Multiplayer mode?

[TheBlueSalamander]

It seems the online components for this game are non-functional, at least the server.

[Tydo]

That is official, there is a EA statement about it somewhere on the web.
They pulled the plug on the servers at the end of last month and prevented new purchaces since june or something like that.

Not just for Shift, it's also for Shift 2 and a handful of other old car games.

Aaaaaand it just so happens they began selling remakes of some at least one of those old ones at the same time. With a few more in the works.
To give you a hint, they recently purchased 'Codemasters' (the Grid and Dirt series). And before that, codemasters purchased SMS (shift, shift2, project cars 1/2/3).

Covid threw them a bit off. And they are waiting for the latest console generation to become more dominant, i.e. they don't want to build stuff for the console generation that is on its way out. But stuff, new or "reboot", is coming.

[Tydo]

to update my post:

It seems my info is a little dated. Project cars is now under Bandai Namco.

[Kirby]

the reason why they don't sell the games, is licensing, they have the license for an x amount of years, and after it's over, they stop selling the game. as there is no reason to revoke the license for an old game that really doesn't sell anymore.
some may get remakes, if they can get the licenses for the cars again.

[Tydo]

That discussion again.

Of course there are reasons to revoke it before it expires: Carrot and stick from EA.
It was pulled a few days into a weeklong sale, because EA wanted it pulled, not because something expired. EA wanted steam to pull at the same time as they pulled it from their own store.
Even if we hypothetically believe the thing about licensed to sell for x years coinciding with 1 day into a steam sale, ignoring that the terms include option for both parties to terminate a product sale with very little notice(*), then EA could just threaten to not give access to other and new EA titles.
Sort of "pull it right now, or we will delay/deny access to other stuff we have. Why don't you just play ball, we can both get more money that way."
Unsurprisingly, Valve likes to have things to sell, even things from EA, because they get money from selling stuff.
But they didn't even have to try the threat+greed gambit. On steam a publisher can block access to most virtual goods at their discretion, with the exception of already sold things.

*) it is not done often, because of the negative feedback it generates to the one doing it, but it happens quite a bit.

As it is, it is only reluctantly that EA gives any other store access. It is done because they know their reputation and client is keeping many customers away. And boy does steam have 1 thing in spades: customers willing to spend on games. If it was up to EAs attitude, their stuff would be on their own store and *only* on their store.
Eventually, since it didn't explode with popularity, it dawned on them in dim way, that their store is so much smaller than steam, that 70% of a lot of extra customers is a lot better than 100% of no extra customers. So they *let them* sell *some* of their things.
Just not everything.
Not stuff that they deem to be popular enough to move people into their own store.
Not stuff that they no longer want to be accessible.

[TheBlueSalamander]

Originally posted by Tydo:

That is official, there is a EA statement about it somewhere on the web.
They pulled the plug on the servers at the end of last month and prevented new purchaces since june or something like that.

Not just for Shift, it's also for Shift 2 and a handful of other old car games.

Aaaaaand it just so happens they began selling remakes of some at least one of those old ones at the same time. With a few more in the works.
To give you a hint, they recently purchased 'Codemasters' (the Grid and Dirt series). And before that, codemasters purchased SMS (shift, shift2, project cars 1/2/3).

Covid threw them a bit off. And they are waiting for the latest console generation to become more dominant, i.e. they don't want to build stuff for the console generation that is on its way out. But stuff, new or "reboot", is coming.

I knew about this stuff that already happened, and they said the servers would run until 31 August so "pedal to the metal". That is why I expected all the servers to still function and some people playing before the games die for good, but alas slimy EA remains slimy and after all the ♥♥♥♥ they've done to the franchise, not only announce the removal literally last minute, but they then keep the broken systems unfixed or just don't care about running the servers at all.

[TheBlueSalamander]

Originally posted by Tydo:

to update my post:

It seems my info is a little dated. Project cars is now under Bandai Namco.

It was always published by Bandai Namco I think, Codemasters acquiring SMS was before Project Cars 3.

[LeafyRiot05]

Funny enough EA owns Project CARS 1 making this situation odd and you can use LAN for Shift 1 anyways

[TheBlueSalamander]

Bruh

[LeafyRiot05]

You pretty much need to play LAN or get Project CARS GOTY(specifically)