Codemasters Cheshire merge lanes with Criterion ahead of new Need for Speed

The new Need for Speed is being developed by Criterion of Burnout fame. EA has merged the team with Codemasters Cheshire who previously worked on Dirt 5 with a few ex-Evolution employees who worked on OnRush and Driveclub.

With this merger, the teams will operate from two locations in the UK. Codemasters Cheshire will work under the Guildford-based Criterion Games to help shape "the future of Need for Speed."

Developers from PlayStation exclusives MotorStorm and Driveclub join former Burnout devs

Codemasters' Twitter account was the signage that pointed in the direction of the news, with the statement: "This integration builds off the close partnership the two studios have developed over the past few months."

Back in 2021, Criterion Games delayed its new Need for Speed game so that it could help DICE with Battlefield 2042. Now the team is no longer needed there, Need for Speed development is finally getting into gear. VentureBeat's Jeff Grubb has stated that the new Need for Speed could be coming this year, but the EA financials perhaps point in a different direction. It plans on launching a "major IP," a partner title, remake, and a sports game in early 2023.

>EA financials perhaps point in a different direction. It plans on launching a "major IP," a partner title, remake, and a sports game in early 2023.

https://www.truetrophies.com/developer/Criterion-Software?pa...
So, Codemasters Cheshire will work under the name Criterion Games, as GamesIndustry.biz reports that no redundancies were made during the merge. The team at Cheshire has really had a rocky road lately, developing the totally-fine-but-nothing-more Dirt 5 and superb OnRush to very little commercial success.

Before the team was reformed under EA under the Cheshire name, much of the talent there was a part of Sony's Evolution Studio and developed some of the best arcade racers around in the MotorStorm series as well as the fan-favourite sim-cade Driveclub. It has to be said, Sony must regret shutting this team down — it would have been a great addition to PlayStation Studios.

In any case, the Burnout Paradise developers have some great talent working with them! What do you think of the merger? A big MotorStorm/Driveclub/OnRush fan? Let us know in the comments for a bit of a discussion!

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Written by Kes Eylers-Stephenson

Editor Kes is our resident expert in PlayStation and other gaming news. He writes about PS5 exclusives like The Last of Us and Horizon, PS Plus news, and his favorite games — The Witcher, Assassin’s Creed, and God of War — before an evening swim.