EA has announced the return of Criterion Games to Battlefield, assuring fans that the Need for Speed series will continue. Criterion Games, best known for their stewardship of Need for Speed, will join the EA Entertainment group, which Respawn co-founder Vince Zampella oversees. The majority of Criterion's team will work on various Battlefield projects in tandem with DICE, Ripple Effect, and Ridgeline. While it is unclear exactly which game Criterion is working on, it is likely to be supportive in nature to the other teams.

Criterion is no newcomer to Battlefield, having previously lent its expertise in car handling to DICE during the development of Battlefield 5. They were also accountable for the unsuccessful Firestorm battle royale mode in the same game. Furthermore, Criterion's substantial experience with the Frostbite engine from its previous contributions to Battlefield games might suggest that the Battlefield series will stick with the same engine.

Aside from their support roles, Criterion also had the chance to develop a new Need for Speed title, the commendable but slightly imperfect Need for Speed Unbound, which was released in 2022. However, since then, there have not been any announcements about a sequel or any follow-up. Nevertheless, the survival of the Need for Speed franchise is guaranteed, according to the announcement press release. Vince Zampella, who also oversees Need for Speed, will collaborate with a core group to plan the franchise's future.