Fans of the Need for Speed franchise may need to exercise patience as they await the next installment in the beloved racing series. Criterion Games, the studio that has been at the helm of this iconic title for many years, has made a strategic pivot to focus entirely on EA’s upcoming Battlefield project. In a recent statement to Eurogamer, Vince Zampella, the three-star general overseeing Battlefield, confirmed this shift: “The Need for Speed team at Criterion are joining their colleagues working on Battlefield.”
This transition has been underway since September 2023, when a significant portion of Criterion’s workforce redirected their efforts towards Battlefield. A smaller group remained dedicated to Need for Speed, tasked with supporting the latest release, Need for Speed Unbound. Zampella emphasized the importance of community feedback during the past year, stating, “It was important for us to take the last year to listen to our Need for Speed community and use their feedback to create content for Unbound.” Notably, the ‘Cops vs Racers’ mode, inspired by the popular Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, was integrated into Unbound last August.
However, in a recent announcement, the remaining team revealed that they would be discontinuing live-service support for Unbound. They stated, “We won’t be updating the game or making any more changes, but rest assured your notes and comments are being captured and will help inform the future.” This decision suggests that fans may not see another Need for Speed title for several years. Nevertheless, Zampella reassured players that EA is committed to revitalizing the franchise, saying, “With an increased understanding of what our players want in a Need for Speed experience, we plan to bring the franchise back in new and interesting ways.”
Need for Speed: Unbound has elicited mixed reactions from the gaming community. While some critics, like Phil Iwaniuk, praised it as “a deeply worthy addition to the genre that lacks all arcade kicks,” others, including Morgan, were captivated by its unique cartoonish visual effects. The broader reception, however, has been less favorable, with the game earning a ‘mixed’ rating on Steam from over 36,000 reviews.
Amidst these developments, EA is undergoing significant organizational changes. Following the disappointing performance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, BioWare has been downsized and refocused exclusively on the Mass Effect series, resulting in layoffs of several senior writers and designers. This restructuring has drawn criticism, particularly from the publishing director of Baldur’s Gate 3, who lamented the loss of institutional knowledge, remarking that ‘On a pirate ship, they’d toss the captain overboard.’
Despite the upheaval, a glimpse of Criterion’s contributions to Battlefield was recently showcased, featuring a brief 10 seconds of pre-alpha gameplay during EA’s reveal of its new playtesting initiative, Battlefield Labs.
Need for Speed is effectively on hold while Criterion musters entirely around Battlefield, but EA assures players the racer will return in ‘new and interesting ways’
Fans of the Need for Speed franchise may need to exercise patience as they await the next installment in the beloved racing series. Criterion Games, the studio that has been at the helm of this iconic title for many years, has made a strategic pivot to focus entirely on EA’s upcoming Battlefield project. In a recent statement to Eurogamer, Vince Zampella, the three-star general overseeing Battlefield, confirmed this shift: “The Need for Speed team at Criterion are joining their colleagues working on Battlefield.”
This transition has been underway since September 2023, when a significant portion of Criterion’s workforce redirected their efforts towards Battlefield. A smaller group remained dedicated to Need for Speed, tasked with supporting the latest release, Need for Speed Unbound. Zampella emphasized the importance of community feedback during the past year, stating, “It was important for us to take the last year to listen to our Need for Speed community and use their feedback to create content for Unbound.” Notably, the ‘Cops vs Racers’ mode, inspired by the popular Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, was integrated into Unbound last August.
However, in a recent announcement, the remaining team revealed that they would be discontinuing live-service support for Unbound. They stated, “We won’t be updating the game or making any more changes, but rest assured your notes and comments are being captured and will help inform the future.” This decision suggests that fans may not see another Need for Speed title for several years. Nevertheless, Zampella reassured players that EA is committed to revitalizing the franchise, saying, “With an increased understanding of what our players want in a Need for Speed experience, we plan to bring the franchise back in new and interesting ways.”
Need for Speed: Unbound has elicited mixed reactions from the gaming community. While some critics, like Phil Iwaniuk, praised it as “a deeply worthy addition to the genre that lacks all arcade kicks,” others, including Morgan, were captivated by its unique cartoonish visual effects. The broader reception, however, has been less favorable, with the game earning a ‘mixed’ rating on Steam from over 36,000 reviews.
Amidst these developments, EA is undergoing significant organizational changes. Following the disappointing performance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, BioWare has been downsized and refocused exclusively on the Mass Effect series, resulting in layoffs of several senior writers and designers. This restructuring has drawn criticism, particularly from the publishing director of Baldur’s Gate 3, who lamented the loss of institutional knowledge, remarking that ‘On a pirate ship, they’d toss the captain overboard.’
Despite the upheaval, a glimpse of Criterion’s contributions to Battlefield was recently showcased, featuring a brief 10 seconds of pre-alpha gameplay during EA’s reveal of its new playtesting initiative, Battlefield Labs.