5 longtime staff of Criterion Video games have left the studio, in keeping with GamesIndustry. Every of them had been with Criterion and mum or dad firm Digital Arts for over a decade, if not longer. All 5 have left to “discover new alternatives outdoors of EA.”
Notably, these departures come following the current launch of Want for Velocity Unbound, Criterion’s return to the sequence after it collaborated with Ghost Video games on 2013’s Want for Velocity Rivals. Unbound launched on December 2, and is already priced at 40 % off on the Xbox Retailer, which can suggest that the sport is not promoting in addition to EA had initially hoped.
Among the many now-ex Criterion staffers leaving is Matt Webster, who turned the studio’s VP and common supervisor again in 2013. He’d been with Criterion for 23 years, and was one of many builders on the unique FIFA recreation.
Additionally leaving are Pete Lake, an govt producer who joined Criterion in 1996; 16-year veteran and senior tech director Andrei Shires; studio improvement head Alan McDairmant; and content material head Steve Uphill. McDairmant had been with EA for 17 years (he joined Criterion in 2005), and Uphill was with Criterion for a decade.
Stepping in as govt producer for the Want for Velocity franchise going ahead will probably be Charity Pleasure, who beforehand labored on EA’s UFC sequence. Pleasure is joined by former Grid and Grime director Geoff Smith, who will function senior director of product improvement on each Want for Velocity and oversee EA’s WRC recreation till the latter’s spring 2023 launch.
In a staff-wide e mail, EA’s racing group GM David Rutter wrote that the racing recreation division has a “sturdy alternative to evolve our video games and experiences, and produce them to an excellent broader viewers of followers—with our long-term technique centered on our strengths in licensed motorsports in addition to arcade/open-world racing.”
“Constructing off the progress made thus far this 12 months, with two launches, and much more plans underway for subsequent, we’re assured that now we have one of the best individuals, engaged on one of the best video games, and can obtain nice issues in 2023.”
