In most racing video games, players are encouraged to avoid obstacles and weave through traffic. Burnout is a franchise that alters this formula by encouraging mayhem and destruction. The franchise has been dormant for the last few years, but with racing games receiving newfound popularity, now might be the perfect time for Burnout to make its triumphant return.
Racing games are in the spotlight again thanks to series like Gran Turismo and Forza Horizon, and developers have expressed interest in revisiting Burnout. With current-gen technology, a new Burnout game could surprise people with spectacular crashes and vehicular destruction that is more detailed and impactful than ever before.
Burnout Goes Dormant
The first Burnout game released in 2001, developed by Criterion Games. It introduced many of the elements that would become a staple of the series. To increase their speed, players need to unlock Boost, which is done through risky behavior such as driving on the wrong side of the road, swerving out of the way of incoming traffic, and drifting around corners. If players crash, a cinematic camera displays the carnage from multiple angles. The first Burnout game didn't feature licensed vehicles, which is a pattern that would carry on with the rest of the franchise. This isn't too much of a surprise, as car manufacturers likely wouldn't appreciate seeing their vehicles used to cause highway collisions for fun.
The Burnout series was a success, raking in over 15 million copies. While this may have pointed to the possibility of the series having a long future, not much has been seen of it following Burnout Paradise. The open-world racing game released in 2008, with a remastered version dropping in 2018. Although it enjoyed respectable sales that provide heaps of fast-paced, danger-driven fun, it never led to a new title. This should not mark the end of the series, as there is still plenty it can offer.
Why Criterion Games Should Release a New Burnout Game
Despite its lengthy hiatus, fans haven't forgotten about Burnout, and neither has Criterion. Kieran Crimmins recently revealed that the two most prized franchises for the studio are Need for Speed and Burnout. While there are currently no plans for a new Burnout game, the series has a unique take on racing that "would be absolutely phenomenal now." Crimmins is right on that front, as no franchise has been able to replicate the high-speed, high-risk racing that the Burnout franchise thrives on.
Although racing games lost popularity for a while, the time seems perfect for Burnout to make a return. Franchises like Forza, Gran Turismo, and Need for Speed have put racing back on the map, while titles like Wreckfest have helped people rediscover the joys of vehicular carnage. Using the experience Criterion has learned from developing titles like Need for Speed: Most Wanted and Need for Speed Unbound, the studio could craft a phenomenal title.
There are currently no plans for a new Burnout game, so fans will have to settle for Burnout Paradise's remake for now. They can also indulge in other vehicular destruction games such as Wreckreation. However, with Criterion showing interest in the series, it may be a sign that the franchise is about to come out of a long hiatus. If so, it should find a loyal fan base waiting.
Burnout Paradise is available on PC, PS3, PS4, Switch, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
