- An executive has shut down the hopes of a new Need for Speed game, clarifying that Criterion has moved on.
- The studio is now solely focused on Battlefield, and no new NFS or Burnout game is in the works.
- Need for Speed declined greatly over the last decade, stirring EA to place the IP on an indefinite hold.
The Need for Speed and Burnout franchises were hallmarks of the racing genre in the past, but they have largely been forgotten in today’s gaming scene. The last few NFS releases did not do the series any justice after all, selling and performing poorly among players.
There were rumors last year that Criterion would ditch the Need for Speed series after becoming a Battlefield support studio, and EA has just confirmed them.
An executive clarifies that no new Need for Speed title is in the works, even as the studio celebrates its 30th anniversary. The NFS and Burnout franchises are essentially on an indefinite hiatus.
Why it matters: Need for Speed at its best was a behemoth to be reckoned with, defining arcade racing in the early 2000s and beyond. However, the declining quality of subsequent releases eventually caught up to the IP.
Speaking to IGN, the vice president and general manager of Battlefield Studios Europe, Rebecka Coutaz, was quick to shut down any hopes of a new Need for Speed or Burnout game being in development after being questioned.
She implied Criterion has moved on from the past and will only focus on EA’s flagship first-person shooter franchise in the future.
We are not here to talk about the past. We are solely focused on Battlefield.
-VP & GM of Battlefield Studios Europe, Rebecka Coutaz.
Therefore, the fun arcade racing in NFS or the heart-pounding crashfest in Burnout titles might never be realized again moving forward.
Battlefield 6 was a staggering success for EA in the early days, but it failed to retain a large enough player base in recent months to be considered a lasting win by everyone.
Do you think EA is making a mistake by abandoning the Need for Speed franchise here? Would you have preferred for Criterion Games to continue working on the IP? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.
Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋
How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔
Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.
Join Our Community
