Need for Speed franchise status: Criterion confirms focus on Battlefield
The Need for Speed franchise, one of Electronic Arts’ longest-running racing series dating back to the original 1994 release, now faces an uncertain future after recent comments from Criterion representatives.
Criterion Games — a studio long associated with high-profile arcade-style racing and a contributor to multiple Need for Speed entries — has been redirected within EA to work on other projects, and company statements indicate its current priorities lie with the Battlefield franchise.
Background and recent history
Need for Speed launched in 1994 and has seen numerous sequels, spin-offs and platform releases across PC and consoles over nearly three decades.
The most recent mainline entry, Need for Speed Unbound, was released in December 2022 for PlayStation and Xbox consoles and PC.
Criterion built its reputation on arcade racing titles and served as a primary developer and collaborator on several Need for Speed releases prior to being reassigned within EA.
What Criterion said — rewritten
When asked whether the studio’s 30th anniversary might bring a new Need for Speed project, Coutaz responded that the studio is not focused on past franchises and is concentrating on Battlefield work.
Put plainly, Coutaz said the studio is not discussing legacy titles right now and is dedicating its resources to Battlefield, effectively confirming Criterion’s current priority is EA’s flagship first-person-shooter series.
Context within EA and Battlefield
Battlefield is EA’s marquee FPS franchise, most recently represented by Battlefield 2042, which launched in November 2021.
In the years since, EA has shuffled internal teams to support ongoing live service development and future Battlefield projects.
Criterion’s reassignment aligns with EA’s broader practice of reallocating internal studios to support priority IPs.
Platform and franchise implications
Need for Speed has historically appeared across consoles and PC.
Recent mainline releases have targeted PlayStation, Xbox and PC hardware rather than Nintendo’s platforms; Need for Speed Unbound did not release on Nintendo Switch.
The franchise’s future presence on platforms such as Nintendo Switch or an eShop release remains unannounced.
What this means for fans and industry watchers
Coutaz’s remarks and Criterion’s internal shift to Battlefield work signal that any near-term Need for Speed projects are unlikely to come from Criterion.
EA has not announced a new mainline Need for Speed project tied to Criterion, and the company has offered no public roadmap for reviving the series from other internal teams.
For now, Need for Speed remains a long-running EA property with its future development status unclear in the absence of an official EA announcement.
For readers tracking platform availability and announcements, monitor official EA channels and future Nintendo Directs for any cross-platform or Switch-related news, and check the Nintendo eShop for confirmed releases.
The Need for Speed franchise, one of Electronic Arts’ longest-running racing series dating back to the original 1994 release, now faces an uncertain future after recent comments from Criterion representatives.
Criterion Games — a studio long associated with high-profile arcade-style racing and a contributor to multiple Need for Speed entries — has been redirected within EA to work on other projects, and company statements indicate its current priorities lie with the Battlefield franchise.
Background and recent history
Need for Speed launched in 1994 and has seen numerous sequels, spin-offs and platform releases across PC and consoles over nearly three decades.
The most recent mainline entry, Need for Speed Unbound, was released in December 2022 for PlayStation and Xbox consoles and PC.
Criterion built its reputation on arcade racing titles and served as a primary developer and collaborator on several Need for Speed releases prior to being reassigned within EA.
What Criterion said — rewritten
When asked whether the studio’s 30th anniversary might bring a new Need for Speed project, Coutaz responded that the studio is not focused on past franchises and is concentrating on Battlefield work.
Put plainly, Coutaz said the studio is not discussing legacy titles right now and is dedicating its resources to Battlefield, effectively confirming Criterion’s current priority is EA’s flagship first-person-shooter series.
Context within EA and Battlefield
Battlefield is EA’s marquee FPS franchise, most recently represented by Battlefield 2042, which launched in November 2021.
In the years since, EA has shuffled internal teams to support ongoing live service development and future Battlefield projects.
Criterion’s reassignment aligns with EA’s broader practice of reallocating internal studios to support priority IPs.
Platform and franchise implications
Need for Speed has historically appeared across consoles and PC.
Recent mainline releases have targeted PlayStation, Xbox and PC hardware rather than Nintendo’s platforms; Need for Speed Unbound did not release on Nintendo Switch.
The franchise’s future presence on platforms such as Nintendo Switch or an eShop release remains unannounced.
What this means for fans and industry watchers
Coutaz’s remarks and Criterion’s internal shift to Battlefield work signal that any near-term Need for Speed projects are unlikely to come from Criterion.
EA has not announced a new mainline Need for Speed project tied to Criterion, and the company has offered no public roadmap for reviving the series from other internal teams.
For now, Need for Speed remains a long-running EA property with its future development status unclear in the absence of an official EA announcement.
For readers tracking platform availability and announcements, monitor official EA channels and future Nintendo Directs for any cross-platform or Switch-related news, and check the Nintendo eShop for confirmed releases.