EA hints at Need for Speed 2022 release window

Developed by Criterion Games, the UK studio behind Burnout Paradise and Need for Speed, the next Need for Speed was originally slated for release before 31 March, 2022. But development was paused when Criterion joined DICE to help finish Battlefield 2042 last year.

Since then, EA has stayed silent about Criterion’s much-anticipated NFS game. However, the publisher confirmed the next game in the series is still on the way in an earnings call.

Criterion’s Need for Speed coming in FY2023

NFS was brought up several times during EA’s Q3 2021 Earnings Call transcribed by The Motley Fool.

“With regard to new launches in FY '23, we've disclosed that Need for Speed is on the slate,” said Blake Jorgensen, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at EA.

“We've got a Need for Speed game coming,” Jorgensen responded when asked about new titles scheduled for the 2023 fiscal year.

NFS was also briefly mentioned by EA CEO Andrew Wilson. “Over the course of time, you should expect us to continue to expand and extend the world that we have been creating for the last 30 years and deliver more experiences beyond the corporate [Inaudible] of the game,” he said.

“So what can you do in FIFA beyond playing football, what would you do in Need for Speed beyond the driving game, what will you do in The Sims as you come together with your friends beyond the creation of content?”

An FY23 release window means the next NFS will launch between 1 April, 2022, and 31 March, 2023. While we don’t have a specific release date yet, NFS games usually come out in November.

Last month, however, a reliable EA leaker revealed the next NFS will release in either September or October 2022. If so, we could be playing the next NFS game earlier than expected. This isn't confirmed though, so we'll need to wait for official confirmation from EA.

When will the next Need for Speed be announced?

EA has confirmed Criterion’s NFS will release on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, but that’s all we know for now.

We aren’t expecting to find out any more details until this year’s EA Play event. EA Play should air around the same time as E3 2022. Like last year, E3 2022 is expected to be a digital-only event. While nothing is confirmed yet, E3 2022 will likely start in June.