The end of Need for Speed? Criterion shifts focus to Battlefield

An uncertain future for Need for Speed

The future of one of the most iconic racing franchises – Need for Speed – looks more unclear than ever. After studio Criterion took over the development of the latest titles, it has now become clear that the team has shifted its entire capacity to the Battlefield franchise.

"The Criterion team is currently fully focused on Battlefield," confirmed Rebecka Coutaz, Vice President of Battlefield Studios Europe.

The story of a legend

Since its debut in 1994, Need for Speed has gone through a number of transformations. Fans fondly remember the golden era of Underground, Most Wanted, and Carbon. Over the past 32 years, the series has released 25 titles, bringing the adrenaline of street racing to almost every platform – from MS-DOS to mobile devices.

Are there alternatives for fans?

Although the fate of Need for Speed remains unclear, the market offers several strong alternatives for fans of arcade racing:

• Forza Horizon: Unmatched open world and detailed customization.
• The Crew Motorfest: A huge variety of vehicles and the recently added Chase Squad mode, which brings back the thrill of police chases.

What's next?

Even though Criterion is no longer making Need for Speed a priority, this does not necessarily mean the end of the series. Electronic Arts has often delegated the development of the franchise to different studios in the past. Whether we will see a new release or the series will remain in the "garage" for an indefinite period remains to be seen.