Criterion’s Future Is Battlefield, but Don’t Forget the Burnout Heritage Within Its Walls
Criterion Games abandons racing franchises as EA pivots studio entirely to *Battlefield*—but nostalgia lingers.
Quick answers
Will *Need for Speed* or *Burnout* return in any form?
Coverage does not yet specify. EA has shut the door on both franchises, but no details exist on potential reboots or spin-offs.
How many employees at Criterion Games are affected?
No figures have been released. The focus remains on the studio’s shift to *Battlefield*, not workforce changes.
Is this part of a larger EA restructuring?
The move aligns with EA’s broader franchise consolidation, though no broader layoffs or studio closures have been announced beyond Criterion’s racing division.
The brief
Electronic Arts has announced the closure of the *Need for Speed* and *Burnout* franchises, with Criterion Games—previously the studio behind both—now fully dedicated to *Battlefield* development. Coverage highlights EA’s strategic shift, positioning *Battlefield* as the studio’s sole focus moving forward, though some outlets note the emotional weight of Criterion’s racing legacy.
Reuters and BBC News report the move as part of EA’s broader restructuring, with *The Drive* and *IGN* emphasizing Criterion’s pivot while acknowledging the franchise’s history. *SavePoint Gaming* and *Nexus Hub* frame it as a calculated risk, though *Yahoo Tech* suggests potential backlash from fans of the discontinued series. Watch for EA’s official statement on how this affects Criterion’s team and whether *Battlefield* will absorb resources previously allocated to racing titles.
Speculation may also arise about whether other EA studios will follow suit in consolidating franchises.
Synthesized by headlinez.news from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: all claims supported by sources Updated 47d ago.
Who reported it (5)
- Need for Speed has no future and I think EA is making a mistake Yahoo Tech · 48d ago
- Criterion Games’ Racing Era May Be Over as Battlefield Becomes Its Full Focus SavePoint Gaming · 48d ago
- EA Shuts The Door on Need for Speed and Burnout Franchises Nexus Hub · 48d ago
- Need for Speed Studio Is ‘Solely Focused on Battlefield’ Now and Maybe Forever The Drive · 48d ago
- Criterion’s Future Is Battlefield, but Don’t Forget the Burnout Heritage Within Its Walls IGN · 48d ago
Momentum
How fast coverage is spreading — measured hourly from article rate × source diversity. How this works →
Topics
Related trends
Supermassive Games announces layoffs, up to 75 workers may be affected
Supermassive Games has announced structural redundancies affecting up to 75 employees, marking the third major wave of job cuts in three years.
A Call For Xbox To End Cycle Of Layoffs Is Trending On Fan Portal
Xbox fans unite on Microsoft’s own platform to demand an end to layoffs and studio closures
The Sunday Papers
Electronic Arts is reportedly shifting focus away from the Need for Speed and Burnout franchises to prioritize the Battlefield series.
As Criterion rebrands on its 30th anniversary, are its beloved racing franchises like Burnout falling away in the rearview mirror?
EA’s Criterion Games shifts focus entirely to *Battlefield*, leaving racing fans questioning the future of *Burnout* and *Need for Speed*.
As Video Game Industry Burns, Warframe's Devs Aren't Taking Anything For Granted
Warframe leadership is responding to the closure of Destiny 2, highlighting broader industry instability and the uncertainty of game longevity.
From booksmaxxing to looksmaxxing: Why the viral trends concern some mental health experts
A viral suffix is turning self-optimization into a mental health red flag—experts warn of new 'maxxing' trends