EA cancels Project Cars – Polygon

Electronic Arts will close the Project Cars series that it acquired in Codemasters’ acquisition of Codemasters early 2021. EA has confirmed that GamesIndustry.biz will close on Tuesday.

Codemasters acquired both the intellectual property and its developer, Slightly Mad Studios in 2019. In a statement, EA said it closed Project Cars in order to “prioritize our focus in areas where we believe we have the strongest opportunity to create experiences that fans will love.”

“[W]ith shifting fan expectations,” the publisher said later, “we recognize the need to evolve our games beyond pure play.”

That remark subtly illustrates why Project Cars was out of place among EA’s growing racing portfolio. Project Cars (2015) and its successors, 2017’s Project Cars 2 and 2020’s Project Cars 3 were all driving simulations, in the mode of Sony’s Gran Turismo or Microsoft’s Forza Motorsport series, or EA’s own Need for Speed: Shift sub-franchise — which Slightly Mad developed in 2009 and 2011. Since the launch of Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, Need for Speed has never used that model again.

Codemasters also added lifestyle and narrative modes to their F1 series. Grid LegendsStory mode, with documentary and live action scenes. You Need Speed Unbound This action-racer, which launched Dec. 2, features customization options, street racing lifestyle and music guest stars.

In its statement, Electronic Arts said any developers still working on Project Cars would be moved to “suitable” roles elsewhere in the company. The 150 people employed by Slightly Mad at the time Codemasters acquired it were approximately. It is consistent with other past reorganizations that included the relocation of the Codemasters Cheshire offices under Criterion Games in the wake of Need For Speed.