Codemasters and Electronic Arts have announced that online servers for Grid Legends, the 2022 racing game, will be shut down on PlayStation and Xbox platforms later this year. The announcement follows an unfortunately familiar pattern in online gaming where titles that are two to four years old have their online infrastructure discontinued, leaving players who purchased the game with a significantly reduced experience as the multiplayer functionality that was a key selling point disappears.

Grid Legends launched in February 2022 with a strong multiplayer component alongside its single-player career mode, and the online features included ranked competitive racing, cooperative story modes with real human partners, and custom event creation. The shutdown will eliminate all of these features from the console versions, leaving only the single-player content accessible after the server closure date.

What Remains After the Shutdown

Players who own Grid Legends on PlayStation or Xbox will retain access to the single-player career mode, free play races against AI opponents, all purchased content, and any achievements or trophies earned through normal gameplay. The time trial and hot lap features, which do not require server connectivity, will also remain functional.

What disappears entirely is the online multiplayer component that allowed racing against human opponents, the cooperative story mode that was specifically designed to be played with a friend online, and any leaderboard functionality that required server validation. The loss of co-op story mode is particularly significant for players who purchased the game specifically for that feature – it was one of the more innovative elements of Grid Legends’ design, offering a narrative-driven racing experience meant to be experienced with a partner.

• The PC version of Grid Legends via Steam has a separate infrastructure and the shutdown timeline for PC servers was not confirmed in the same announcement.
• EA recommends that players complete any online-specific objectives or trophies/achievements before the shutdown date if they want those on their gaming profile.
• Content purchased through the Grid Legends storefront – car packs, liveries, additional content – remains accessible for single-player use after the server shutdown.

The Broader Issue of Server Shutdowns

Grid Legends’ shutdown is part of a pattern that has drawn increasing criticism from gaming consumer advocates and preservation communities. Online games sold as retail products at full price are increasingly designed around online functionality that becomes inaccessible when publishers decide the cost of maintaining servers exceeds the revenue generated by remaining active players. Unlike physical media that can be used indefinitely, online-dependent games can become non-functional without the hardware owner’s consent or compensation.

Frequently Asked Questions

When exactly are the Grid Legends servers shutting down?

EA has announced server shutdown for later this year but the specific date was not confirmed in initial reporting. Check Grid Legends’ official channels and EA’s support pages for the confirmed closure date as it is announced.