The creators of Burnout and Need for Speed, Criterion Games, now have a new name: “Criterion – A Battlefield Studio.” EA’s decision marks a turning point for the studio and raises questions about the fate of its most beloved franchises.

Electronic Arts has made a move that hasn’t gone unnoticed: Criterion Games, the studio behind Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit — the third highest-rated game in the series on Metacritic — has officially rebranded as “Criterion – A Battlefield Studio.” The new corporate identity signals a fresh direction but has also sparked concerns about the future of some of gaming’s most iconic driving series.

The rebrand already appears on the studio’s official site, showing Criterion’s full integration into EA’s Battlefield plans, as part of a quartet that includes DICE, EA Motive, and Ripple Effect. The change isn’t entirely shocking, since the studio has been collaborating on Battlefield-related projects for years. Still, the confirmation feels like a nail in the coffin for the hopes of a new Burnout.

Criterion’s Long Road with Need for Speed

Veteran players fondly remember Criterion’s beloved releases like Burnout Paradise, which showcased the potential of open-world racing. The studio also made its mark on Need for Speed with Most Wanted and Unbound. Today, however, Criterion’s identity is defined less by high-octane driving and more by its role in a franchise far outside its origins.

The renaming has been seen as both symbolic and final: Criterion, once the developer known for chaotic and explosive driving fun, has now become another cog in the Battlefield machine. This feeling deepens when you consider that while DICE and Ripple Effect remain closely tied to Battlefield, EA Motive continues to branch out with projects like Marvel’s Iron Man and possibly a new Dead Space. Criterion, meanwhile, has been tied almost entirely to Battlefield.

While the shift was predictable, its official confirmation still hit hard for those clinging to hope for a Burnout revival. For now, all signs point to Criterion’s future lying in virtual warfare, not in the explosive driving gameplay that once made it an industry cult favorite.

Source: 3djuegos