Former Need for Speed Leads Form New Studio to Create a ‘Blockbuster Spectacle’

Five ex-Criterion and Need for Speed developers, including former GM Matt Webster, have founded Fuse Games, a AAA studio focused on “blockbuster spectacle and player-centric innovations in social gameplay, self-expression, and creativity”.

Joining Webster, who will serve as the new studio’s GM, are head of content Steve Uphill, head of production Pete Lake, head of operations Alan McDairmant, and head of technology Andrei Shires, according to Eurogamer. The quintet of developers departed Criterion in December with over 90 combined years of experience at the prolific racing studio.

Fuse Games will develop for consoles and PC. Despite the developers’ experience with racing games, Webster told GI.biz the team hasn’t committed to a genre for its debut: “Obviously arcade racers and open world racers are what we know very deeply,” they said.

“But we have played around in other genres over the years, including Battlefront, Battlefield… VR. We know what we are good at, and that spans a broad range of things now. Once we select our genre, we want to lead that genre.”

Webster and his colleagues are looking to set up shop in Guildford, the same UK town Criterion calls home. The staff has already been built up to 17 employees.

The developers left Criterion just weeks after the studio shipped its latest Need for Speed game in December. IGN’s Need for Speed Unbound review praised its bold new style while noting its lack of innovation.

Jordan covers games, shows, and movies as a freelance writer for IGN.