across its game library. Since 2023, the company has discontinued online services for at least 61 different titles, with additional closures expected in the near future. While maintaining servers for older games may not align with sound business strategy, especially given EA's extensive game catalog, these decisions inevitably disappoint players who continue to enjoy these classic gaming experiences.