Project Cars 3 to Be Delisted in August, Ending the Racing Series
▼ Summary
– Project Cars 3 will be delisted from digital sale on August 24, but existing owners can still access and redownload it.
– The game’s online modes will remain active until February 24, 2026, marking the end of the Project Cars series.
– EA discontinued the franchise in 2022, citing halted development and investment, with previous games delisted due to expired licenses.
– The series began in 2015, with sequels in 2017 and 2020, and was published by Bandai Namco before EA acquired the studio in 2021.
– EA’s move follows broader industry scrutiny over game ownership, highlighted by initiatives like Stop Killing Games.
Project Cars 3 will vanish from digital storefronts later this summer, marking the final chapter for the racing franchise. According to an announcement on Steam, the game will no longer be available for purchase after August 24, though existing owners can still download and play their copies indefinitely.
Online multiplayer servers will stay operational until February 2026, giving players a limited window to enjoy competitive races. This delisting follows the same fate as its predecessors, Project Cars 1 and 2, which were pulled from sale years earlier due to licensing issues. EA, which acquired the franchise through its purchase of Codemasters in 2021, quietly discontinued the series in late 2022, citing a halt in development and investment.
Launched in 2015, the franchise gained traction with its realistic physics and immersive racing experience. Sequels arrived in 2017 and 2020, alongside a mobile spin-off, Project Cars Go, and a poorly received Fast & Furious tie-in game. Originally published by Bandai Namco, the series shifted hands when EA absorbed Codemasters, including Slightly Mad Studios, the developer behind the games.
EA’s retreat from racing titles doesn’t end with Project Cars. Codemasters recently put its WRC series on hold, though the license has since been picked up by Nacon for future rally games.
The delisting raises broader questions about game preservation, especially as publishers increasingly sunset older titles. Last year, Ubisoft faced backlash for shutting down The Crew, prompting YouTube creator Ross Scott to launch the Stop Killing Games campaign. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot defended the decision, arguing that games aren’t designed to last forever, a stance that continues to spark debate among players and preservation advocates.
With Project Cars 3’s impending removal, fans are left wondering what comes next for the sim racing genre, and whether digital ownership truly means permanent access.
(Source: NewsAPI Video Games & Console News)
