Criterion Games has confirmed its future lies with Battlefield, indicating 2022’s *Need for Speed Unbound* may be the last racing title from the studio. Vice President of Battlefield Studios Europe, Rebecka Coutaz, stated in an IGN interview that the studio is "solely focused on Battlefield," effectively ending the Need for Speed franchise and putting the Burnout series in jeopardy.

The departure of these iconic racing IPs leaves a gap in the market, as titles like Forza and the DiRT series don’t offer the same blend of street, track, and stunt racing. SteamDB data shows *Need for Speed Unbound* peaked at just 14,063 concurrent players at launch and now plateaus around 1,000–1,500. In contrast, *Battlefield 6* currently sustains about 50,000 daily concurrent players, having peaked over 740,000.

EA’s restructuring and AI-driven efficiency drive, following its 2025 acquisition by private investors, has led to layoffs across Battlefield 6 studios, including Criterion. The shift underscores a strategic pivot toward battle royale and live-service games, sidelining classic racing franchises.

The decision aligns with EA’s broader focus on community-driven titles while streamlining development resources.