Criterion hirings hint at new racer, possibly next-gen

Need for Speed and Burnout developer Criterion Games is apparently working on an open world racer for "new platforms".

Criterion is currently seeking a new lead software engineer and AI programmer.

Both job advertisements make mention of the chance to develop "world class games, on cutting edge hardware", and the lead software engineer job description asks the successful applicant "to help create a new extension to the existing Criterion team focusing on developing on new platforms". It looks like Criterion is keen to jump on board Vita and the 3DS - or perhaps prepare for an upcoming hardware generation.

More specifically, in its call for an AI programmer, Criterion nominates a current project as requiring "believable, open world AI Racing Drivers".

If you assume the two new hires are related, you could probably justify some speculation on a new Burnout game for the next hardware cycle.

Criterion's most recent game is the console network title Burnout Crash. Its most recent core entry in the open-world racing series was 2008's Burnout Paradise.

Thanks, Gamespot.