Criterion In Charge Of The Need For Speed IP

Need For Speed: Most Wanted developer Criterion will have creative control over future titles in both the NFS and Burnout series' according to VP Alex Ward.

"Going forward now, with Most Wanted and what we'll do in the future [will have], shall we say, a strong Criterion involvement," he told GI. "I'm personally involved in how the cars drive, how the game will play out, how connected they are, and what the features are."

It remains to be seen if Criterion will directly develop every game for each IP in future, but the studio did confirm it would retain control over the direction of both series'.

Asked about Burnout, Ward said Criterion 'thinks about the series all the time.' "I think something big will have to happen soon to enable us to do some of the things we want to do," he added regarding a return to the franchise.