The British studio Criterion Games — the people behind cult favorite Burnout and the recent Need for Speed entries — has hit a fairly dramatic inflection point. For its 30th anniversary the team was folded into EA’s shooter arm and rechristened Criterion: A Battlefield Studio. Many racing fans (some visibly upset, others quietly resigned) took that as a sign their arcade-racing days were finished.
Rock Paper Shotgun talked to Criterion’s leadership to see whether that fear holds up. Short answer? Not a firm "yes" or "no" — more like guarded optimism mixed with realism and a shrug. Some long-time supporters feel betrayed; others are waiting to see what resurfaces down the line.
On whether we’ll ever see Criterion make racing games again, executive producer Matt Webster gave this cautious reply:
Burnout? I think we've left that series alone for quite some time now. But Need for Speed? Yes, right now we are fully focused on Battlefield. However, looking at the entire journey our studio has taken, I would never say "never." Things change, priorities within EA change. Our current goal is Battlefield, but anything is possible in the future.