Vince Zampella, the Executive Vice President at EA, recently provided an update on the current status of the Need for Speed (NFS) franchise. It's been over two years since the release of NFS Unbound, and fans have been eagerly awaiting news on the next installment. However, EA has not made any new announcements regarding the series.

The reason for this silence is that Criterion Games, the studio behind NFS, is currently focused on developing the next Battlefield game. According to Zampella, EA's primary focus right now is on this new Battlefield title, which is being crafted with a strong emphasis on player feedback. The project is a collaborative effort involving four different studios, and EA is fully committed to its success.

Zampella has emphasized that the team is keen on avoiding the pitfalls experienced with Battlefield 2042, which faced significant backlash at launch due to controversial gameplay choices. This player-centric approach is also being applied to the development of new content for NFS Unbound.

It appears that EA will only return to the Need for Speed series after the release and initial support phase of the new Battlefield game. This delay might actually benefit the NFS franchise. Recent titles have left fans feeling underwhelmed, and taking the time to listen to player feedback and build nostalgia could be the key to a successful reboot.

So, if you're a Need for Speed fan, don't hold your breath for any new announcements in the near future. EA is taking a thoughtful approach to ensure that when they do return to the series, it will be with a game that truly resonates with its audience.