Need for Speed Studio is now completely dedicated to Battlefield, and this may remain the case indefinitely.

      Electronic Arts

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      If you were holding out hope for a new installment in the Need for Speed series from EA, it seems your hopes are dashed. The head of Criterion Games, the studio behind NFS Unbound and other titles, has made it clear that their current focus is entirely on Battlefield. An article published by IGN to commemorate Criterion’s 30th anniversary underlines this shift.

      The piece reflects on how some elements of Criterion’s past can still be traced in their current work. This is the studio that created Burnout and Black, and was responsible for the once-popular RenderWare engine. They revitalized the NFS franchise with the 2010 reboot of Hot Pursuit. However, that legacy seems to be lost now, as Rebecka Coutaz, EA’s VP and CEO of Battlefield Studios, shared with the website.

      I feel it's best to quote the article directly, as it conveys the sentiment so straightforwardly:

      When I inquire if the Burnout and Need for Speed developer's new focus might extend to projects beyond Battlefield, Coutaz responds clearly: “We are solely focused on Battlefield.”

      Additionally, it’s notable that the name displayed on the studio's building now reads, “Criterion: A Battlefield Studio.”

      Let's remember Black Box’s Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2, which is considered one of the greatest arcade racing games ever and remains my personal favorite in the franchise. Electronic Arts

      Describing this as tragic during an already difficult time for video game development feels like an understatement. Studios are closing at an alarming rate, and those that remain under large publishers like EA can only continue as long as they focus on profitable franchises. However, this isn't just about profits; despite a solid launch, Battlefield 6 has struggled to keep players engaged, largely due to the publisher's contentious choices regarding post-launch support.

      This situation reinforces another example of a developer's creative freedom being stifled, with the very essence that gave them their identity overshadowed by an executive agenda that is alienating gamers. I wasn't a fan of NFS Unbound; in my opinion, it had poor driving mechanics, an oppressive economy and pursuit system, and its visuals were lacking, mixing simplistic cel-shaded characters with a more realistic world. Yet, it wasn't a complete failure, and the absence of NFS further tightens a diminishing genre. While Forza Horizon continues to defy expectations and show that racing games can still thrive, it’s practically the only one left (aside from Mario Kart), leading to alternative arcade racing experiences fading away.

      None of this is surprising from EA, a company that acquired Codemasters at the beginning of the decade exclusively for its F1 license, only to subsequently dismantle everything else the studio produced. Cherished franchises in the racing game domain, such as Need for Speed, Colin McRae Dirt, Grid, and Burnout—the one that has been missing the longest—have been carelessly discarded. Our best hope is that those who once created those standout games will find new opportunities with companies willing to nurture their talents and fill the gaps left in the gaming medium.

      If you have insights on racing games currently in development, feel free to reach out to the author: adam.ismail@thedrive.com.