Games

Best EA Games You Can No Longer Play

Published

32 seconds ago

January 22, 2025

Christoph Rediske

a collage of key art key frames from titanfall army of two battlefield 3 the godfather 2 knockout ci

Summary

Table of Contents

Titanfall, GRID, and Battlefield 3 are among many beloved EA titles that are now unplayable due to delisting.
Despite critical acclaim, sequels, and nostalgia, these games are no longer accessible.
Licensing issues or dwindling player bases contribute to the disappearance of these once-popular titles.

While Electronic Arts is not exactly renowned for its industry-friendly practices, the massive library of video games under its 20-studio belt has ensured that many of its past titles are beloved by many. However, be it due to a dwindling player base or as a result of requiring licenses and likenesses, many EA titles are now inaccessible via digital storefronts — or outright unplayable.

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From original games being superseded by sequels to flash-in-the-pan original titles simply not capturing EA’s attention, the home of Madden and The Sims has made a whole host of older titles unavailable for general audiences to enjoy.

8

Titanfall

The Xbox-Exclusive Cross-Generation Mecha Shooter Original

Systems

Released: March 11, 2014
OpenCritic Rating: Advertisement

Mighty

Although Respawn Entertainment’s 2016 multiplatform FPS sequel Titanfall 2 has garnered critical acclaim and the reputation as “one of gaming’s most endearing buddy-bot relationships,” the series’ original sci-fi combat title is no longer available.

Originally published as a console exclusive on Microsoft hardware, across both the Xbox One and Xbox 360, Titanfall was eventually delisted from digital storefronts on March 1, 2022 — almost eight years to the day of its release. While the fragile servers for the multiplayer-only title have continued to be supported for those who have already purchased the game, those hoping to experience EA’s inaugural mecha combat title will have to look to its sequel or elsewhere.

7

GRID (2019)

The Award-Winning Reboot Of One Of Racing’s Most Notable IPs

GRID

Systems

Released: October 11, 2019
OpenCritic Rating: Strong

Considering its place as a ‘Best Racing Game’ winner and a sequel to the racing game where “every car and track, physics, and gameplay were right on point,” 2019’s GRID is arguably a title still worth picking up today. Debuting on eighth-generation consoles, GRID‘s focus on dynamic AI racers alongside Codemasters’ proven prowess at creating a polished racing title set it up as a title seemingly worthy of upholding the series’ nearly 20-year history.

However, as tends to be the case with titles that require the likenesses of products and personalities — such as cars and their drivers — GRID was quietly delisted on November 30th, 2023. Not only was it removed from console storefronts, but subscription services such as EA Play and Xbox Game Pass had their libraries altered as well. While its 2022 sequel GRID Legends is still available, those wishing to play the series’ original reboot are unfortunately out of luck.

6

Battlefield 3

Arguably One Of The Battlefield Series’ Most Universally Beloved Entries

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Released: October 25, 2011

Rounded up with its fellow FPS titles Battlefield 4 and Battlefield: Hardline, Battlefield 3 was announced to be delisted by EA on June 28, 2024. While the other two titles would continue to be playable on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One ecosystems, Battlefield 3‘s position as a seventh console-generation title left it behind.

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Although it remains a backward-compatible title on Xbox for those who already own a physical copy, the delisting of “EA’s answer to Activision’s Call of Duty” from digital storefronts and subscription services left its acclaimed blockbuster campaign in the past. However, if an avid Battlefield fan were to find a physical copy, or purchase it on PC where it is still available, they would still enjoy its genre-defining destructible environments and modern combat.

5

Project Cars (1 & 2)

The Inaugural Entries Of EA’s Still Evolving Racing Franchise

Systems

Released: May 6, 2015
OpenCritic Rating: Strong

Considering its acclaim at the time of release as “one of the most difficult and rewarding racing sims we’ve ever had the pleasure of test driving,” the position of the Project CARS racing franchise was once seemingly solid. Unfortunately, three years after the IP was purchased by Codemasters, the two Project CARS racing titles — developed by Slightly Mad Studios while they were wholly independent — were delisted from digital storefronts.

Citing “expiring car & track licenses” for the decision, the titles “remain fully playable” for those who had already purchased the games, either physically or digitally. While the franchise is now dormant, after EA criticized its “longer-term growth potential,” the series’ arcade-style follow-up Project CARS 3 is still available, with the mobile spin-off Project CARS GO also delisted.

4

Army Of Two: The 40th Day

The Critically Acclaimed Pinnacle Of The Co-Op Third-Person Shooter Series

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Despite a notable performance from Nolan North as Elliot Salem — one of Army of Two: The 40th Day‘s protagonists — and a branching narrative with moral dilemmas, EA Montreal’s 2010 third-person shooter is no longer available on digital storefronts.

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Beyond showcasing an in-depth weapon customization system, along with a gritty yet tongue-in-cheek narrative, Army of Two: The 40th Day‘s co-op focus predates the existence of contemporary multiplayer-only experiences such as A Way Out and Chained Together. The highest-rated entry in the trilogy of experimental third-person shooters, Army of Two: The 40th Day — and its sequel Army of Two: The Devil’s Cartel — are only survived by the existence of physical copies and the original 2008 title through Xbox backwards compatibility.

3

Rocket Arena

A Creative Merging Of Party-Game Mechanics & Hero-Shooter Personality

Systems

Released: July 13, 2020
Developer(s): Final Strike Games
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OpenCritic Rating: Fair
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Beyond its place as an “interesting mash-up of other popular multiplayer games” that once upon a time had “the foundation to be the next great multiplayer shooter,” Final Strike Games’ arcade-style third-person hero-shooter Rocket Arena is now a relic of the year 2020 in video games.

Despite its ambitious combination of inspired elements from titles such as Overwatch, Super Smash Bros., and Fortnite, Rocket Arena‘s paid entry to a free-to-play-style multiplayer ecosystem is often touted as its downfall by players. Commenting on the “kindness, care, and camaraderie” of its game’s community, developer Final Strike Games announced the sunsetting of the game’s servers on March 21, 2024. With its digital-only footprint, the game is completely devoid of representation on any storefront, yet the developers have continued to assist in the upkeep of other online titles such as Fallout 76, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Fortnite.

2

The Godfather

A Blockbuster Reimagining Of Coppola’s First Two Godfather Motion Pictures

The Godfather

Released: March 21, 2006
Developer(s): EA Redwood Shores

Taking into account the nigh-on universal acclaim for Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather motion pictures, the decision for Electronic Arts to adapt the classic gangster film trilogy into the medium of video games is seemingly obvious. However, with the closure of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 digital storefronts in 2021 and 2023 respectively, alongside the delisting of The Godfather and The Godfather 2 from Steam in 2014, both titles are no longer playable.

In “trying to carve a name for themselves,” developer EA Redwood Shores sought to adapt both the open world of titles such as Grand Theft Auto, and the grand narrative of The Godfather movies. Yet, with EA themselves bemoaning that “the bloom is really off the rose for licensed games,” an adaptation of the third Godfather film was canceled — with only series such as Mafia carrying the torch for period-inspired gangster titles.

1

Knockout City

A Beloved & Critically Lauded Action-Sports Title With Limited PC Support

Released: May 21, 2021
Developer(s): Velan Studios
OpenCritic Rating: Strong

In what is ultimately the end result for all digital-only video games, regardless of how acclaimed, EA’s larger-than-life 2021 dodgeball video game Knockout City has found itself effectively unplayable by contemporary audiences. In “a necessary and important” decision for the studio, developer Velan Studios announced on February 02, 2023, that their action-sports title would be delisted with its servers shut down within the year.

In a somewhat saturated market of free-to-play online titles, it was celebrated that “a game like Knockout City comes along and steals the show.” However, with its removal from all console digital storefronts and its servers gone, Knockout City is now only playable on PC due to a private server version that was made public at the end of the game’s life — “so Knockout City can live on forever.”