EA Is Shutting Down Online Services for 4 Games This October!
Yes, EA is back in the spotlight again, this time for pulling the plug on four games in October 2025. According to a now-viral Reddit thread, the company plans to shut down all online services for FIFA 23, Madden NFL 22, NHL 21, and Need for Speed Rivals – across all platforms.
Offline play will still be available for all four, but if you care about online multiplayer, achievements, or Ultimate Team, you only have a few months left.
Shutdown Dates:
- NHL 21 – October 6
- Need for Speed Rivals – October 7
- Madden NFL 22 – October 20
- FIFA 23 – October 30
All platforms are affected, including PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo consoles (Switch 2, Series X, PS5, etc).
The full Reddit thread is here if you want to jump in and take part:
Fans Are Not Happy About It
The Reddit thread quickly filled with jokes and complaints. Many users were angry that FIFA 23, a game that is barely two years old, is already losing online support. A few confused readers even thought “EA shutting down” meant the company itself was closing.
Plenty of people also pointed out (and yeah, rightfully so) that modern sports games are just live-service subscriptions pretending to be full games. Once the servers go down, career modes and trophies tied to online features are gone forever.
So, Why Is EA Doing This?
There is no official reason yet, but most players agree that it probably comes down to a mix of licensing costs and pushing people to buy newer games. It could also be that EA’s split from FIFA played a role in FIFA 23 getting such a short lifespan.
Need for Speed Rivals is a bit older, so that one hurts less. But even then, it still has an active modding scene that will try to keep things alive once the servers shut down.
A Reminder That Nothing Lasts Forever
EA is not the only publisher doing this, but it does bring up the same old frustration about digital game preservation. Games with online features are becoming harder to keep alive, even if you paid full price. And sports fans are, once again, stuck watching their favorite titles get replaced every year.
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