Criterion Games

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Established: 1993
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Criterion Games, founded in 1993 in Guildford, UK, is today synonymous with the Burnout games. However the company created dozens of other titles, including the popular titles BLACK, Redline Racer and TrickStyle.

A former wholly-owned subsidiary of Canon UK, Criterion Games was the sister company to Criterion Software Ltd, producer of the the celebrated Renderware middleware, as used by GTA3 and over 500 other titles.

Acquiring the developer and its Renderware technology in mid-2004, Electronic Arts turned the company almost exclusively into a Burnout production line, leaving its leading middleware to whither on the vine.

Software Highlights from Credited Titles

Criterion Games's first work that SPOnG is aware of is the 1997 title, "Sub Culture" (PC).

The company has been involved titles released on the PS4, Xbox One, PC, PSVita, Wii U, PS3, Xbox 360, PS2, PSP, Xbox, GameCube and Dreamcast. Of these, "Burnout Paradise" (Xbox 360), "BLACK" (Xbox), "Burnout Revenge" (Xbox), "Burnout 3: Takedown" (Xbox), "Burnout Legends" (PSP) has been a best selling title.

The company's most recent involvement was on the 2018 release "Burnout Paradise Remastered" (Xbox One).

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Related News & Nibbles

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Criterion Showing Need for Speed Today for First Time News

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27 Jan 2010

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18 Dec 2009

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18 Jun 2009

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Burnout Paradise: Cops In Screens News

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11 Feb 2009

Need for Speed Rumour Spill News

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15 Dec 2008

Criterion on Making PC Games Right News

Free demo of Burnout Paradise on PC and more.

09 Dec 2008

Burnout Paradise Downloadable Date Plus PS3 Trophy Support News

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23 Sep 2008

Burnout Bikes Dated News

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EA and Sony Say Retail is Burnt Out News

Direct to you

15 Aug 2008

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06 Aug 2008

Burnout Paradise: Cagney Update Now Live News

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10 Jul 2008

Burnout Cagney Update Heralds Nothing New News

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24 Jun 2008

New Burnout Dominator Trailer and Screens News

Plus, downloadable tracks planned

10 Jan 2007

PS3 Crashes Frighten Gamers Like Never Before News

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14 Dec 2006

Next Burnout Will be Next Gen News

Fifth Criterion crash-fest will come to PS3 and Xbox 360.

29 Aug 2006

Burnout 3 Takes Down Xbox Live, EA Pulls Back Into The Pits News

EA's Live tinkering causes problems

14 Sep 2004

EA acquires Criterion - RenderWare to power giant's future News

Criterion, Black and Burnout swallowed up

28 Jul 2004

Burnout PSP and Burnout 4 confirmed News

Manic racing series shows no sign of burning out.

28 Jun 2004

Burnout 3 in the Carpark! News

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14 May 2004

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Criterion off the blocks - PSP development cycle accelerated.

23 Mar 2004

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Criterion’s crash-test not for dummies.

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10 Feb 2004

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26 Jan 2004

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19 Jan 2004

Criterion not burned out News

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09 Jul 2003

Infogrames takes development easy road News

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07 Feb 2003

Burnout 2 confirmed for Xbox and GameCube News

Super-enhanced smash ‘em up racer goes multi-format.

16 Jan 2003

Sega Burns out News

Plans to publish Criterion racer ditched

16 Dec 2002

Criterion inks deal with Hudson News

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15 Oct 2002

Burnout headed to GameCube or Xbox! - Sequel confirmed? News

Acclaimed racer set to crash the Sony party

12 Nov 2001

Burnout for PlayStation 2 first look! Shiny Red Car gets a dent News

Secret racing game uncovered by Acclaim

13 Aug 2001

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