Next Level games quick climb up Nintendo ranks is quite surprising

[fleischr]

Incubi said:

fleischr said:

Clyde32 said:
They split off from EA. Nintendo liked what the team did while they were at EA.

Kind of OT, but worth saying: I'd love to see Criterion split off from EA. Based on their stellar job on NFSMWU on Wii U, their great track record, and their interest in other racing/alternative sports they'd be a great fit bringing back WaveRace and ExciteBike

On 3rd January 2014, it was announced that co-founders Alex Ward and Fiona Sperry have left Criterion to found a new studio.

I just read up on that. Seems as though a lot of Criterion's old staff got transferred to Ghost Games.

No announcement on what Ward & Sperry are up to, but I know from EA's e3 this last year that Criterion was very interested in "beyond cars" e.g. watercraft, dirtbikes. If this was the direction Ward & Sperry had in mind for Criterion, but have now left, teaming up with Ninty on those franchises would be a smart move.