Goodbye Real Racing 3: EA shuts down the mobile racing king

Electronic Arts (EA) confirmed Thursday that its premier mobile sim-racing title, Real Racing 3, will be discontinued in March 2026, marking the end of a 12-year legacy that redefined mobile gaming graphics.

The sunsetting process began immediately on Dec. 18 with the game’s removal from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. While new downloads are no longer available, existing players can still access the game through their account history until the final server shutdown scheduled for March 19, 2026.

The Shutdown Timeline

The transition is following a strict schedule to wind down the live-service title:

• Dec. 18, 2025: Storefront delisting and permanent disabling of all in-app purchases.
• March 19, 2026: Full server shutdown. The game will become unplayable after this date, as it requires server verification for core content.

"The last 12 years have been a remarkable journey," EA said in an official statement. "We’ve made the difficult decision to retire from the race now."

Final Community Gifts

To commemorate the game's benchmark history, EA is releasing a final "Farewell" update. All active players will receive a digital package including 1,000 Gold, the Audi S1 e-tron quattro, and the 2023 Rimac Nevera.

Industry Impact and Legacy

Launched in 2013 by the Australian studio Firemonkeys, Real Racing 3 was widely considered the gold standard for mobile racing simulators. However, the title shifted into a maintenance phase in 2023 when development transitioned to EA’s Hyderabad studio.

The closure follows the reported cancellation of a potential Real Racing 4 in 2019, highlighting a broader industry shift as EA prioritises newer projects like Need for Speed No Limits. Players are advised to spend all remaining in-game currency before the March deadline, as unused resources will not be transferred.