Pump the brakes on expectations for a brand new Need for Speed anytime quickly. That is as a result of Criterion, the developer behind the racing sequence, is all in on supporting the following Battlefield expertise at present. But EA is promising that Need for Speed will return ultimately.
Eurogamer spoke with Battlefield boss Vince Zampella about Criterion, which now sits beneath the Battlefield Studios banner. In fact, that type of change–with Criterion supporting the single-player expertise for the following Battlefield–brings up questions on whether or not the developer may solely be centered on the shooter sequence going ahead.
“The Need for Speed staff at Criterion are becoming a member of their colleagues engaged on Battlefield,” mentioned Zampella. “As an organization, it was necessary to us to take the final yr to take heed to our Need for Speed neighborhood and use their suggestions to create content material for Unbound. With an elevated understanding of what our gamers need in a Need for Speed expertise, we plan to carry the franchise again in new and fascinating methods.”
In September 2023, EA introduced that Criterion was contributing to the following Battlefield sport, although it added work would proceed with the Need for Speed sequence. Criterion beforehand partnered on Battlefield V and Battlefield 2042. In the meantime, earlier in 2023, former Criterion builders fashioned Fuse Video games after the launch of Need for Speed Unbound, the final entry within the franchise.
Criterion turned the de facto studio for the racing sequence with Need for Speed: Sizzling Pursuit in 2010, adopted up by Need for Speed: Most Needed in 2012. Beforehand, the developer was finest recognized for creating and overseeing the Burnout franchise. Then, Ghost Video games took cost of the franchise, beginning with 2013’s Need for Speed Rivals and ending with 2019’s Need for Speed Warmth. EA revealed that Criterion was coming again to Need for Speed in 2020, in the end releasing 2022’s Need for Speed Unbound. Workforce Kaizen, which helped help Need for Speed Unbound, can also be becoming a member of Criterion to contribute to the following Battlefield, per EA’s website.
As for the following Battlefield, no launch date has been publicly unveiled but.