EA’s Project Cars is no more as staff is shuffled to other projects

By Jesse Lennox November 8, 2022

As revealed by GamesIndustry.biz, EA has internally shut down all future development on the Project Cars series. All staff impacted will be moved into other appropriate roles “where we can.”

Project Cars debuted in 2015 on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and was followed up by two sequels, plus a mobile spinoff. The entire franchise was the work of Slightly Mad Studios, which had also developed entries in the Need for Speed, Shift, and Test Drive series. It was acquired in 2019 by Codemasters under EA for approximately $30 million. At the time of the acquisition, Slightly Mad Studios staffed 150 employees, who may now be relocated into new roles.

Cars racing in Project Cars 2.

An EA spokesperson told GamesIndustry.biz that “Today we announced internally an update to our racing portfolio. Following an evaluation of the next Project cars title and its longer-term growth potential, we have made the decision to stop further development and investment for the franchise.”

The spokesperson goes on to say how difficult these decisions are, but are necessary to provide the types of experiences their fans are looking for. They mention focusing their racing efforts on “licensed IP, open-world experiences, and expanding our franchises to be more socially-led with long-term live services that will engage global communities.”

While it is unclear if Slight Mad Studios as a whole will be shut down, EA’s statement at least confirms that some staff will be shifted into new roles, including other parts of EA, as best they can. The statement concludes with, “Our priority now is on providing as much support as possible to our people through this transition.” While this does leave the future of these employees uncertain, there is an unfortunately high likelihood a certain number will be laid off.

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Jesse Lennox loves writing, games, and complaining about not having time to write and play games. He knows the names of more…

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How to revive dead companions in Baldur’s Gate 3

Withers offering services to the player in Baldur's Gate 3.

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Pay Withers to bring them back

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Few things feel as inevitable in the video game industry as delays. Ever since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, game delays have only become more and more common as developers find previously set timelines unrealistic and adjust their release plans accordingly. More than halfway through 2023, we've already seen some notable AAA games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Skull & Bones, and Pragmata delayed pretty heavily. Because video game release date delays are so common, it can be tough to keep track of every game that has had its launch date shifted in some way.
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Is Remnant 2 cross-platform?

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