During the reorganization within Electronic Arts, there was some question about which side Criterion would be moving to, but the situation has been clarified.

A few months ago, Andrew Wilson, CEO of Electronic Arts, announced that the company would be split. One side will be EA Sports, with all the sports games (and most of the gambling, or Ultimate Team), and the other will be EA Entertainment. At the same time, it was also confirmed that Respawn Entertainment founder Vince Zampella would continue to head up the Battlefield franchise. Still, Zampella would meanwhile also be responsible for the Apex Legends, Star Wars, and Need for Speed IPs.

It is also the position given to Zampella by Electronic Arts in a blog post, where he wrote about the future of Criterion: “Hi everyone. Today, I’d like to share that the talented Criterion Games team will join EA Entertainment. Criterion has a rich history in gaming, having worked on Battlefield, Battlefront, Burnout, and, of course, Need for Speed. I’m thrilled to have a studio with such pedigree join the studios I oversee.

As we’ve said before, we’re all-in on Battlefield. Today, Criterion is added to our world-class Battlefield studios dedicated to ushering in a new era for the franchise. Most of the team will work alongside DICE, Ripple Effect, and Ridgeline, which Byron Beede, Battlefield’s GM, leads. Criterion’s experience with Battlefield, our technology, and building engaging experiences will have an immediate positive impact as we continue to work on Battlefield 2042 and pre-production on a connected Battlefield Universe. There is no better studio to join us on this journey, and I couldn’t be more excited.

Work will also continue what’s next for Need for Speed. Many of you might be familiar with my history in games, having worked with highly talented teams on Apex Legends, Titanfall, and Star Wars Jedi. Still, you might not know I have a passion for cars, making Criterion a perfect match for me to explore another genre in gaming that I love. I look forward to working with a core group as we shape what’s next for the franchise. Join me in welcoming Criterion to the team,” Zampella wrote.

So they’re putting the Criterion team back on Battlefield, which after Battlefield 2042 is probably a bit of an exaggeration because that game didn’t turn out very well… oh, and with that post, Zampella confirmed the new Need For Speed.

Source: WCCFTech