Criterion Games

Criterion Games is a British video game developer headquartered in Guildford, England. It originated within Criterion Software, a Canon-owned technology company established in 1993 to develop multimedia and 3D graphics tools. Criterion Software created RenderWare, a software library that evolved into a full game-development engine and became the technical foundation for many console and PC games. To demonstrate and extend that technology, the company established a dedicated game-development division, initially known as Criterion Studios, in January 1996. The studio later adopted the Criterion Games name. The developer became internationally recognized through Burnout, a series of arcade-style racing games built around speed, aggressive driving, traffic collisions, and spectacular crashes. The first Burnout was published by Acclaim Entertainment in 2000, followed by Burnout 2: Point of Impact in 2002. The series gained greater commercial and critical visibility when Electronic Arts published Burnout 3: Takedown in 2004. Criterion retained a strong association with high-energy racing design, responsive handling, cinematic presentation, and technology that made vehicle damage and large-scale crashes central to the experience. Electronic Arts announced its acquisition of Criterion Software in July 2004, and the transaction was completed on 19 October 2004 for US$68 million. The acquisition brought Criterion Games and the RenderWare business into EA. Although RenderWare initially remained available to outside customers, EA subsequently withdrew it from the commercial middleware market. Criterion Games continued as an EA studio and expanded its work beyond Burnout. It developed Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit in 2010 and Need for Speed: Most Wanted in 2012, using its own Chameleon engine for Hot Pursuit and later EA technology for subsequent projects. In 2012, the studio stated that it had taken sole ownership of the Need for Speed franchise, although later development responsibilities were distributed among several EA studios. A major staff transition occurred in 2013, when most of Criterion's employees moved to Ghost Games UK and the Guildford studio was reduced to a small team. Co-founders Alex Ward and Fiona Sperry left in January 2014 and later established Three Fields Entertainment. Criterion then shifted toward support work for other EA productions, including the Star Wars Battlefront X-Wing VR Mission and additional content for Star Wars Battlefront II. It also contributed to Battlefield V's Firestorm battle-royale mode and provided vehicle-focused development support for Battlefield 2042. Criterion returned to a more prominent role in Need for Speed when EA announced in 2020 that the studio would again lead the franchise. In 2022, Codemasters Cheshire was integrated into Criterion to support the project, which became Need for Speed Unbound. Released in December 2022, Unbound combined stylized visual effects with open-world street racing and used EA's Frostbite engine. Several senior Criterion employees, including general manager Matt Webster, departed after the game's release. Following EA's organizational changes in 2023, Criterion was moved from EA Sports to EA Entertainment and assigned a larger role in Battlefield development while remaining associated with Need for Speed. Publicly reported plans indicated that the studio's internal development focus later shifted substantially toward the Battlefield series. Criterion therefore operates as a flexible EA development group whose identity spans arcade racing, vehicle systems, action-game support, and large-scale multiplayer production.

Criterion Games developed from Criterion Software, a Canon subsidiary founded in December 1993 by David Lau-Kee, with Adam Billyard also credited as a co-founder. Criterion Software's principal technology was RenderWare, initially a C-language graphics library and later a broader game-development platform. The company established a dedicated game-development division in January 1996 to create software that could demonstrate the capabilities of its technology. The division moved into Guildford facilities and was initially called Criterion Studios. RenderWare became increasingly capable as a game engine, especially with its third major iteration around 2000. Criterion used the technology to develop Burnout, an arcade racing game published by Acclaim Entertainment. Burnout was followed by Burnout 2: Point of Impact, and the two games established the studio's design signature: fast driving, traffic hazards, takedowns, crashes, and an emphasis on immediate spectacle. Acclaim retained publishing rights but Criterion retained the underlying brand and technology. The series' limited marketing reach in the United States helped create an opening for a larger publisher, and EA became involved with Burnout 3: Takedown. EA announced the purchase of Criterion Software from Canon Europe in July 2004 and completed the transaction on 19 October 2004. The reported purchase price was US$68 million. Criterion Games became part of EA, while RenderWare initially continued to be offered to external developers. EA later withdrew the middleware from commercial distribution, although elements remained relevant to internal development. In 2006, EA closed Criterion's Derby satellite office. In 2007, Criterion and EA Bright Light moved into a shared Guildford building, but the studios remained operationally separate. The studio continued its racing work under EA. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, released in 2010, used Criterion's Chameleon engine and emphasized the rivalry between racers and police. Need for Speed: Most Wanted followed in 2012. Criterion's public profile grew during this period, and the studio said it had taken sole ownership of the Need for Speed franchise at the 2012 Electronic Entertainment Expo. In 2013, however, Criterion announced a substantial reduction in staff, with most of its personnel transferring to Ghost Games UK. Co-founders Alex Ward and Fiona Sperry left EA in January 2014 and later founded Three Fields Entertainment. The smaller Criterion team moved into a support-oriented period. A planned new racing project was not pursued as the studio concentrated on work for other EA franchises. Criterion developed the X-Wing VR Mission for Star Wars Battlefront and contributed to the sequel. It was also selected to work on Battlefield V's Firestorm mode and later supported Battlefield 2042, particularly in vehicle-related development. A proposed collaboration with Nintendo on an F-Zero concept for Wii U was reported retrospectively, but no such game was released by Criterion. EA announced in 2020 that Criterion would return to lead Need for Speed development. That work was temporarily affected when Criterion was assigned additional Battlefield support in 2021. In May 2022, EA integrated Codemasters Cheshire into Criterion. The combined development effort produced Need for Speed Unbound, announced in October 2022 and released on 2 December 2022. The game used Frostbite and combined open-world racing with a stylized art direction. Following its release, several senior staff members departed, including general manager Matt Webster. EA's 2023 corporate restructuring initially placed Criterion within EA Sports, but the studio was moved to EA Entertainment in September 2023 to support Battlefield. Public reporting indicated that Criterion would continue to contribute to Need for Speed while its internal development emphasis shifted toward Battlefield. Criterion's later identity is therefore tied both to its historic racing expertise and to its role as a cross-franchise EA development resource.

• 2022

  Codemasters Cheshire joins Criterion

  [1]Criterion Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  EA integrated Codemasters Cheshire into Criterion to support Need for Speed development.

• 2022

  Need for Speed Unbound launches

  [1]Criterion Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Need for Speed Unbound was released on 2 December 2022.

• 2013

  Major staff transfer

  [1]Criterion Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Around 80 percent of the studio's staff moved to Ghost Games UK, leaving Criterion with approximately 17 people.

• 2012

  Need for Speed: Most Wanted is released

  [1]Criterion Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Criterion released its second major Need for Speed title.

• 2010

  Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit is released

  [1]Criterion Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Criterion applied its racing expertise to a new police-versus-racers Need for Speed game.

• 2004

  EA completes acquisition

  [1]Criterion Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Electronic Arts completed its purchase of Criterion Software and Criterion Games.

• 2000

  Burnout launches

  [1]Criterion Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  The first Burnout introduced Criterion's collision-focused arcade-racing formula.

• 1996

  Criterion Studios is established

  [1]Criterion Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Criterion Software created a dedicated game-development division in Guildford, initially employing about 25 people.

• 1993

  Criterion Software is founded

  [1]Criterion Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Canon established Criterion Software as a wholly owned subsidiary focused on multimedia and 3D graphics technology.

High-profile AAA game-development studio specializing in driving mechanics, vehicle-based action, racing presentation, and technical support for Electronic Arts franchises.

• Racing video game series · 2000

  Burnout series

  Criterion's signature franchise is an arcade-racing series built around speed, traffic, takedowns, aggressive competition, and elaborate crashes. Burnout and Burnout 2: Point of Impact were published by Acclaim, while EA published Burnout 3: Takedown. The series established the studio's reputation for responsive handling and high-impact vehicle presentation.

• Racing video game · 2010

  Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit

  Released in 2010, Hot Pursuit returned the series to a focused police-versus-racers structure. Criterion designed the game around high-speed pursuits, exotic vehicles, networked competition, and a shared progression system. It used Criterion's Chameleon engine and marked the studio's major transition from its own Burnout identity to EA's flagship racing franchise.

• Open-world racing video game · 2012

  Need for Speed: Most Wanted

  Criterion's 2012 Need for Speed game reinterpreted the Most Wanted name as an open-world racing experience. Players competed through a city environment, challenged rival drivers, and engaged in police pursuits. The project reinforced Criterion's expertise in open-world driving and vehicle handling while expanding its role within the Need for Speed franchise.

• Virtual-reality action game mission · 2016

  Star Wars Battlefront X-Wing VR Mission

  Criterion created a virtual-reality mission for Star Wars Battlefront centered on piloting an X-wing. The project represented a move beyond conventional racing and demonstrated the studio's ability to contribute specialized gameplay and technology to a major EA entertainment property.

• Open-world racing video game · 2022

  Need for Speed Unbound

  Need for Speed Unbound was developed by Criterion with support from the integrated Codemasters Cheshire team and released in December 2022. It combines open-world street racing, police pursuits, competitive events, and a stylized visual treatment with animated effects. The game uses EA's Frostbite engine.

• 2022Need for Speed Unbound launch

  Global

  The launch emphasized open-world street racing and a distinctive stylized visual identity, supported by Criterion and Codemasters Cheshire.

  Outcome. Need for Speed Unbound was released in December 2022.

  Source
• 2010Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit promotion

  Global

  EA and Criterion positioned Hot Pursuit around the rivalry between racers and police, using the studio's established strengths in fast driving and pursuit spectacle.

  Outcome. The game became a prominent Criterion-developed Need for Speed release.

  Source

• 2023

  Shift organizational focus toward BattlefieldStrategy

  Background

  EA reorganized its development organizations and required additional capacity for Battlefield.

  Action taken

  Criterion was moved into EA Entertainment and assigned a larger Battlefield role while retaining a stated connection to Need for Speed.

  Aftermath

  Public reporting described Criterion's internal development focus as shifting substantially toward Battlefield.

  Source

• 2022

  Integrate Codemasters CheshireM&A

  Background

  EA wanted additional capacity for the next Need for Speed project, and the two teams had already been collaborating.

  Action taken

  EA merged Codemasters Cheshire into Criterion Games.

  Aftermath

  The combined organization supported Need for Speed Unbound and subsequent franchise planning.

  Source

• 2013

  Reduce standalone Criterion developmentStrategy

  Background

  EA reorganized Need for Speed development and moved most Criterion staff to Ghost Games UK.

  Action taken

  Criterion reduced its staff to approximately 17 people, with about 80 percent transferring to Ghost Games UK.

  Aftermath

  The studio entered a support role on Star Wars and Battlefield projects before later returning to leading Need for Speed development.

  Source

• 2004

  Join Electronic ArtsM&A

  Background

  Canon sought a buyer for the Criterion Software group, which included the game studio and RenderWare technology.

  Action taken

  EA acquired the group in a transaction completed on 19 October 2004.

  Aftermath

  Criterion Games became an EA studio, while RenderWare was eventually withdrawn from third-party middleware distribution.

  Acquisition price. US$68 million (2004)

  Source

• 2023

  Criterion shifts toward Battlefield development[1]Criterion Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  EA moved Criterion into EA Entertainment and increased its role in Battlefield development while retaining a stated connection to Need for Speed.

• 2022

  Codemasters Cheshire is integrated into Criterion[1]Criterion Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  EA merged Codemasters Cheshire into Criterion to support development of the next Need for Speed game.

• 2022

  Need for Speed Unbound is released[1]Criterion Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Product generation

  Criterion and its partner teams released Need for Speed Unbound, an open-world racing game using EA's Frostbite engine.

• 2014

  Criterion supports Star Wars and Battlefield projects[1]Criterion Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  After scaling back its standalone development plans, Criterion provided support for Star Wars Battlefront and later Battlefield projects.

• 2013

  Most Criterion staff move to Ghost Games UK[1]Criterion Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  Criterion reduced its Guildford staff substantially as most employees transferred to Ghost Games UK to work on Need for Speed.

• 2012

  Criterion announces Need for Speed: Most Wanted[1]Criterion Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The studio revealed its second Need for Speed project and announced a larger role in the franchise.

• 2010

  Criterion announces Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit[1]Criterion Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Criterion announced a new Need for Speed title built around police pursuit gameplay and its Chameleon engine.

• 2004

  Electronic Arts acquires Criterion Software[1]Criterion Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  EA completed its acquisition of Criterion Software, bringing Criterion Games and the RenderWare technology business into the EA group.

1. 1Criterion Gamesen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Criterion Games official websitecriteriongames.com