The boss of Criterion Games has indicated the studio is moving away from racing games.

In a series of tweets, Criterion chief Alex Ward warned gamers against expecting the Guildford-based, EA-owned developer from delivering a new Burnout, Need for Speed, Road Rash or Black game any time soon.

His tweets on the matter are reproduced below:

Here is what I want folks to know. Some folks are eternally disappointed. Nothing I can do about that. So many tweets asking for new Burnout. Equally many tweets asking for a new NFS game from us. Also Road Rash. Whilst I love all of those games, I am personally not doing any. As a diehard NES gamer in the late '80s UK I was misled by many gaming mags hinting at games to be released. Most games did not get a PAL release. Most of the hot stuff was JPN and USA only. Hence I hate to mislead ANYONE. No point saving up hard earned money for your fave game not to come. Trust me, I have been there." After over a decade of making racing games it's time to make something new. It is early days thus I have nothing to "announce" or talk about. I will do my best to keep folks in the loop who want to follow what we play or what inspires us. Or what we might be listening to. But if you are following me expecting some Megaton of a new Burnout game, or an Underground remake then I have to disappoint you. I am proud of all of the Burnout games. When it feels right we will make another one. We are creative people. So I hope you will join us on a new journey. Hope it makes sense. #Butit'syourkidsMarty! #PromiseMeWe'llBeBackInTime. No Black2 either folks. Volumes to tell on that topic, but will save that for when I get a book deal... Thanks for the support everybody. We won't let you down! #tothefuture."

Ward's tweets come as some surprise given Criterion's success with the Need for Speed brand, but with the emergence of new studio Ghost, the recently-established Swedish development studio formerly known as EA Gothenburg confirmed to be working on Need for Speed using the Frostbite engine, they do not indicate EA has ditched the racing brand.

Specifically relating to the possibility of a new Burnout game, Ward said on Twitter now is not the right time.

"No plans at present," he said. "Will do it when it feels right sometime. After 13 years it's not that time right now."

Then, in response to a question asking whether the decision to make a new Burnout was Criterion's or EA's, Ward replied: "Unfortunately for some it's pretty much my choice. As I said earlier I will do it when it feels right."

2011's Burnout Crash, a downloadable game for PlayStation Network and Xbox Live, was the last game in the series to have released. Before that 2008 saw the launch of Burnout Paradise.

Meanwhile, in recent years Criterion has made a number of Need for Speed games, including 2012's Need for Speed: Most Wanted, and 2010's superb Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit. Black, its first-person shooter, released for PlayStation 2 and Xbox in 2006.