EA pulls online play for older games

A series of older, mainly sports titles will no longer be playable online from September on.

Electronic Arts has done some spring cleaning of its online servers and will be shutting down online play for a number of its older titles.

The company statement reads, "You may continue to play the games online up until these dates, but certain community programs may begin to close down prior to the shutdown dates."

Games facing the chop include FIFA Soccer 06, Madden NFL 06, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06, and NFL Head Coach.

A full list of titles and dates of demise follows:

September 1, 2007 Online Service Shutdown
Arena Football for PlayStation 2
Arena Football for Xbox
FIFA Soccer 06 for Xbox 360
FIFA Soccer 06 for PC
FIFA 06 for PC
FIFA Soccer 06 for PlayStation 2
FIFA Soccer 06 for PlayStation Portable
FIFA Soccer 06 for Xbox
FIFA World Cup 2006 for PC
FIFA World Cup 2006 for PlayStation 2
FIFA World Cup 2006 for PlayStation Portable
FIFA World Cup 2006 for Xbox
Fight Night Round 3 for PlayStation Portable
Fight Night Round 3 for Xbox
Madden NFL 06 for Xbox 360
Madden NFL 06 for PC
Madden NFL 06 for PlayStation 2
Madden NFL 06 for PlayStation Portable
Madden NFL 06 for Xbox
Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects for PlayStation 2
Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects for Xbox
MVP 07 NCAA Baseball for PlayStation 2
MVP 07 NCAA Baseball for Xbox
NASCAR 06 Total Team Control for PlayStation 2
NASCAR 06 Total Team Control for Xbox
NBA Live 06 for Xbox 360
NBA Live 06 for PC
NBA Live 06 for PlayStation 2
NBA Live 06 for PlayStation Portable
NCAA Football 2005 for Xbox
NCAA Football 2006 for PlayStation 2
NCAA Football 2006 for Xbox
NCAA March Madness 06 for PlayStation 2
NCAA March Madness 06 for Xbox
NFL Head Coach for PC
NFL Head Coach for Xbox
NFL Head Coach for PlayStation 2
NHL 06 for PC
NHL 06 for PlayStation 2
NHL 06 for Xbox
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 for Xbox 360
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 for Xbox

November 1, 2007 Online Service Shutdown
Burnout Revenge for Xbox
Burnout Revenge for PlayStation 2v
Need for Speed Underground for PlayStation 2
Need for Speed Underground 2 for PC
Need for Speed Underground 2 for PlayStation 2
Need for Speed Most Wanted for PlayStation Portable
Need for Speed Most Wanted for Xbox

EA does these clear-outs occasionally--many games have already had their online service discontinued, including NASCAR 2005, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005, NBA Live 2005, and TimeSplitters 3: Future Perfect.

110 Comments

  • ctg867

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 12:39 pm PT

    I'm not to keen on them dropping all of last years sports titles. I think you should keep it up and running until the majority of people who play it stop. And a good number of titles up there most likely fall into that catagory. But Madden 06? Does EA have any idea how many people are still playing Madden 06 online? I mean, okay Nascar 06 is getting the boot. I'm sure people played it at launch, but I doubt very many people are playing that now. But some stuff like Madden is just unacceptable.

  • kylewiser

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 11:59 am PT

    Yay! Now people will be FORCED to rebuy the same EA titles over and over again, if they still want to play them online. Gawd, EA is such a b.s. company. Look at that...even an 07 title is getting axed. I can't believe EA gets away with this.

  • MertensCW

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 11:48 am PT

    I find it funny people saying this will free up resources,blah,blah... as if this is a small company trying to stay afloat.
    Newsflash - they have the resources, this is EA in case you haven't noticed.
    Sometimes i look back at the fondness i had for this company back in the Genesis days and wonder were the hell did that go....

    Now if i look at an EA product, logo or ad i feel dirty.

  • puablo

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 11:44 am PT

    Oh that is just ridiculous. The idea of not supporting older games makes sense, but I expected a list of legitimately old games - all these 2006 versions of games is just absurd. I still play Burnout Revenge! Of course, not online, but maybe I'd want to...

  • The_Weekend posted Aug 3, 2007 10:48 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    The_Weekend

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 10:48 am PT (hide)

    who cares ... EA sucks.

  • greenpyro33

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 10:46 am PT

    oo well. If this leads to the new servers running better, I do not care

  • azizrulez

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 10:46 am PT

    why fifa 06,some of us dont like fifa 07,
    and just when i was starting to get better at fifa 06,
    typical EA

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 10:45 am PT

    Stupid EA....

  • HAMMER261266

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 10:31 am PT

    Well, EA does stand for Extremely Asinine!

  • BurntToast

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 10:12 am PT

    This is the reason why EA having their own servers is a bad thing.

  • Shrapnel99

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 10:07 am PT

    I don't get why all of these people are complaining about EA, if you don't like them, why are you playing their games?!

  • m14c79

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 10:02 am PT

    Wouldn't this kill any chance of getting online achievements on 360 titles?

  • Pete5506

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 9:49 am PT

    The games I don't even play

  • dougphisig

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 9:48 am PT

    EA definately knows how to ruin things.

  • Thornscar posted Aug 3, 2007 9:43 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Thornscar

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 9:43 am PT (hide)

    Shut them down, I havn't played any of these game in forever. Maybe you can utilize better networking now with newer games.

  • Daytona_178

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 9:42 am PT

    FU EA!

  • SupportNewbie

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 9:27 am PT

    Ouch..Burnout gets the axe..

  • Arley569

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 9:24 am PT

    Thats alot of old games being shutdown!

  • anthony1983

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 9:19 am PT

    Aaah, so people who refuse to constantly buy the yearly "updates" from EA such as the FIFA, NHL and NBA series are going to have to buy the latest, or suffer the wrath of EA and not get the most out of a game. That makes sense coming from EA. So say if I bought Tiger Woods 07 now (yes, I know 08 is out soon) does that mean I will only get a years play out of this game before they turn the servers off? As bgrngod said: Screw you EA.

  • Darth_DuMas

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 9:11 am PT

    I don't understand, why are they cutting off recent titles, as customer, surely I should be able to play any game I buy online for at least 2 - 3 years, out of principle if nothing else. There should be a minium time these companies have to support an online service. This is the only concern I have about online games.

    I have read reviews that Fight Night Round 3 is limited in single player mode, but by the time I get around to getting it, there will be a risk of them turning it off as the new version inevitably comes out. I don't think I will risk getting FN R 3 now, may as well just wait until the 4th one comes out.

    How can we trust EA, I know it sounds harsh, why does one of the biggest gaming companies have to do this to their customes.

    I don't buy there yearly updates, because the improvements are so minor, but i'm at risk now of losing online play for the titles I would get.

    MAN that company is Dry!

    The achingly concervitive crap they churn out evey year.

    (Except those games coming from developers they bought up)

  • vaderspower

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 9:07 am PT

    what i dont get is why tiger woods 07 is getting chopped. 07? thats this freakin year. unless thats a typo. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    I'm pretty sure that is a typo because in the list it says TW '06.

  • tatu2004

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 9:06 am PT

    i hope they don't shut off battlefield 2 MC for xbox 360

  • BadMunky

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 9:01 am PT

    yeah i never played any of those games and who the hell plays them now?

  • miraimike

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 9:00 am PT

    So EA wants to force people to buy the next year of titles to continue playing online. I would hope EA will do the right thing and collect all the copies of those games still in stores to rebrand them as not Live titles.

  • NicAgent

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 8:59 am PT

    burnout revenge for xbox 360 will still be available right?

  • hrah

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 8:59 am PT

    that's why I don't like games to rely heavily on online services , because once they past their prime you're stuck with a 50 dollar coaster

  • Bgrngod posted Aug 3, 2007 8:56 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Bgrngod

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 8:56 am PT (hide)

    Yet another reason why PC online gaming is superior.

    Screw you EA.

  • unbreakable4534

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 8:48 am PT

    Eh, they could at least left online play for all games after '05 since they're relatively new. Does this mean every year if you want online play from EA you have to buy a new game???

    Farewell NCAA March Madness 06 for PlayStation 2... nothing like making a last minute three pointer against an opponent online to win a game. *Tear*

  • Shrapnel99

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 8:48 am PT

    Who the hell even plays those games anymore?

  • SidV101

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 8:47 am PT

    wow, thats a lot of games. what i dont get is why tiger woods 07 is getting chopped. 07? thats this freakin year. unless thats a typo. i dont think EA should be able to disable online services for next-gen (or is it current-gen? is there a specific time when a system becomes current-gen?) systems. people happen to be PAYING for Xbox LIve so disabling 360 games online is like stealing money.

  • yyr57695

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 8:44 am PT

    what the heck?

    XBL is peer-to-peer. MS runs the matching servers AFAIK. That's why you can still use online play and leaderboards in old Xbox games; because the developers/publishers don't have to maintain them.

    I don't see how/why EA can shut down their Xbox and 360 games.

  • ryan-666

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 8:41 am PT

    ohh go do somthing decent boo! u suck EA!!!!!!!!! we buy games and expect to be able to get the full online experience but now we may nt get that any more!!!!!! hisssssssssssssssss!!!!!

  • whackedjob213

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 8:41 am PT

    This makes sense for all the sports games as very few people are on the servers but for Burnout Revenge this is ridiculous Dominator is a completley different game and I think ht they should both still be online

  • MxO

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 8:40 am PT

    Let's see... nope, nothing I even own.

  • aka_hal

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 8:39 am PT

    I don't play online but these games PROMISE online play. This will make some of my boxes deceptive. Some of these games aren't even that old yet.

  • king_bodian

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 8:39 am PT

    they can stop service on the 360?
    i didnt think they were able to do that

    but whatever i guess buy new games eh ,
    you cant hate a public company for tryine to make money thats what they are out to do, its all companies aims some are just a little more discreet about it than EA

  • Hades_30

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 8:36 am PT

    I hope this frees up some resources for their current games to work better online. Nascar 08 is terrible right now. Maybe that is their reasoning behind this move, but I still agree with most of you and think it just sucks.

  • Paul_TheGreat

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 8:36 am PT

    Stupid EA

  • jporter313 GameSpot staff member

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 8:29 am PT

    Wow, totally ridiculous. Do they realize what a PR nightmare this is going to be?

  • rikhan_z

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 8:29 am PT

    I'm not surprised with this news, EA has always been like this, I can't see why we can set up the games on our own providers, UT and half life still have servers up and running. Why can't EA following this example?

  • Pazy160

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 8:26 am PT

    This is an awful way for a company to do online gaming. I would much rather the hosting responsibility was on the Gamers then it could last as long as people want it to last.

  • sanjt

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 8:25 am PT

    Damn you Peter Moore!! (;P joke) But yeah, this is very annoying but its typical of EA.

  • AzelKosMos

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 8:22 am PT

    EA is the only game company I truly despise. Now, while I don't own any of these games, the way they go about buisness is just...well...ugh!

  • dmastor

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 8:18 am PT

    well the 2 year old games make sense but some like burnout is not fair.

  • FallenOneX

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 8:17 am PT

    Wait just a damned minute! I agree it sucks that some of these games are barely 2 years old, but what did you think would happen? That EA would continue to support games when 90% of theirs come out on a yearly basis? They already made their money 2 years ago, now they want to make some more and force you to buy a newer copy, but only if you want to online options. Another reason why I'm not so thrilled about all games going online. Sure, it's a great way to get more value out of a game, but only as long as the operators of the servers feel you need that extra value. Cancelling any PSP support (and I'll admit I AM NOT a fan of the system) seriously limits those gamers in terms of good games to play against each other. Espacially since that system just got a price cut, and late adopters are going to try and pick up some older games on the cheap. Just be lucky that they don't start taking servers offline right after the new version hits store. Damn, I just put that out there, didn't I?

  • YukoAsho

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 8:15 am PT

    This is understandable. Most of the audience for the EA Sports titles goes from one year to the next. There probably just wasn't enough activity to justify the maintenance of these servers.

  • Moldy10

    Posted Aug 3, 2007 8:15 am PT

    Well, Poop!

advertisement

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!