8 Months Ago, IncGamers.com says (in EA Merging Burnout and Need For Speed?)  UK
EA is apparently in the process of merging the Burnout and Need for Speed franchises. According to EA CEO John Pleasants, speaking during the William Blair Growth Stock Conference, the Burnout team at Criterion will now begin work on the Need For Speed ...

And CVG Online says (in Criterion takes over Need for Speed) Burnout developer Criterion is developing the new instalment of Need For Speed, EA has confirmed. Speaking at the William Blair Growth Stock Conference (we've no clue what that is either), EA chief operating officer John Pleasants revealed that the ...

And Spong says (in Need for Speed and Burnout Not Merging)  UK
EA has confirmed that Criterion, the studio behind Burnout, will be developing the next Need for Speed game - the one after Shift and Nitro. John Riccitiello, CEO of the publisher, confirmed Criterion's involvement during an interview with Kotaku. ...

And Gamasutra says (in EA: Criterion Developing 'Online-Centric' Need For Speed, DICE ...)  CA
by Leigh Alexander Electronic Arts has tasked Criterion Games with an unannounced Need For Speed title, COO John Pleasants revealed today. "We've taken the Burnout team and combined it with our Need For Speed franchise," said Pleasant, according to ...