Porsche and EA Games end exclusive deal

Motor racing is a real sport, but video game racing also has its massive followers as if the virtual racecar drivers are real athletes. Assetto Corsa, Gran Turismo and EA’s Need for Speed have all opened up a virtual world for us to explore and have a bit of escape from reality.

However, driving a Porsche in a video game has somehow been confined to just one game brand --- EA Games. There may be a few cameos where a Porsche dons a RUF badge instead of its own label. Other times it comes with an expansion pack just like in Forza Motorsport. But that may have to change real soon.

EA Games (Electronic Arts) and Porsche ended their long running gaming deal. --- 16 years after EA launched its “Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed” game series. Porsche since then has become EA’s exclusive product partner after its initial release in 2000. That means, no other car brand came to appear in any EA game except for Porsche.

Now, it does look like Porsche wants to explore other game companies and ended its exclusive deal with the game maker. Nevertheless, Porsche will continue to appear in EA’s game releases for as long as it’s under a “non-exclusive agreement”. The exclusive contract is expected to expire this year. In that case, we will be seeing more Porsches in other game products starting 2017.

In fact, some rumours have started to play already, including a Gran Turismo debut as soon as its latest game sequel comes out. Porsche already appeared in some other previous games such as Forza Horizon 2 and Forza Motorsport 6. Moreover, Playground Games has once again included a Porsche on its latest Forza Horizon 3.

Considering that, it is highly possible for them to include the brand on the upcoming sequel of Forza Motorsport. --- The Forza Motorsport 7, which is slated to come out next year. Slightly Mad Studios meanwhile is already hinting on the next “Project Cars” sequel, and that adding Porsche on the line-up is also possible.

To sum it all up, hard-core gamers and Porsche fans will surely have something to look forward to in the next few months. Assetto Corsa already has Porsches on its video games according to SpeedManiacs.

The German-language website had spoken to Kunos Simulazioni regarding the how the company had obtained its license to use a Porsche last August. In connection to this, Porsche entertainment manager Sebastian Hornung clarified that their license with EA is ending this year and that it is a mutual decision.