Criterion’s Need for Speed game will reportedly be released this year

Electronic Arts reportedly expects to release the next Need for Speed game in the fourth quarter of 2022.

According to journalist Tom Henderson, the game’s publisher is targeting a September or October release for the title.

In March 2021, EA delayed the release of the next Need for Speed game by a year and moved developer Criterion Games into a support role on Battlefield 2042.

Laura Miele, EA’s chief studios officer, told Polygon at the time that Criterion was still handling the new Need for Speed, which would now be released by March 2023 for platforms including current and last-gen consoles.

With EA’s then-recent acquisition of Dirt, F1 and Grid developer Codemasters enabling its new owner to release racing games on a yearly basis, Miele said there was no need to rush the next Need for Speed.

EA announced in February 2020 that it had handed Need for Speed development duties back to Criterion Games as it planned to restructure Ghost Games, which made the last four entries in the racing series.

Guildford, England-based Criterion is best known for the Burnout series and has also developed two previous Need for Speed titles: 2010’s Hot Pursuit and 2012’s Most Wanted. It contributed to 2013’s Need for Speed Rivals too.

Henderson, who has a strong track record with EA reporting, also backed up recent claims about the publisher’s plans for a Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order sequel.

He said it “now seems incredibly likely” that the game will announced on May 4 and that it’s “expected” to be released in the fourth quarter of 2022.