RIYADH — Among the many expected changes coming to the popular developer's line of video games following its sale, the now Saudi-owned EA will no longer allow women to play Need for Speed.
In order to adhere to the strict limitations placed on women under the Saudi regime, all future editions of the popular racing game will reportedly require player ID authentication to weed out any potential females who may attempt to drive.
"We cannot let inferior players operate vehicles — even in a simulated environment," said Saudi spokesarab Ali Muhammad after the sale of EA was finalized. "The place for women is in subservience to men, not driving sports cars at high rates of speed through intricate and challenging road courses. Any females who attempt to circumvent our authentication measures and play Need for Speed will be subject to… punishment. And by ‘punishment,' I mean they will be publicly beaten with sticks."
When asked what female gamers are supposed to do now that they will no longer be able to play Need for Speed, Muhammad said new options will soon be available. "We will be producing a new line of games through EA that will be specifically designed for women," he said. "Our female customers will certainly enjoy Be Your Husband's Slave Simulator 2026, as well as the exciting The Sims: Sharia Law Edition. We ask that our female gamers be patient as we introduce these new games. Or, they can just face the consequences."
At publishing time, rumors indicated that the Saudi-owned EA was already working on a new open-world game that would allow female players to do a wide range of activities that didn't include attending any kind of school.
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