Madden, NBA, NCAA, NASCAR pre-2009 games going offline on February 2, 2010

6 January 2010

Posted by:Josh

Electronic Arts has announced that they are shutting down online servers for many pre-2010 online games, including many 2009 releases. And don’t think that the big sports juggernaut Madden is immune . . . it most certainly isn’t.

The server shutdown will come on February 2, 2010 for all of the twenty-plus titles listed below. So if you are playing any sports games that aren’t 2009, and even if you are (say on the Wii or PSP) then you will definitely want to check this list, because you may not be able to keep playing online for much longer.

List of EA sports game online server shutdowns:

1. FIFA 07 for PSP, PS2 and PC
2. Facebreaker for Xbox 360 and PS3
3. Fantasy Football 09 for Xbox 360 and PS3
4. Fight Night Round 3 for PS2
5. Madden 07 for Xbox 360
6. Madden 08 for PC
7. Madden 08 for Wii
8. Madden 09 for Wii and PSP
9. Madden 09 for Xbox1 (Wow! Is this the last official Xbox1 release? Surprised they released this for Xbox1 in 2009)
10. Madden 09 for Xbox 360 and PS3
11. March Madness 07 for Xbox 360
12. NASCAR 08 for PS2
13. NASCAR 09 for PS2
14. NASCAR 09 for PS3 and Xbox 360 (European version only)
15. NBA 07 for PSP and Xbox 360
16. NBA 08 for PS2, PSP, and Wii
17. NBA 09 for Wii (European version only)
18. NBA Street (2007) for PS3 and Xbox 360
19. NCAA Football 08 for PS2
20. NCAA Football 09 for PS2
21. NFL Tour for PS3 and Xbox 360
22. NHL 07 for PSP and Xbox 360
23. NHL 08 for PC
24. Tiger Woods 07 for PC
25. UEFA Champions League 07 on PC and Xbox 360

Call me crazy, but shutting down ANY online game that was released in 2009 seems extreme. Basically it’s like Electronic Arts is telling you “Look out! That $60 copy of Madden you are about to buy may not be playable online next year! *thumbs up*”.

And this is the big problem with online play . . . it is temporary in most circumnstances, as the developers or publishers can pull support whenever they deem it time.

Anyone out there whom this will be affecting? And what are your thoughts on the situation?

Via Shack News