Following confirmation that Need for Speed Rivals developer Criterion has been downsized to just 17 people studio director Fiona Sperry has told PCGamersN that the developer chose to do so of its own accord.
"Criterion has always been about doing our own games so it was never the long term plan for us to stay doing Need for Speed. That’s not our game.
“We sent some people (artists and engineers primarily) to Ghost as when you’re making something new you don’t need a whole team of people – we didn’t need them, Ghost did – so it all just made sense. [It] wasn’t something EA ‘asked’ us to do.
“My management team at Criterion sorted it out with the management team at Ghost. That’s how things work at EA these days. Teams work together, coordinate sharing of people as it suits where projects are at.”
She went to state that the studio "enjoys being a small team" and that it will likely remain so for "as long as possible.
"Our best games and ideas come about when we work this way,” Sperry said.
Criterion is currently developing a non-racing game which has not yet been announced. Need for Speed Rivals will be released on November 19th for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360. It will also be a launch title for PS4 and Xbox One.