Followed by the rumor, brought by Canada’s Electronic Playground , claiming that the Need for Speed franchise was going to be canceled by Electronic Arts, 1UP later received word, though another source at EA, that the studio Black Box, not the franchise, would be canned. Last week, EA director of communications Colin Macrae told The Electronic Playground that they "were working through a process on people, products, and facilities at EA and don’t have any announcements." This came soon after EA made the announcement that they have abandoned the opportunity to build a new development studio in Vancouver. EA Black Box was founded when EA acquired Black Box Games in 2002, as a part of EA Canada. It became an independent EA studio in 2005. In March 2003, the firm decided that they lacked space for their current projects so the top four floors of an office tower in downtown Vancouver were used for expansion. Since its founding, EA Black Box has been home to the Need for Speed franchise, among others. An official announcement will sure be done sometime after the Holidays. We’ll keep you informed.