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How Star Wars: Galactic Racer kept the core team small and sustainable through "distributed development"
Fuse Games' CEO Matt Webster discusses the success of Star Wars: Galactic Racer, attributing its achievement to a small core team and a "distributed development" model. This approach involved leveraging external providers and co-development partners, allowing the studio to maintain a lean team of under 75 people while scaling capacity and knowledge. The game's innovative roguelike racing mechanics and narrative elements, inspired by Formula 1's Drive to Survive, have been well-received by critics and players.
"What's the point of this if you're not feeling something?" Star Wars: Galactic Racer devs on how they bottled Burnout's magic 'game feel'
Developers from Fuse Games, including CEO Matt Webster and Creative Director Kieran Crimmins, discuss how they captured the 'game feel' of Burnout for Star Wars: Galactic Racer. They emphasize the importance of tactile interactions and emotional resonance in game design, drawing parallels to the Star Wars universe and even board game prototyping.
"It's a nice story to tell": How DICE bounced back from Battlefield 2042's disastrous launch to release the blockbuster Battlefield 6
DICE VP and GM Rebecka Coutaz details how the studio recovered from the disastrous launch of Battlefield 2042 to achieve success with Battlefield 6. The turnaround involved reorganizing development, listening to player feedback, and empowering teams across multiple studios, leading to Battlefield 6 selling seven million units in three days.
14 amazing video games that were let down by awful marketing
This article discusses numerous video games that suffered from absent, misguided, or bizarre marketing campaigns, impacting their sales despite their quality. Examples range from Nintendo underselling Yoshi And The Mysterious Book to Square Enix's poor promotion of Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy and EA's controversial tactics for Dead Space 2 and Dante's Inferno.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer Is Giving Us Serious Burnout Vibes
Star Wars: Galactic Racer is showing promise in capturing the chaotic, high-speed essence of the Burnout series, thanks to former Criterion developers at Fuse Games. While it aims to be more than just a "Star Wars skin" on Burnout, its success hinges on delivering satisfying physics, impactful crashes, and engaging level design that evolves the genre.
GamesRadar+ Fall Preview 2026: Your next favorite games make up our hefty Most Wanted list
GamesRadar+ has released its Fall Preview list for 2026, highlighting anticipated games across various genres. While Grand Theft Auto 6 is mentioned, the list focuses on other titles like Marvel's Wolverine, Control Resonant, Silent Hill: Townfall, Gears of War: E-Day, and Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, among many others.
Criterion Puts KPop Demon Hunters Alongside Roma And The Irishman As Sequel Talk Heats Up
Criterion is releasing a 4K Blu-ray special edition of the animated film KPop Demon Hunters, placing it alongside acclaimed titles like Roma and The Irishman. This physical media release signifies the film's success and impact, especially for a Netflix original. While a sequel is confirmed, it is not expected until 2029 or later due to the extensive work required for animated productions.
"As more people play games, even the tiniest niches find a bigger audience" – Why Matt Webster is convinced people want Star Wars: Galactic Racer
Matt Webster, co-founder of Fuse Games, discusses the upcoming release of Star Wars: Galactic Racer, a title he believes can carve out a niche in the current market despite the general decline of racing games. The studio, formed by former Criterion developers, is innovating by incorporating roguelike elements and consequential decision-making, inspired by games like Hades and Slay the Spire, to enhance replayability. Webster also touches on the challenges of independent development, the importance of nurturing young talent, and the industry's aversion to risk.
I've been buying Blu-rays for over 15 years, and these are my top tips for building the ultimate physical film…
This guide offers tips for building a physical Blu-ray collection, emphasizing the benefits of owning media over relying on streaming services. Key advice includes focusing on specific genres like horror and anime, researching releases for quality, pre-ordering sought-after titles, and utilizing both new and second-hand retailers like Criterion, Zavvi, and HMV.
"People want to play arcade racers again" – How the developer of Wreckreation went from a company-wide redundancy notice to working on a sequel
Fiona Sperry, formerly of Criterion and Three Fields Entertainment, has announced Wreckreation 2 through her new company, When Tides Turn. After facing potential redundancies and relying on Patreon support for Wreckreation 1, Sperry is taking a new approach with open development and a focus on the arcade racing genre, which she believes still has a significant audience.
Wreckreation 2 utannonserat – av en nybildad studio
Wreckreation 2 has been announced by the newly formed studio When Tides Turn, which includes former Criterion employees. The game is being developed independently of Three Fields Entertainment, the studio behind the first Wreckreation. Wreckreation 2 is described as an open-world racing game focused on aggression and risk, and is currently only announced for PC with no release date.
"Never say never": Criterion aren't ruling out a return to Need For Speed, but Battlefield is their only focus for now
Criterion Games, known for the Burnout and Need For Speed series, is now exclusively focused on supporting the Battlefield franchise as part of Electronic Arts' new strategy. Studio representatives Danny Isaac and Amy Pejic stated that while their current focus is Battlefield, they are not ruling out future projects outside of the series, emphasizing that creative freedom can exist within the vast Battlefield platform. They also confirmed that the Burnout series is unlikely to return, but the future of Need For Speed remains open.
Sorry, You’re (Probably) Never Going To Get Another Need For Speed Game
Rebecka Coutaz, general manager of Battlefield Studios Europe, has stated that Criterion Games is now solely focused on the Battlefield franchise, effectively ending the development of new Need for Speed and Burnout titles. Criterion, which previously developed several Need for Speed and Burnout games, will leverage its expertise in creating intense player experiences for Battlefield. This shift means fans are unlikely to see new installments in the beloved racing series anytime soon.
The Sunday Papers
Criterion Games, known for racing titles like Burnout and Need For Speed, is now solely focused on developing for the Battlefield series, as confirmed by studio leadership. Meanwhile, an analysis of Xbox's recent restructuring highlights the company's significant layoffs and the challenges faced by the division, drawing parallels to past industry missteps.
As Criterion rebrands on its 30th anniversary, are its beloved racing franchises like Burnout falling away in the rearview mirror?
Criterion is rebranding on its 30th anniversary, emphasizing its current role as a "Battlefield Studio" within Electronic Arts. While the studio's legacy includes beloved racing titles like Burnout Paradise, its primary focus is now on supporting the Battlefield franchise, including recent work on Battlefield 6. Despite industry challenges and past layoffs, Criterion aims to maintain its core values of "Dare, Deliver, and Delight," with discussions ongoing about the potential for future racing game development.
Build Your Own Criterion Closet With Up To 50% Off Blu-Rays And Box Sets
Criterion is offering significant discounts of up to 50% on Blu-rays and box sets at Amazon and Barnes & Noble through July 26. The sale includes major collections like The Complete Kubrick, The Criterion Collection 40-Film Set, and The World of Wong Kar-Wai, as well as individual titles such as Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films 1954-1975 and Parasite.
Criterion’s Future Is Battlefield, but Don’t Forget the Burnout Heritage Within Its Walls
Criterion, the studio behind the Burnout series, has been officially designated as a 'Battlefield Studio'. Despite this shift, the article emphasizes the studio's significant 30-year legacy in developing acclaimed racing games.
Star Wars Galactic Racer is surprisingly deep and pod racing at its finest
Star Wars Galactic Racer, developed by Fuse Games, offers a surprisingly deep and engaging pod racing experience. Creative Director Kieran Crimmins highlights the game's massive scale, intense mechanics, and extensive customization options, aiming for an 'easy to learn, hard to master' approach. The game features a roguelike-esque story mode with third-person hub exploration and a robust upgrade system for speeders.
With Star Wars: Galactic Racer, former Burnout devs have built on N64 and PS2 classics to make what they call "the purest expression of gaming"
Fuse Games, founded by former Criterion developers Matt Webster and Kieran Crimmins, is developing Star Wars: Galactic Racer, a roguelite arcade racer inspired by classics like Star Wars Episode I Racer. The game emphasizes consequence and spectacular crashes, with a deep customization system and a campaign structure that blends planet-hopping with FTL-like progression. The developers aim to push the racing genre forward by reintroducing elements of risk and strategic decision-making.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer Hands-on Preview - Podracer Takedown
Fuse Games is developing Star Wars: Galactic Racer, an arcade racing title set to release on October 6, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. The game features a narrative campaign with a roguelike structure where players progress through tournaments, earning credits to upgrade vehicles and abilities. The preview highlights fast-paced racing, Burnout-inspired takedowns, and distinct vehicle handling.
