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EA Reveals F1 25 Global Launch Times & PC Spec Requirements

F1 25: Everything You Need to Know: Launch times, PC specs, achievements, soundtrack & much more. It's almost time to hit the grid. Here's your one-stop-shop on all of the key information, content and advancements we've made to this year's game. Pre-Load Timings: first-off, let's get F1 25 onto your console/PC. If you've pre-ordered, you can download the game to your system from the dates below.

Launch Timings
The big day is fast approaching, Iconic Edition players can hit the track from as early as May 27. Check out the timings below for both Iconic and Standard Edition. Additionally, EA Play members can trial F1 25 for 5 hours from May 27, and EA Play Pro members will have full access to the Iconic Edition from the same date. Leave your mark on the world of racing in F1 25, the official video game of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship, featuring a revamped My Team mode, the thrilling third chapter of Braking Point, and more!

EA Confirms Battlefield 6 for Late March 2026, Summer Reveal Set

Electronic Arts has confirmed that the next Battlefield title will arrive by March 31, 2026, at the latest, and a full public reveal is scheduled for this summer. The announcement came as part of EA's most recent financial report and shows the company's confidence in the franchise's future. EA CEO Andrew Wilson described the upcoming game as "a pivotal step in defining our next generation of blockbuster entertainment." His comments signal the publisher's intention to rebuild goodwill after fan disappointment with Battlefield 2042. Closed testing began in March under strict non‑disclosure agreements, but a significant amount of gameplay footage has nonetheless appeared online. In response, developer DICE announced plans to expand the trial in May by inviting additional participants from Europe, North America and Asia. Players who wish to join the tests may still register through the official Battlefield website.

During this extended phase, DICE will concentrate on fine‑tuning fundamental gameplay systems. Key focus areas include balancing weapon archetypes, adjusting damage values, refining movement mechanics and pacing the flow of combat. The team will also continue to evaluate destructible objects—such as barricades, vehicles and buildings—across multiple map environments. These tests aim to ensure that world destruction feels both dramatic and fair, allowing players to use terrain changes to their tactical advantage. Further community updates will delve into the roles of individual classes and the full scope of the all‑out War Mode later this year. EA has adopted a more transparent development process than it did for its previous release, sharing frequent insights and responding directly to player feedback. Four internal studios—collectively known as Battlefield Studios—are collaborating on this project. DICE is leading the multiplayer experience, Motive is creating both multiplayer maps and single‑player missions, Criterion is focused on the solo campaign and Ripple Effect is developing a brand‑new series component.

EA's Battlefield Team Will Welcome More "Labs" Public Participation This Month

In February, we announced Battlefield Labs as our most ambitious community collaboration in franchise history to validate the future of Battlefield. Today, we'll update you on our initial learnings and how we'll continue to scale testing into the future.

Across our four initial play sessions with a small group of core Battlefield players across Europe and North America, we've completed thousands of hours of gameplay, had hundreds of thousands of player spawns, and seen over a million environmental objects destroyed, including walls, windows, crates, and buildings your squad crashed the helicopter into.

EA "Reducing Roles" at Codemasters - Talent Being Redeployed Across Dev Studios

Not long after announcing an "end of the road" for World Rally Championship (WRC) franchise development, Electronic Arts (EA) reportedly implemented an unspecified number of layoffs at Codemasters. This long-running British racing game specialist became a fully EA-owned property just over five years ago. Since then, the studio continued work on the F1 franchise—in addition, teams also branched off into the making of well-known EA racing IPs: Grid and WRC. On forums and social media, (non-Codemasters) EA staffers indicated that colleagues had lost their jobs. Video Games Chronicle reached out to the publisher, for comment on last week's conditions. On April 29, the American video game company announced the cutting of hundreds of roles, and the cancelation of unannounced projects.

In a statement issued to VGC, an EA spokesperson explained: "as a business, we are constantly evolving to meet the growing needs of our players and driving greater focus across our portfolio. This has led us to look at reducing some roles, while we redeploy as many as possible against our strategic priorities." As reported earlier this year, the company tends to "reshuffle" its development staff following the completion of projects. It is not clear how much of the internal setup at Codemasters has been re-jigged, but an EA Racing franchise social media manager provided a little bit of insight. In a past weekend forum post, they posited that: "there's a lot of talent up for grabs now—the audio and vehicle art teams were some of the best in the business; and any game with cars in it should tap them up." Criterion could be an ideal location for transfers, but this Surrey, UK-based studio's focus has been redirected to non-racing IPs.

EA Sports & Codemasters Pause Future WRC Development Plans

Dear Rally Community, every great journey eventually finds its finish line, and today, we announce that we've reached the end of the road working on WRC. After releasing EA SPORTS WRC in 2023, the 2024 season, including the recently released Hard Chargers Content pack, will be our last expansion. For now, we are pausing development plans on future rally titles. Rest assured, EA SPORTS WRC will continue to be available for existing and new players. We hope it remains a source of joy, excitement, and the thrill of rally racing. We've poured our hearts into making it for fans, and we know you'll keep the passion alive.

Our WRC partnership was a culmination of sorts for our Codemasters journey with off-road racing, spanning decades through titles like Colin McRae Rally, and DiRT. We've provided a home for every rally enthusiast, striving tirelessly to push the boundaries and deliver the exhilarating thrill of driving on the ragged edge. We've brought together incredibly talented racing developers, worked with some of the sport's icons, and had the opportunity to share our love of rallying. Thank you to all the fans who have and continue to be part of our rally journey.

EA Introduces a Refreshed Flagship Franchise Anticheat System: Javelin

EA is the proud home to some of the biggest, most exciting interactive entertainment experiences on the planet. Experiences that bring people together every day, offering hundreds of millions of players and fans around the globe new ways to play, create, watch, and connect in, around, and beyond our games. Nothing ruins that fun as fast as cheating. That's why we are excited to introduce EA Javelin Anticheat—the evolution of our flagship anticheat solution, which prevents, identifies, and addresses bad experiences wherever possible, and is a pivotal part of our defense-in-depth strategy. Since its initial launch in 2022, our anticheat solution has supported over 28 million PC players with fair play in over 2.2 billion PC gaming sessions across our largest franchises including EA SPORTS FC, EA SPORTS Madden NFL, Battlefield, F1, EA SPORTS WRC, and Plants vs. Zombies.

The EA Javelin Anticheat brand was carefully chosen to communicate the core attributes of the solution: defense, strength, and agility. One where millions of players and fans around the globe can trust to ensure the integrity of EA games is preserved, allowing for fun-and fair-interactive entertainment. "Our mission is to foster a gaming environment where skill and sportsmanship are the only paths to victory. EA Javelin Anticheat is a testament to our commitment to fair play and integrity."—Elise Murphy, Head of Game Security.

EA Sports Introduces F1 25's "Braking Point 3" Story Mode

F1 25 marks the return of the narrative-driven, Braking Point, an epic Formula 1 blockbuster mode set to excite players new and old when the game releases on May 30 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The fictional tale puts you right into the action, as the fate and destiny of the characters you control rests in your racing-gloved hands. So, with this being the latest instalment in the Braking Point story, how did we get here?

The Story So Far
While having roots back to F1 2019, Braking Point's debut in F1 2021 offered players the opportunity to adopt the role of Aiden Jackson, an F1 rookie looking to make a name for himself in the sport. He was met with many challenges along the way, including a ruthless rival, Devon Butler, a driver who would stop at nothing to succeed. In F1 23's instalment, which focused on the 2022 and 2023 seasons and the introduction of fictional team Konnersport, familiar faces returned alongside new protagonist Callie Mayer, the first woman to win the F2 Championship. The once infamous Devon Butler has his perspective of the sport turned upside down, opening up a spot for Callie's break into F1.

EA & Lucasfilm Games Announce Star Wars Zero Company, a Turn-Based Tactics Game Set in the Clone Wars

At Star Wars Celebration Japan, Electronic Arts Inc. revealed Star Wars Zero Company, a single-player turn-based tactics game developed by Bit Reactor in collaboration with Respawn Entertainment and Lucasfilm Games. In Star Wars Zero Company, players will step into the shoes of Hawks, a former Republic officer, to command an elite squad of cunning operatives through a gritty and authentic story set in the twilight of the Clone Wars. As an unconventional outfit of professionals for hire hailing from across the galaxy, Zero Company must set aside their differences to overcome nearly impossible odds and take on an emerging threat that will consume the galaxy if left unchecked.

"Our vision for Star Wars Zero Company is grounded in gameplay design pillars that weave in the immersive Star Wars galaxy with engaging turn-based tactics gameplay," said Greg Foertsch, CEO and Creative Director at Bit Reactor. "It's our aim to deliver a game with an original Star Wars story from the Clone Wars era that has meaningful outcomes from player choices, and deep turn-based tactical combat with an approachable and cinematic presentation."

EA Introduces Star Wars Zero Company, More Details Coming This Weekend

Recruit an unconventional team of operatives and deploy them on missions unlike any other in the galaxy far, far away in Star Wars Zero Company! The newly announced single-player turn-based tactics game, developed by Bit Reactor in collaboration with Respawn Entertainment and Lucasfilm Games, will share the first details about the game currently in development with attendees at Star Wars Celebration Japan. Here's your exclusive first look at Star Wars Zero Company and just a few members of the elite squad under your command. The upcoming turn-based tactics game puts you in command during the Clone Wars.

Bit Reactor Developer Panel featuring Respawn Entertainment and Lucasfilm Games
Join Bit Reactor, along with Respawn Entertainment and Lucasfilm Games, for a first look at a new Star Wars turn-based tactics game. Tune into the Star Wars Celebration on April 19, Live on the Galaxy Stage—4:30PM - 5:30PM—for a first look at STAR WARS Zero Company, a single-player turn-based tactics game coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

EA Sports Dives Deep into F1 25's Revamped My Team & Driver Career Modes

Introducing My Team 2.0: as mentioned as part of our Reveal, My Team is having its biggest overhaul since it was introduced in F1 2020. If you've played My Team in one of our previous F1 games, you'll be familiar with taking on the role of driver/owner, a single character that not only runs the day-to-day activities behind the scenes, but also jumps into the cockpit for the on-track action. For F1 25 however, we're shaking things up, as My Team 2.0 sees you take on a more authentic, management-focused role in that of a team owner.

In addition to handling day-to-day running of the critical facilities that make an F1 team tick such as Engineering, Personnel and Corporate, you'll be responsible for recruiting and managing a pair of drivers to represent your team. Then, during race weekends, you'll be given the choice as to which driver you'd like to take to the track. By managing the competing concerns of two drivers instead of just a single teammate, you'll discover what kind of owner you'd like to be. We believe this refreshed approach allows you to craft a My Team story that's unique to you, unlocking new avenues of decision-making for you to explore.

"Titanfall 3" Tipped for Reveal at TGA 2025, Data Miner Predicts 2026 Launch

Early last month, video game industry watchdogs posited that Respawn Entertainment's reportedly canceled "unannounced incubation project" was some type of Titanfall IP. Certain insiders believed that the recently scrapped project was a "smaller-scale" multiplayer-focused game, rather than a full sequel to 2016's franchise entry. The long dormant first-person shooter sci-fi series has attracted a cult following, but Respawn pivoted with the IP's universe into producing Apex Legends—an extremely popular free-to-play online shooter. Hopes for a third Titanfall title have been revived once more; courtesy of two notorious Apex Legend data miners—YOROTSUKI and Osvaldatore. Earlier today, the latter figure uploaded a cryptic "Titanfall 3" logo to social media. In a more elaborate follow-up post, YOROTSUKI leaked some alleged "inner circle" info.

They dismissed comments about their collaborator simply playing a prank—too late for April Fool's day. They referred back to December, when they openly discussed Respawn's "development of a secret game." These past Discord conversations are now linked forward to an alleged still alive "Titanfall 3" project. YOROTSUKI predicts an unveiling to the public during The Game Awards 2025—so December, at the earliest. An official launch window is allegedly on the EA release calendar for 2026. As interpreted by MP1st, this new leak should be absorbed with maybe more than one grain of salt—the online publication has spent time sniffing out a Respawn Entertainment-adjacent property. Allegedly "Project Bruno" is Bit Reactor's "Star Wars turn-based tactics game," due for an official reveal later this month.

Alleged Old Build Screenshots of Bit Reactor's "Star Wars Turn-Based Tactics Game" Leaked

Over three years ago, Bit Reactor was announced as the lead development partner on a mysterious "Star Wars strategy game." According to an early 2022 press release, Respawn Entertainment would collaborate on this new IP project. As disclosed in a recent Star Wars Celebration LIVE! schedule, company representatives will present a "first look at a new Star Wars turn-based tactics" title on Saturday, April 19. MP1st has somewhat spoiled this upcoming public reveal, by publishing an article that contains an impressive collection of "sneak peek" screenshots from project "Bruno." This alleged internal codename was uncovered when the online publication "procured" images from an unnamed Bit Reactor artist's portfolio. MP1st claims that the leaked images are: "dated to mid-2023, indicating that they belong to an early build of the game...The gameplay screenshots showcase elements common to the turn-based genre, like an isometric view and a party of characters."

Familiar Star Wars faction designs and technologies are showcased in captures of this older "Bruno" build. Gameplay and user interface concepts seemingly demonstrate where Bit Reactor's collective expertise lies. The Baltimore metropolitan area-based studio is headed by Greg Foerstch (formerly of Firaxis Games); a tenured artistic director of multiple turn-based strategy favorites. His indie outfit describes how members have (previously): "developed some of the most successful games you've heard of, such as XCOM, Civilization, Gears of War, and Elders Scrolls Online. We learned from the best and reached the pinnacle with the highest accolades, including Game of the Year and BAFTA." As interpreted by MP1st, the leaked early interface mock-ups suggest a multi-platform release—with "controller button" prompts spotted on several shots.

EA Sports & Codemasters Reveal F1 25, Launching May 30 on PC & Consoles

Take center stage in EA SPORTS F1 25, releasing worldwide on May 30 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. As Formula 1 celebrates its 75th anniversary, F1 25 reflects the real-world sport's biggest driver line-up change in years, featuring six rookie drivers and the landmark move of seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton, who makes the unprecedented switch from Mercedes to Ferrari. As the F1 25 Iconic Edition cover star, fans of Lewis and Ferrari will be able to show their support with a number of in-game perks tied to that edition of the game. With new stars trying to make a name for themselves, established drivers challenging for podiums, and drivers aiming for a World Championship on a new team, F1 25 lets you re-create every breathtaking moment through single-player and new collaborative options.

Blockbuster Action at Every Turn
Take the spotlight and experience the latest instalment of the fan-favorite story mode, Braking Point, with Konnersport taking the fight to the biggest names on the grid. Hot off the heels of the 2023 season and under new ownership, the familiar faces of Callie Mayer, Aiden Jackson, and of course, Devon Butler, make their return. However, with a dramatic event threatening to derail their title aspirations, will you have what it takes to steer the team to championship glory? Featuring rebalanced difficulty options that cater to new and veteran players, decisions you make will have an impact on how this thrilling chapter unfolds.

EA Presented AI-enriched Development Tools at GDC 2025

Technology and its impact on interactive entertainment experiences is nothing short of remarkable. AI and machine learning are allowing our creators to explore new ways to test games, build worlds, and create deeper, more immersive experiences at a faster rate without sacrificing quality. Our artists are empowered to create more realistic, dynamic animations and visuals at a greater scale, delivering more cinematic moments that draw us in and leave us stunned. Or completely immersed in the most enthralling environments possible, surrounded by and interacting with authentic, high-fidelity characters.

Above all, these advancements connect and offer millions of EA's players and fans around the globe new ways to play, create, watch, and connect in and beyond our games like never before. At the recently concluded Game Developers Conference (GDC), EA's brilliant minds showcased some of these technological innovations, highlighting how they empower our developers to craft extraordinary interactive entertainment experiences. Their talks provided insight into the cutting-edge tools and techniques driving the future of game development at EA, and the positive impact this will have on our developers, players and fans across the globe.

Xbox & Industry Leaders Announce Formation of "Accessible Games Initiative"

At Xbox, our goal is to empower as many people as possible to play the games they want, with the people they want, anywhere they want, in a way that works for them. This includes the more than 429 million players with some form of disability, who may rely on a variety of accessibility hardware - such as the recently launched Xbox Adaptive Joystick—and features to get the most from their gaming. For many players, it can be a challenge not having a common and consistent language to describe the accessibility features within different video games. To help solve this, Xbox introduced its Game Accessibility Feature Tags back in November 2021.

But we want to do more; at Game Developers Conference (GDC), Xbox proudly joined forces with Electronic Arts, Google, Nintendo of America, Ubisoft and other gaming companies to announce that it is a member of the new Accessible Games Initiative. This initiative, helmed by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), strives to provide players with clear information about the accessibility features in video games through a set of "tags" that players can use to identify the features available in a specific game, before they make a purchase.

MySims: Cozy Bundle Available Now on PC, Maxis Working on Steam Deck Compatibility

Pick up MySims: Cozy Bundle and rediscover the charm of two classic MySims games. Use your imagination to rebuild a town in MySims and help a cute magical land become an even better place in MySims Kingdom. There are stories to uncover, locations to explore, and lots of characters with big personalities to have fun with. Meet funny, friendly characters filled with personality! Some will be with you the whole time, and others you'll meet as you play and explore. Help them, give them gifts, and become friends (or even BEST friends!) as they inspire you to get even more creative. You're not only building houses, you're building communities of memorable, adorable townies!

Sul Sul, MySimmers! MySims is now available on Steam! We have loved bringing this game to you on Switch, so we're excited that PC gamers now get to enjoy the same levels of cozy customization. But we aren't done *just* yet. We have also been working hard on a couple new additions that will be coming to PC soon…. Stay tuned for more updates…

Respawn Entertainment & Bit Reactor to Showcase "Star Wars Turn-based Tactics Game" on April 19

Back in January 2022, Electronic Arts and Lucasfilm Games announced a new "Star Wars strategy game." Press material revealed a production collaboration between Respawn Entertainment and Bit Reactor. The latter party was described as a: "newly formed studio, helmed by games industry veteran Greg Foerstch (ex-Firaxis Games). Respawn will produce the new Star Wars strategy game while Bit Reactor leads on the development of the title." EA's PR piece did not go into major detail, given the very early nature of the generically monikered strategy project. In the interim, Bit Reactor has spent just over three years of production time on their mystery title. Last Friday, the official Star Wars website published a schedule for next month's Celebration LIVE! Japan event.

Eagle-eyed journos and fans soon noticed an intriguing entry, titled: "Bit Reactor Developer Panel featuring Respawn Entertainment and Lucasfilm Games." The April 19 early Saturday evening slot—4:30PM to 5:30PM, Live on the Galaxy Stage—will be dedicated to a "first look at a new Star Wars turn-based tactics game." According to reports from last summer, Greg Foerstch and fourteen other former Firaxis team members are involved in the making of the EA/Lucasfilm's unnamed Star Wars turn-based IP. Interestingly, a Bit Reactor 2024 blog post goes to great lengths in explaining that there is more to their internal makeup than being mere "XCOM" veterans. The scope of Respawn Entertainment's involvement is not clear, but Vince Zampella's studio is primarily working on an untitled Star Wars Jedi: Survivor sequel. Earlier on in March, an ex-employee leak indicated the unfortunate cancelation of an unannounced first-person shooter game. Industry watchdogs believe that the now dissolved Respawn "new game incubation team" was tasked with the creation of a Titanfall multiplayer prototype.

Respawn Entertainment Reportedly Cancels Unannounced First-person Shooter Project

A former Respawn Entertainment employee has revealed the recent cancellation of an "unannounced incubation project." The ex-team member's LinkedIn profile post/job-seeking alert (now removed) was widely reported on by games media outlets; leading to speculation regarding the mystery title's origins and identity. The Los Angeles, California-based company created a "new game incubation team" not too long ago—recruitment information from last year pointed to a role description that demanded: "significant professional experience designing multiplayer FPS experiences." Respawn Entertainment operates as a multi-team and multi-location development studio—with branches working on Apex Legends, Star Wars and mystery IPs. The Electronic Arts-owned firm is masterminded by Vince Zampella; a veteran developer of popular first-person shooter franchises. Based on recent official account disclosures, the EA executive is currently tasked with the challenging revival of Battlefield's fortunes.

In 2023, Zampella indicated that he was open to revisiting Respawn's long-dormant Titanfall intellectual property. The second entry in the series underperformed sales-wise when it first launched back in October 2016. Despite a fantastic critical reception and vocal support from Titanfall 2's audience, EA leadership decided to put the franchise on ice. Last March, insiders started to make speculative noise about a revival—Steve Fukuda was mentioned in leaks. His CV lists the helming of development on both Titanfall 1 and 2; as game director. The latest talk of a canceled project was soon linked back to Respawn's rumored "unannounced Titanfall IP" prototype. Respawn's website still advertises the existence of their "new game incubation team," but links lead to recruitment posts for other "active" projects. EA officially announced the shelving of the studio's "Star Wars FPS Action game" around early 2024. Respawn and EA are likely focusing on core franchises for the foreseeable future; their Star Wars Jedi: Survivor sequel seems to be a safe bet.

Hazelight's Josef Fares Discusses Creation of Split Fiction

Josef Fares is a passionate creator, innovator, and a bold leader. These qualities have long served him well as the Director of Hazelight Studios, where he's built a reputation for delivering emotionally charged and deeply immersive interactive entertainment experiences. Known for his unique style and knack for blending humor, heart, and innovative gameplay, Fares has captivated the gaming world with his work on titles like A Way Out and critical darling It Takes Two. And now, after years of anticipation and dedication, Josef is back with Hazelight's latest creation: Split Fiction.

We sat down with Josef prior to launch (available March 6 on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and through the EA app) for an exclusive Q&A to dive into the creative process behind Split Fiction, the challenges of bringing such a complex vision to life, and one level in particular that he believes is something that has never been seen before in video games. Let's dive in!

Split Fiction is Available Now, Hazelight Studios Reiterates Game's Message: "Friendship"

Embrace the power of friendship and explore sci-fi and fantasy worlds with your co-op buddy today! A message from Hazelight Studios—every game we've released has embraced a key word. In "A Way Out" it was "Trust" and in "It Takes Two" it was "Collaboration." With Split Fiction, it's all about "Friendship." That is also the heart of the experience we hope you will have as you play the game. Whether it is strengthening your bond with a partner or immersing yourself in the journey with an old friend.

We created Split Fiction by putting passion, creativity and a big love of video games first. This is a game that was built collaboratively by everyone at Hazelight and we haven't shied away from putting not only our best but also wildest ideas into it. We hope you will enjoy playing our game as much as we did making it. We are so eager to let you and other players around the world finally dive into our latest co-op adventure. To say that we're proud of it is an understatement! We also hope you will make those lasting memories in Split Fiction that only come from sharing an experience with someone else - that's what it's all about in the end.

EA Details How ML & AI Bolstered Development of Latest Madden & College Football Titles

On June 1, 1988, the very first Madden video game was released to the world. Players needed to load up either a Commodore 64/Commodore 128, Apple II, or MS-DOS to launch the game. When they did, they were greeted with 8-bit animations of the NFL's most popular teams and found themselves controlling their favorite players to try and win themselves a Super Bowl. And at that time, it was amazing. Thirty-seven years later and EA SPORTS hasn't stopped advancing Madden and our American Football games.

Most recently, we launched EA SPORTS Madden NFL 25 and College Football 25, which are tentpoles of our beloved American Football Ecosystem. Yet our football games are no longer blocky pixels and four-directional controls. They're among the most realistic sports simulation titles on the planet. We even celebrated the recent Super Bowl weekend with these titles and our very own Madden Bowl, featuring championship games and incredible music all in the heart of New Orleans. This is in no small part due to the incredible teams and their mission to make our games better every single year. And technology plays a critical role in making this happen.

The Sims at 25 - Veteran Developer Discusses Franchise History

25 years ago, The Sims made history with the first instalment of a legendary series that would go on to be one of the best-selling of all time. Few simulation games have enjoyed the success and longevity of The Sims—and the freedom and creativity to play with life however you want has afforded the series near-unrivalled appeal in the years since. This week, Electronic Arts is celebrating this milestone and the history of the series in a big way, which includes a huge The Sims 4 Free Content Update containing new Create a Sim options, clothing, Build/Buy Items and much more. The festivities will also include the limited-time Blast From The Past Event, which lets players earn revamped versions of iconic items from the original The Sims game via in-game goals.

We had the opportunity to chat with Kevin Gibson, Production Director for The Sims at EA. Gibson has been working in production roles across the franchise since 2003, and has first-hand experience of how the series has evolved in that time. The studio is abuzz with excitement about the franchise's birthday, and Gibson shares that digging deep into the series' past to rediscover nostalgic highlights has been extremely rewarding. "Our incredible players have shown us that no one does life like The Sims, and we wanted to celebrate this journey we have been on together," Gibson says. "25 years ago there was a game with an idea that made big a splash at E3, and look where we are today! We've been part of multiple generations and touched millions of lives.

Criterion Completely Focused on Next Battlefield, EA Boss Foresees Revival of Need for Speed Series

During yesterday's "Battlefield Labs" announcement, Electronic Arts revealed the full extent of its international multi-team development setup—dubbed "Battlefield Studios." According to their recent presentation, franchise originator—DICE (Stockholm)—is working alongside Ripple Effect (formerly DICE Los Angeles), Motive (Montreal) and Criterion (Guildford). EA's British studio is best known for its past work—most notably (going back nearly twenty-five years ago) the Burnout series and newer Need for Speed titles. The Surrey-based outfit appears to be completely devoted to working on the next Battlefield entry's single-player component—older press releases hinted about a new Need for Speed project. Around autumn 2023, Vince Zampella (Battlefield franchise overseer) announced that the majority of Criterion's team had shifted over to working on a next-gen Battlefield title, while a smaller "core group" would: "continue on what's next for Need for Speed."

Almost a year ago, Criterion and EA celebrated the Need for Speed franchise's thirtieth anniversary—a press release focused mainly on roadmapped content for Need for Speed Unbound (2022). The game was updated with a final chunk of post-release content last November. Eurogamer took it upon themselves to investigate Criterion's current internal formation, given that support duties have concluded on the NFS Unbound project. The online publication received a response from EA's top-most Battlefield developer. Zampella said in a statement to Eurogamer: "the Need for Speed team at Criterion are joining their colleagues working on Battlefield...As a company, it was important to us to take the last year to listen to our Need for Speed community and use their feedback to create content for Unbound...With an increased understanding of what our players want in a Need for Speed experience, we plan to bring the franchise back in new and interesting ways."

Electronic Arts Reveals "The Sims 25th Birthday Bundle"

It's hard to believe that it has been 25 years since The Sims made its debut, but we're so grateful to have shared this incredible journey with so many of you. No one does life like The Sims, and as we gear up for next week's celebrations, what better way to kick things off than with a cultural comeback? That's right—we're taking it back to where it all began with the launch of The Sims 25th Birthday Bundle! You've been asking for it, and we're thrilled to finally return to the days when we first reimagined the ways people play with life.

To celebrate our legacy and honor the incredible fans that have been with us along the way, we're re-releasing two fan-favorite titles that contain familiar neighborhoods and beloved characters - such as the sneaky burglar, unpredictable genie, and Sunny the Tragic Clown—that started it all. Rediscover the nostalgia and magic of the classics that welcomed so many of you into our amazing community. The Sims 25th Birthday Bundle includes The Sims and The Sims 2, featuring all the iconic characters, music, and gameplay you know and love, plus bonus content! You can also purchase The Sims: Legacy Collection and The Sims 2: Legacy Collection separately. We're so excited for you to play, create, and relive the fun across re-releases of these beloved games, rolling out globally on Windows 10 and 11 beginning on January 31, 2025.

BioWare Reshuffles Staff - Dragon Age: The Veilguard Team Dispersed Across EA Studio Network

Hello Everyone. We are turning towards the future and preparing for the next chapter in BioWare's story. As we announced in August 2023, we are changing how we build games to meet the needs of our upcoming projects and hold ourselves to the highest quality standards. Now that Dragon Age: The Veilguard has been released, a core team at BioWare is developing the next Mass Effect game under the leadership of veterans from the original trilogy, including Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, Parrish Ley, and others.

In keeping with our fierce commitment to innovating during the development and delivery of Mass Effect, we have challenged ourselves to think deeply about delivering the best experience to our fans. We are taking this opportunity between full development cycles to reimagine how we work at BioWare. Given this stage of development, we don't require support from the full studio. We have incredible talent here at BioWare, and so we have worked diligently over the past few months to match many of our colleagues with other teams at EA that had open roles that were a strong fit. Today's news will see BioWare become a more agile, focused studio that produces unforgettable RPGs. We appreciate your support as we build a new future for BioWare. Gary McKay—General Manager, BioWare
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