The Need for Speed Franchise Will Be Overseen by Criterion Games

Criterion Games, the developer of the Burnout series and of the upcoming Need for Speed: Most Wanted reboot, is going to oversee all future iterations in the racing franchise in order to make sure that the titles deliver great experiences.

The NFS series has been around for quite some time but its degree of quality varied a lot in recent years, as owner Electronic Arts allowed multiple studios to create installments in the series, from the action-focused ones made by Black Box, to simulators coming from Slightly Mad Studios.

From now on, however, Criterion Games, the developer of 2010’s NFS: Hot Pursuit, will oversee all future installments in the series, like Most Wanted, even if they are not made by the actual studio.

"Maybe it's been that way in the past, but that's changed this year with what we're doing... Our stamp's going to be in everything you see in Need for Speed and Burnout going forward in the future," Criterion Vice President, Alex Ward, told GameInformer.

"It's not going to be spread anymore across different companies. Different studios have had a crack at it - it's definitely a Criterion gig now."

EA has confirmed earlier this month that it’s going to continue with its dual-studio strategy in terms of NFS games, as Criterion and Black Box will alternate between releases each year.

Given this new detail from Criterion, it seems that the studio will have a much more important role in the series.

"Going forward now, with Most Wanted and what we'll do in the future [will have], shall we say, a strong Criterion involvement," he went on. "I'm personally involved in how the cars drive, how the game will play out, how connected they are, and what the features are."

Given this focus on the NFS series, it’s unlikely to see another full-fledged Burnout game coming from Criterion anytime soon.

Via: The Need for Speed Franchise Will Be Overseen by Criterion Games