Need for Speed SHIFT developers could face lawsuit

A couple of weeks ago it became known that the Need for Speed series had split into three directions. Catering to the core audience is now the job of the recently formed Slightly Mad Studios, which is creating Need for Speed SHIFT (PS3, Xbox 360 and PC - fall 2009).

Now it has become known that SimBin may sue Slightly Mad Studios. The thing is, Slightly Mad Studios recently bought Blimey! Games from the bankrupt 10Tacle Studios. 10Tacle Studios, in turn, published popular racing simulators from SimBin, including GTR, GTR2 and GT Legends. When Slightly Mad Studios announced Need for Speed SHIFT, the studio stated that it had a hand in creating GTR, GTR2 and GT Legends.

However, this is not the case. SimBin claims that Slightly Mad Studios employees had absolutely nothing to do with the aforementioned projects. Thus, Slightly Mad Studios could be sued for illegally claiming credit. Development of Shift is currently in its final stage, but EA may now lose the rights to the game.