Need for Speed franchise back at Criterion Games, many Ghost Games jobs in jeopardy

NFS
NFS (Image credit: EA)

Cop chase

Source: EA (Image credit: Source: EA)

What you need to know

  • Need for Speed games haven't done well critically or commercially in recent years.
  • EA wants to revitalize the franchise.
  • Development is going back to Criterion Games.
  • Many jobs at Ghost Games are at jeopardy as a result of this.

Ghost Games has made the past few Need for Speed games and they haven't done well at all. Compared to titles like Forza Motorsport or Horizon, they aren't on the same level when it comes to visuals and car handling. It seems like EA wants to change the franchise and will return development to Criterion Games. In a report by GamesIndustry, EA acknowledged that the shift was happening. You can read an excerpt from the outlet's report below.

Current franchise leader Ghost Games in Gothenburg is set to become EA Gothenburg once again... The studio will refocus itself as an engineering hub supporting development across EA's portfolio... As for the Ghost Games creative team, EA is looking to transfer many of the staff to positions at Criterion and other places within the wider organization. However, 30 roles remain at risk.

Hopefully, those 30 individuals at Ghost will be able to find jobs at EA or other teams quickly. Let's hope that Criterion has better luck with the Need for Speed franchise. It needs a complete overhaul if it wants to remain competitive in a market with amazing games.

CATEGORIES
Asher Madan

Asher Madan handles gaming news for Windows Central. Before joining Windows Central in 2017, Asher worked for a number of different gaming outlets. He has a background in medical science and is passionate about all forms of entertainment, cooking, and antiquing.

Latest in Xbox
Microsoft Xbox Elite Wireless Series 2
Amazon warns customers which Xbox products are "frequently returned items," and one is particularly unsurprising
Spongebob meme with Xbox logo, Steam logo, and PlayStation logo
Would PlayStation block its PC Steam games from running on a future Windows-based PC-like Xbox? Let's discuss.
The Thing: Remastered key art
The Thing comes to Xbox Cloud Gaming's "Stream Your Own Game" library alongside other new arrivals
Cover art for Heroes of the Storm.
Xbox Game Pass will give you more benefits in free-to-play games like Heroes of the Storm
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 accessibility settings at launch.
Activision user research workers form union under Microsoft
Xbox Game Hubs 2025
A quick look at Xbox's new "Game Hubs," a small new feature that may be more meaningful than you think
Latest in News
Microsoft Xbox Elite Wireless Series 2
Amazon warns customers which Xbox products are "frequently returned items," and one is particularly unsurprising
Windows 11 Wallpaper
Microsoft publishes Windows roadmap as it promises transparency around feature availability
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies mode screenshots for Shattered Veil map.
The next Call of Duty Zombies map, "Shattered Veil", is dropping earlier than expected
Helldivers 2
The new Helldivers 2 Illuminate Major Order is so important that we got a new stratagem for it
Hogwarts Legacy troll hero image
Hogwarts Legacy DLC reportedly canceled by WB Games
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege
Rumored Ubisoft and Tencent agreement comes to fruition with 25% stake and new division for the Assassin's Creed developer