From Criterion to the Stars: How Fuse Games is Redefining the AAA Racing Model

After nearly two decades at the helm of some of the gaming industry’s most revered racing franchises, Matt Webster—the veteran architect behind Burnout and Need for Speed at Criterion Games—made a move that stunned his peers. In January 2023, he stepped away from the corporate machinery of Electronic Arts, bringing with him a core team of industry stalwarts including Steve Uphill, Pete Lake, Andrei Shires, and Alan McDairmant. Together, they founded Fuse Games, an independent UK studio with a singular mission: to challenge the stagnant conventions of the racing genre.

Now, just over three years later, the studio is preparing to launch its debut title, Star Wars: Galactic Racer. Published by the newly independent Secret Mode, the game represents more than just a return to a beloved IP; it serves as a manifesto for a more sustainable, collaborative future for AAA game development.

The Chronology of a Departure

The formation of Fuse Games did not happen in a vacuum. It was the result of a deliberate, calculated pivot. Webster, who joined EA in 1990, spent his formative career years navigating the transition from small-team development to the massive, sprawling infrastructure of a global publisher. Following the 2004 acquisition of Criterion by EA, Webster watched as the industry shifted, consolidated, and eventually grew wary of the very high-risk, high-reward projects he was known for.

By early 2023, the timing was right. The team identified a vacuum in the market for high-fidelity, arcade-style racing games—a genre that had largely been sidelined as studios like Criterion were diverted to support larger, service-based projects like Battlefield. The founders of Fuse took the leap, securing independence to pursue a vision that didn’t require the sign-off of a corporate committee, but instead relied on their decades of collective expertise.

Market Realities and the "Genre Cycle"

The release of Star Wars: Galactic Racer arrives at a curious moment in gaming history. It has been 24 years since the release of Star Wars: Racer Revenge (2002), and in the intervening years, the "driving game" has struggled to maintain its cultural dominance.

Recent industry trends have been unforgiving. Amazon Games recently scrapped a high-profile publishing deal with UK-based Maverick Games for its upcoming driving title, with Amazon’s Jeff Gattis citing a lack of "market fit." Yet, Webster remains unperturbed by the skepticism of corporate analysts.

"Clearly, we think there’s an audience for a Star Wars racing game," Webster told GamesIndustry.biz. "We don’t think we’re the only ones. Genres are cyclical. We went through a phase where shooters ate the world, but as more and more people play video games, even the tiniest of niches find a bigger audience."

For Webster, the secret to longevity is avoiding the "handholding" that has become a hallmark of modern, focus-tested AAA titles. Galactic Racer aims to offer the instant gratification of a classic arcade experience, coupled with the high-stakes intensity of a modern roguelike.

Innovative Design: Borrowing from the Best

The core differentiator for Galactic Racer is its refusal to adhere to the standard "car collection" loop that has defined the genre for two decades. Instead, Fuse Games has looked toward the roguelike genre—specifically titles like Hades, Returnal, and Slay the Spire—to inject a sense of permanence and consequence into the racing experience.

"In racing games, it’s hard to have consequences when you’ve got a rewind button," Webster explains. "So, let’s bring that consequence back and make it mean something."

In Galactic Racer, repeated failures send the player back to the start, but with a twist: meta-progression allows the player to return in a more powerful position. This creates a risk-reward loop where the player must decide how much they are willing to push their vehicle when "systems are critical." By decoupling the gameplay from the constraints of "tires and tarmac"—utilizing tracks that scale the sides of active volcanoes or defy traditional gravity—Fuse is leaning into the surreal, vertiginous nature of the Star Wars universe.

The New AAA Blueprint: The 75-Person Model

Perhaps the most significant contribution Fuse Games is making to the industry isn’t the game itself, but the way it was built. With a core team of only 75 people, the studio has intentionally avoided the "grow, shrink, grow, shrink" cycle of hiring and firing that has plagued the industry during the recent wave of layoffs.

External Development as a Pillar

Instead of inflating its headcount, Fuse has mastered the art of co-development. By treating external partners not as transactional vendors but as an extension of their internal team—integrating them into Slack channels, daily stand-ups, and the codebase itself—they have managed to build a title with the scope, scale, and fidelity of a traditional AAA game on a significantly more sustainable budget.

"We’ve proven that this is likely the model for AAA going forward," Webster notes. "You have a much smaller core team permanently, and then you use trusted partners that share your values to scale your capability."

The Rise of Junior Talent

A critical component of this strategy has been the intentional recruitment of younger, less experienced developers. Contrary to the industry’s reliance on "senior-only" teams, Webster found that the combination of veterans and fresh talent has been a catalyst for innovation.

"We’ve had a greater success with our young developing talent than we’ve had with some explorations with more senior talent," he reveals. "Nurturing and developing young talent engages and motivates the team as much as it does the individual. It keeps the energy fresh."

Implications for the Industry

The success or failure of Star Wars: Galactic Racer will undoubtedly serve as a case study for independent studios looking to break into the AAA space without the backing of a major publisher.

The Death of the "Visionary" Myth

Webster is vocal about the industry’s past obsession with the "singular creative visionary"—the idea that one person can carry a multi-million dollar project to success. He dismisses this as "fucking bullshit," insisting that great games are the result of collaborative, diverse groups of individuals working toward a shared, flexible goal.

Risk and Reward in a Crowded Market

Launching on October 6, Galactic Racer faces a formidable release calendar, including titles like Control Resonant and Silent Hill: Townfall. While Webster acknowledges the competitive landscape, he maintains a "healthy sense of confidence."

"I was always told good games will find a way," he says.

For the broader industry, the lesson is clear: the era of unchecked, high-risk growth is fading. The future belongs to studios that can manage budgets with discipline, prioritize sustainable team structures, and—most importantly—remember that the goal of a video game is to provide a "fun, interesting, and compelling experience."

As Fuse Games stands on the cusp of its first release, the studio is already looking forward. While they are keeping their plans for the future under wraps, they have established one thing with absolute certainty: you don’t need a massive, bloated corporate structure to make a game that feels like a blockbuster. You just need a plan that you’re willing to adapt, a team you’re willing to invest in, and the courage to take the risks that others are too afraid to touch.