Electronic Arts will not continue with the Project CARS simulation series from Slightly Mad Studios, which was acquired by Codemasters in 2019 and then purchased by EA in 2021. The driving simulator was published in 2015, and Project CARS 3 will be released in 2020.
EA has acknowledged that the series’ development and investments are being halted, while it is unclear how many people – out of the studio’s 150 – may be affected by the move. The business claims it would attempt to help Project CARS personnel transition to comparable positions as much as feasible; EA has other driving series, including Need for Speed and numerous licenses held by Codemasters, such as F1 and the World Rally Championship, which will begin in 2024.
Project CARS 3 sold 86% fewer copies than Project CARS 2, according to UK figures, and received worse reviews than its predecessors. “With Project Cars 3, Slightly Mad Studios has taken a risky gamble by abandoning its roots and investing everything in a much more accessible experience that leaves pure simulation behind, which has resulted in certain cuts and changes that are unlikely to please fans of the series,” we wrote in the review.
According to reports, Electronic Arts made the decision after analyzing the series’ projections and believing that it would not be a sufficiently profitable game or at the level of previous EA driving games. “We have announced an enhancement to our racing game product internally. We have decided to cease development and funding in the future Project CARS series after examining its long-term growth potential “a spokeswoman reveals.
The business claims that although these choices are challenging, they help them prioritize areas where they see more potential for development. “We are concentrating on the benefits of our portfolio of speed games, especially licensed games and open-world adventures, and extending the series to be more social with long-term services. Due to licensing concerns, Project CARS and Project CARS 2 are no longer available for digital distribution.
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