Burnout and Need for Speed Creators Shift Full Focus to Battlefield

Criterion Games, the studio best known for creating the Burnout series and developing several Need for Speed titles, is now dedicating all of its resources to the Battlefield franchise. The change follows EA's decision to fully integrate the British developer into Battlefield Studios, ending its involvement in racing game development for the foreseeable future. The move highlights Electronic Arts' growing focus on expanding Battlefield as one of its flagship series.

According to EA, Criterion will continue working alongside DICE, Motive Studio, and Ripple Effect to support the future of Battlefield. The studio has already contributed to previous entries in the series, but it will now concentrate exclusively on the military shooter franchise. As a result, development of new Need for Speed projects remains on hold, while the future of Burnout appears increasingly uncertain.

Criterion built its reputation with the critically acclaimed Burnout games before taking over the Need for Speed franchise, where it developed titles such as Hot Pursuit, Most Wanted, and Unbound. The studio's expertise in vehicle handling and fast-paced gameplay has made it a valuable part of EA's Battlefield development teams, particularly as the publisher prepares its next major installment.

While EA has previously stated that Need for Speed will eventually return, no new racing game has been announced. For now, Criterion's entire focus is on Battlefield, marking the end of an era for one of the industry's most influential racing game studios and signaling that EA's immediate priority lies with its blockbuster first-person shooter franchise.