Home Gaming The 50 EA games that’ll go offline next month

The 50 EA games that’ll go offline next month

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unplugging

We’ve told you previously that GameSpy’s closure has meant that a host of games will be going offline, perhaps, for perpetuity. Those games include the EA published Crysis games, and the recently-on-Steam-sale Star Wars Battlefront 2. Here’s a list of 48 more EA games that’ll have their online functionality severed at the end of next month.

According to EA, these games represent less than 1% of its server traffic, and thus deserver the axe.

“The decisions to retire older EA games are never easy.  The development teams and operational staff pour their hearts into these games almost as much as the customers playing them and it is hard to see one retired.  But as games get replaced with newer titles, the number of players still enjoying the older games dwindles to a level — typically fewer than 1% of all peak online players across all EA titles — where it’s no longer feasible to continue the behind-the-scenes work involved with keeping these games up and running”

The game’s you’ll no longer be able to play online are:

  • Battlefield 1942 for PC and Mac (including The Road to Rome and Secret Weapons of WW2 expansions)
  • Battlefield 2 for PC (including Special Forces expansion)
  • Battlefield 2: Modern Combat for PlayStation 2
  • Battlefield 2142 for PC and Mac (including Northern Strike expansion)
  • Battlefield Vietnam for PC
  • Bejeweled (r) 2 for the Wii
  • Bulletstorm for PlayStation 3
  • Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars for PC and Mac (including Kane’s Wrath expansion)
  • Command & Conquer: Generals for PC and Mac (including Zero Hour expansion)
  • Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 for PC and Mac
  • Crysis 2 for PC
  • Crysis for PC
  • Crysis Wars for PC
  • Dracula – Undead Awakening for the Wii
  • Dragon Sakura for Nintendo DS
  • EA Sports 06 for PC
  • F1 2002 for PC
  • FIFA Soccer 08 (KOR) for the Wii
  • FIFA Soccer 08 for Nintendo DS
  • FIFA Soccer 09 for Nintendo DS
  • FIFA Soccer 10 for Nintendo DS
  • FIFA Street 3 for Nintendo DS
  • Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers for PlayStation 2
  • Global Operations for PC
  • GREEN DAY: ROCK BAND for the Wii
  • James Bond: Nightfire for PC
  • Madden NFL 08 for Nintendo DS
  • Madden NFL 09 for Nintendo DS
  • Master of Orion III for PC
  • Medal of Honor: Allied Assault for PC and Mac (including Breakthrough and Spearhead expansions)
  • MySims Party for Wii
  • MySims Racing for Nintendo DS
  • MySims SkyHeroes for the Wii and DS
  • NASCAR Sim Racing for PC
  • NASCAR Thunder 2003 for PC
  • NASCAR Thunder 2004 for PC
  • Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 for PC
  • Need for Speed: ProStreet for Nintendo DS
  • Need for Speed: Undercover for Nintendo DS
  • Neverwinter Nights 2 for PC and Mac
  • Neverwinter Nights for PC, Mac and Linux (including Hordes of the Underdark and Shadows of Undrentide expansions)
  • SimCity Creator for Wii
  • Skate It for Nintendo DS
  • Sneezies for the Wii
  • Spore Creatures for Nintendo DS
  • Spore Hero Arena for Nintendo DS
  • Star Wars: Battlefront for PC and PlayStation 2
  • Star Wars: Battlefront II for PC and PlayStation 2
  • THE BEATLES: ROCK BAND for the Wii
  • Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 for Nintendo DS

EA does, however, realise that some of you still play these games, so they’re looking at ways to retain functionality. For some games – like Star Wars Battlefront 2 – third party server options like Gameranger  – exist, making it possible to still play online. Gameranger only supports PC games with server browsers though, so console games and titles that use built-in matchmaking may lose their multiplayer forever.

"We know some of these games are still fan favorites, including Battlefield 2, Battlefield 1942, Medal of Honor: Allied Assault and Command & Conquer games," says EA. "We are still investigating community-supported options to preserve online functionality for these titles, such as multiplayer. Significant technical hurdles remain, and at this time we don’t have anything to announce."

The joys and folly of online, server based multiplayer gaming.

Last Updated: May 12, 2014

61 Comments

  1. Rincethis

    May 12, 2014 at 10:38

    “But can it play Crysis” NO.

    Reply

    • FoxOneZA

      May 12, 2014 at 10:45

      Can it play Crysis 2?

      Reply

      • Rincethis

        May 12, 2014 at 10:47

        No 🙂

        Reply

        • Kensei Seraph

          May 12, 2014 at 11:00

          But it might be able to play Crysis 3.

          Reply

      • Rincethis

        May 12, 2014 at 10:47

        No 🙂

        Reply

    • FoxOneZA

      May 12, 2014 at 10:45

      Can it play Crysis 2?

      Reply

  2. Alien Emperor Trevor

    May 12, 2014 at 10:41

    This is inevitable for MP games. Hooray for games as a service – and remember, they’re trying to bring this model to SP games too. The future is so rosy.

    Reply

    • Umar Returns

      May 12, 2014 at 10:53

      Destiny is gonna be a huge game and it’s gonna be successful, and then…..Suddenly everything and everyone wants to have persistent worlds and always connected in their games….There’ll be people that will defend it, pay for it, and help it grow. Feels like a losing battle

      Reply

    • Kensei Seraph

      May 12, 2014 at 10:55

      Don’t worry, there’s ways around things like that.
      http://wallpagez.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Pirate_Flag_by_Red_Scorpion.jpg

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        May 12, 2014 at 10:57

        I don’t support pirating games.

        Reply

        • Umar Returns

          May 12, 2014 at 10:58

          I would buy the game, then crack the shit out of it

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            May 12, 2014 at 10:58

            That I don’t have a problem with.

          • Kensei Seraph

            May 12, 2014 at 10:59

            That’s how I got Bioshock working after spending 3 days on 56k.

        • Kensei Seraph

          May 12, 2014 at 10:58

          Buy it and then get the offline version is what I mean.
          Unfortunately the only people who are willing to make that version are the pirates.

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            May 12, 2014 at 11:01

            That’s fine with me. I’ve had to get cracks for games I legally own in order to get them to run. It’s silly.

          • Kensei Seraph

            May 12, 2014 at 11:02

            It’s almost like they don’t even want you playing or buying their games.

    • Jedi JJ

      May 12, 2014 at 11:27

      Bring this to SP?
      I don’t want to live on this planet anymore when that happens
      Also. EA…can suck it

      Reply

  3. Admiral Chief in Space

    May 12, 2014 at 10:41

    What??? There were still Battlefront servers running?????

    Reply

    • Kromas

      May 12, 2014 at 10:59

      Yep. I am sad cause now I will only be able to BFront on lan.

      Reply

      • Kensei Seraph

        May 12, 2014 at 10:59

        At least it has LAN.

        Reply

        • Kromas

          May 12, 2014 at 11:03

          Indeed and also new one is on its way.

          Reply

      • Jedi JJ

        May 12, 2014 at 11:27

        There’s LAN on it?
        Woohoo!

        Reply

        • Kromas

          May 12, 2014 at 11:28

          BFront was just a reskinned BF:Vietnam so yeah it has Lan.

          Reply

          • Jedi JJ

            May 12, 2014 at 11:50

            Never played BF: Vietnam

          • Kromas

            May 12, 2014 at 11:52

            The best BF in my opinion. No pretentious 3 hour single player campaign and no WW2.

          • Jedi JJ

            May 12, 2014 at 12:16

            The WW2 thing doesn’t work for me either. Just seen it a million times before.

          • Kromas

            May 12, 2014 at 13:32

            WW2 only works if you have a whip,a Dinosaur pet,Some ancient relic (ARK for instance), maybe alien interference of some sort and a big ass weapon called some like the BAW (Big Ass Weapon). Also a Japanese kamikaze schoolgirl fighter companion Edit: with a big ass sword with possibly a gun on it.

  4. FoxOneZA

    May 12, 2014 at 10:45

    F1 2002. That brings back memories :'(

    Reply

  5. FoxOneZA

    May 12, 2014 at 10:45

    F1 2002. That brings back memories :'(

    Reply

  6. Umar Returns

    May 12, 2014 at 10:50

    Isn’t BulletStorm a fairly newish game

    Reply

    • Kensei Seraph

      May 12, 2014 at 10:53

      Yeah, but I remember it going for R80.00 on PC almost a year after it came out, and it wasn’t on special.

      Reply

  7. Ryanza

    May 12, 2014 at 10:53

    Can you see the future of having online DRM for single player games.

    Do not support DRM.

    Reply

    • Umar Returns

      May 12, 2014 at 10:54

      A battle that we will never win. People will support this no matter what. The fact that some gamers pay up to $5 for costumes just shows me that we will never win this war and publishers will always get their way

      Reply

      • Ryanza

        May 12, 2014 at 11:04

        Don’t give up just yet. The Witcher 3 is coming.

        It’s up to us to not support this DRM bullshit and to spread the non-DRM message.

        Once DRM properly hits consoles you will see a bigger fight from the gaming communities around the world. ATM consoles is where people get there “non_DRM” fix but once the alternative is taken away.
        You saw what happened when Microsoft announced proper DRM for Xbox One.

        So don’t give up just yet. DRM will not win in the long run.

        Don’t support DRM.

        Reply

        • Kromas

          May 12, 2014 at 11:27

          Going to have to disappoint you but I will be getting the DRM version of Witcher 3.
          #Steam

          Reply

          • Ryanza

            May 12, 2014 at 12:03

            Seeing as Steam will not be the only option for The witcher 3. I will not be disappointed with the non-DRM collectors edition steel book.

            and is that not we all want, options. A PC which is meant to have lots of options and the only option gamers have is internet.

          • Kromas

            May 12, 2014 at 12:24

            Seeing as we are slowly crawling into the digital age I believe that the internet being a factor will decrease massively as a hated choice but for now the option to have offline is a good option.

      • Kromas

        May 12, 2014 at 11:08

        DRM Vs. DLC.

        Just mentioning it 😛

        Reply

        • Umar Returns

          May 12, 2014 at 11:16

          What about it? Both are bad practices, I know he’s talking about DRM, mentioning DLC because gamers will still support both

          Reply

          • Kromas

            May 12, 2014 at 11:19

            I support DLC when it is done right. (Bioshock Infinite: Burial at sea Pt.2) or if I am in love with a game (ME) so I believe that DLC is not the issue but rather pointless extra hat for $10 DLC is pointless.

          • Umar Returns

            May 12, 2014 at 11:20

            Which is why I spoke about $5 costumes

          • Kromas

            May 12, 2014 at 11:24

            Then not all DLC are bad practices. EA DLC generally annoy me while other companies seem to have it right. I have yet to see how Valve will handle DLC when they release a game again but I suppose that won’t happen any time soon unless we get HL3 one day.

          • Umar Returns

            May 12, 2014 at 11:28

            I didn’t say all DLC are bad practices…..that was in relation to my previous comments on $5 costumes……..But ya EA amongst the many others

          • Kromas

            May 12, 2014 at 11:29

            I really wanna see how Valve will handle DLC actually. Would be quite enlightening.

          • Umar Returns

            May 12, 2014 at 11:31

            People hold Valve up on some holy pedestal, end of the day they’re still a corporation and they have to make money. But out of everyone, they have the highest chance of doing it right

          • Kromas

            May 12, 2014 at 11:36

            Thing is every product that they have made was worth it (Meh on Counterstrike but that’s my opinion) and Steam on a good day is awesome. Their main problem at this point in time is letting every dev publish on steam with very little interference from their side. But I digress. Their two money making product right now are F2P with no P2W system in place. They did things really well and screw up so little that you can not help but put them up on a pedestal.

            In conclusion: Valve rocks.

          • Ryanza

            May 12, 2014 at 11:51

            The main problem with Steam is that a person needs the internet to use it and activate games on it. And there are over 1 gigs of updates before you can play or be able to play the game again.

            Seeing as not everyone has internet and uncapped internet.

            Games are not enjoyed by all. Games are not enjoyed by internet users only, without the option to get rid of bad games.
            Consoles games are next. Next generation DRM in 5 years time. Watch the gaming industry tank then.

            Don’t support DRM

          • Kromas

            May 12, 2014 at 11:54

            That post was more about DLC.

            I however agree that DRM is an issue but since I have internet I prefer to go the Steam way because I will always keep my games and keep my games together.

            Edit: And steam sales rock.

          • Ryanza

            May 12, 2014 at 12:19

            The problem with Steam sales – because of DRM, when you buy a game it’s “yours” forever and you can’t get rid of it. So I can not spend full price on games because I don’t know if the game would be worth “owning” forever.
            So there are a lots of games slipping through the DRM cracks and Steam sales are the only option of testing out “new games”, which is bad for the gaming industry.

            The new Wolfenstein game is coming out. Do I want to play it, yes. Do I want to buy it, yes. Am I going to buy it, no. Will I buy it on Steam on sale for $5, yes.
            Can you see the problem.

            Do not support DRM.

          • Jedi JJ

            May 12, 2014 at 12:23

            I never support DRM.
            But loyally support Steam

          • Kromas

            May 12, 2014 at 13:12

            Steam technically is DRM. But I get your point.

          • Kromas

            May 12, 2014 at 12:37

            I can see the problem and it is not related to DRM.

            The new Wolfenstein game is coming out. Do I want to play it, yes. Do I
            want to buy it, yes. Am I going to buy it, Yes. Why? Because I went online and did research about the game and looked at hundreds of videos and got some preview scores and it all looks brilliant. Now you could argue that Alien:Colonial Marines was the same.To that I have an answer. Wait two months and then read the reviews and watch the youtube videos. I just by on the fly cause I am impatient.

          • Ryanza

            May 12, 2014 at 13:04

            The only research that will ever matter is actually playing the game and seeing if you like it or not. If you don’t like it, sell it, if you do like it, keep it. (problem)

            The way the gaming media is set up now a days, it’s all about getting you to buy that game on release day.
            Call of Duty and the gaming media, is a very good example of that. Up until release day, the game is going to be brilliant, after release date, maybe not so good.

            And who wants to buy games where you have to do research first.
            Oh there’s a new game, let me try it out, if you don’t like then too bad. Then too bad I won’t be buying it.

            Don’t support DRM.

          • Kromas

            May 12, 2014 at 13:11

            Steam actually has a hell of a lot of Demo games available. Hell I purchased Project Zomboid only after I played the Demo and it was well worth it. Similarly you do get reviewers out there who actually review games properly (one of the reason why I check out reviews on this site (as long as it is not Darren reviewing the latest CoD cause he will always give it a 11/10 😛 )). Fact is you can get a fairly accurate portrayal of a games worth 2-3 months after its release. Just stay away from devs that lock their game threads or delete negative posts and all should be good. DRM as it was is bad and I agree with you but it is getting beter and better all the time as long as you only use steam (well Blizzapp ain’t bad either).

            Then again I have Origin cause Bioware so technically I am screwed but oh well.

        • oVg Errorist

          May 12, 2014 at 11:18

          DLC the Trojan Horse for DRM.

          Reply

        • Mark Treloar

          May 12, 2014 at 17:27

          Saw a Steam profile on the weekend, where someone has a total of 43 games, but over 200 DLC.

          Reply

  8. Jedi JJ

    May 12, 2014 at 11:26

    Started Battlefront II for the first time about a week ago. Luckily there’s SP, so I’ve got that.

    Reply

  9. Sevology

    May 12, 2014 at 11:38

    I’ve played 876 hours of Star Wars battlefront II, too see this – I have never felt so sad this year….wow

    Reply

    • Kromas

      May 12, 2014 at 11:40

      Hang on … let me find a YouTube clip of all the romance scenes in star wars Episode 1-3 and I guarantee you will be sadder.

      Reply

  10. Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

    May 12, 2014 at 13:04

    And this is why always online is a bad idea. #justsaying

    Reply

  11. Neel Gupta

    May 12, 2014 at 15:02

    So, I am guessing EA won’t care if I pirate cracked versions of these games, as EA has stopped supporting these games.
    …Never got around to buying Red Alert 3 or Battlefront 2.

    Reply

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