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Need For Speed: Rivals Developer Experiencing Layoffs
Ghost Games, the developer who recently took the keys to the Need for Speed franchise, has "entered a consultation period," leading to layoffs.
"We have entered a consultation period for some positions in our Ghost Games UK studio,” an representative from Electronic Arts told Game Informer via email.
Polygon reported this morning that the members of the Ghost Games development staff were hit by layoffs earlier this week, effectively pausing the development of a new unannounced Need for Speed title.
Earlier this month, founders and temporary Need for Speed developers Alex Ward and Fiona Sperry left Criterion. Criterion released two Need for Speed games before handing the franchise over to Ghost Games. Ghost Games is made predominantly of Criterion employees.
The consultation period currently affecting Ghost Games is similar to Activision's current position with Call of Duty: Strike Team developer Blast Furnace, which is also currently in limbo.
[Via: Polygon]
Our Take
With the upcoming Need for Speed film and the overall positive critical reception of Rivals, it seems like an odd time for EA to pause development in order evaluate the future of the developer currently in charge of the NFS franchise. Many Criterion employees made what was meant to be a permanent switch over to Ghost Games. Our thoughts are with those that find themselves unemployed.
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