Criterion: Downsizing was a studio decision, not EA's

Criterion Games' studio director Fiona Sperry revealed in an interview with PCgamesN that the company's recent downsizing was an internal decision, and not the result of a demand by studio owner Electronic Arts.

"We lent some people (artists and engineers primarily) to [Need for Speed: Rivals developer Ghost Games], 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," Sperry told PCgamesN. "[It] wasn't something EA 'asked' us to do."

Sperry clarified, explaining that Criterion made the decision in order to shift its focus away from EA's Need for Speed series. "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," Sperry said. "That's not our game."

Sperry continued: "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."

Criterion's current project is not yet announced, though the company has confirmed that it's not a racing game.