EA has confirmed that it has merged Codemasters Cheshire and Criterion Games to form a larger studio that will shape the future of the Need for Speed franchise.
This change will form a larger Criterion Games, which will be based on two development centers. Combining Criterion and Cheshire Codemasters will bring together talented teams and experience in the field of racing games.
Between 2013 and 2020, the development of the Need for Speed franchise was left to the Ghost Games, now EA Gothenberg, division. Before that, Criterion was in charge of these games, and now EA has decided to return the NFS to its roots.
When it comes to future Need for Speed titles, it is assumed that EA will reject the Frostbite Engine and use something that is more suitable for racing games. Codemasters’ expertise could be crucial here, and Criterion would be provided with technologies that were intentionally created for racing titles.
It is suggested that these changes had to happen in order to make Need for Speed more popular in the coming period.
