The developer behind Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit and the upcoming revamp of Most Wanted now has full control over the entire franchise.
Game Informer reported that Criterion vice president Alex Ward confirmed that EA has given them full run of the series, although he didn't specify if Criterion would handle every NFS game in the series or just oversee them with another studio helping out with the work. He noted, however, that every title in the series would have "a strong Criterion development."
There has been significant changes at EA's Criterion studio following the departure of five of its longest-serving leaders.
Matt Webster, VP and GM of Criterion, has left the studio. Webster has been with Criterion for over 23 years, and has been working for EA since 1990. He was part of the initial team responsible for the first FIFA game.
Also departing is executive producer Pete Lake, who first joined Criterion back in 1996 as an artist. He leaves alongside senior technical director Andrei Shires, a 16-year Criterion veteran. Head of studio development Alan McDairmant is also moving on after 17 years with EA, while Steve Uphill, head of content, leaves following his latest 10-year stint with the developer. All five have left to "explore new opportunities outside of EA", and comes after the release of Need for Speed Unbound.
Im not surprised. The game debut at #17 on the UK game charts. It seems the people they let go were long term and senior employees. NFS unbound felt rushed. It a good game here but EA clearly rushed the title out. There was very little marketing and the game itself is lacking features that were in previous games. EA is to blame for this game failure, not Criterion.
Someone will come along to fill the void eventually. Bugbear (creators of Wreckfest) would probably make a great fast paced destructive car game like Burnout.
There is a market for what Burnout did.
Two development studios will now operate as one working on the future of Need For Speed
As part of the EA Play show, EA showcased a short EA next-gen sizzle reel teasing what the publisher's studios are doing. Check out the trailer now.
Was such an annoying and irritating presentation. So much talking and YouTube influencer type bull$#!+ from the Kinda Funny guy and the rest. So much CGI. So much fast editing of game clips where you couldn't really get a bead on what you were seeing unless you have ADD. You'd have to slow the YouTube video down after the show to see something. It was like that terrible thing they added to poorly made choreography action movies. The "shaky cam." It was like that. I HATE that. Ugh! Shaky cam. Ugh.
And someone said "safe space" in the video. I almost threw my phone..well not really. Lol. But that's how I felt. I watched because of Squadrons and it was alright when they finally got past the fluff.
But got d@mn! I hate EA. Maybe that was it. But I think it was definitely the show. Lol!
Exactly, 11 secs of 2 car renders and 6 secs of two loading gauges, Representing NFS
10secs of Dragon Age concept show case
12 secs of Battlefield including 6 secs of building collapse + eyes and 6 secs of untextured soldier models + a creepy smile
and 8 secs of EA Motive's pre-Alpha 3rd person Half Life
The Kinda Funny guy is a fake and a sell-out always has been. He whore's himself out lol. Greggy rolls
the only really good nfs in the last 10 years that wasn't a childish arcade racer was shift and that wasn't criterion..
While I do agree Shift has lots of potential and was first serious attempt from EA to make a real racing game in awhile. It wasn't a bad idea at all. Shift reminded me of ideals series had when NFS 2 was around.
Now that Criterion has full control though they can take the series to a new level. Something EA has not done since they shifted the game to a new studio every year for so long. Now NFS has a home and it can develop into something amazing. Criterion has never made full blown crap. So I expect quality from them. Even though Hot Pursuit was pretty much NFS: Hot Pursuit like the old days with a few variations and Multiplayer mode. It wasn't crap, but it wasn't a golden title to worship either.
Well, that must mean they're doing a good job. Hot pursuit was the most fun I've had in a need for speed game in a LONG time.
Shift was okay...didnt like shift2
I really miss NFS Underground2
Forza is my fav this gen...drifting is fun..cant wait for horizon
But cri. Has done a pretty good job
I want to see open world
Burnout paradise was sweet