'Need for Speed', 'Burnout' series now managed by Criterion

Published Jun 25 2012, 11:29 BST  |  By Liam Martin

All future Need for Speed and Burnout titles will be overseen by Criterion Games, it has been revealed.

Criterion's "stamp" will be on every new NFS and Burnout release going forward, its VP Alex Ward told Game Informer, ending the days of multiple development teams.



"Our stamp's going to be in everything you see in Need for Speed and Burnout going forward in the future," Ward revealed.

"It's not going to be spread anymore across different companies. Different studios have had a crack at it - it's definitely a Criterion gig now.

"Going forward now, with Most Wanted and what we'll do in the future [will have], shall we say, a strong Criterion involvement.

"I'm personally involved in how the cars drive, how the game will play out, how connected they are and what the features are," he added.

Ward also expressed an interest in releasing a Need for Speed title encompassing elements of Shift, Most Wanted, Underground and Hot Pursuit.

The next game in the franchise, Need for Speed: Most Wanted, was officially announced at the E3 Gaming Expo.

It will release for Xbox 360, PS3, PC, PlayStation Vita and mobile devices on October 30.

A Need for Speed movie has also been announced, which is due to release in 2014 as a collaboration between Electronic Arts and DreamWorks.

Watch the Michael Bay Need for Speed trailer below: