--- title: "Beloved Racing Game Burnout Might Be Making a Comeback" description: "A cryptic message and job postings from the makers of Burnout Paradise Remastered have reignited hopes of the series' return." date: "2024-02-02" modified: "2024-02-02" authors: - name: "Adam Ismail" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/beloved-racing-game-burnout-might-be-making-a-comeback" categories: - "Culture" - "News" - "Video Games" --- # Beloved Racing Game Burnout Might Be Making a Comeback ![]() *\Electronic Arts\* Though it's been 16 years since a genuinely new *Burnout* game graced consoles, it never felt like the series could be gone for good. If you played it back then, [you'd know](): it was too captivating, too popular, and too innovative to stay dead. That's why a teaser from Stellar Entertainment, a studio started by ex-Criterion Games personnel with plenty of racing game experience, caught my eye this week. It's too early to say whether Stellar's next project is definitively *Burnout*, but the clues are there. If nothing else, here's what we know for certain: Stellar is developing a "new AAA arcade racing title" (music to my ears), with goals of "disrupting the racing scene" that will be "built in Unreal \[Engine\] 5 for Gen 5 consoles and PC," per its [website](). Beyond that, a couple days ago the team's [X account shared this](): https://twitter.com/StellarEnts/status/1751963243239612444?ref\_src=twsrc%5Etfw "You're about to be rear-ended?" "The bosses still haven't issued any *take downs*?" Stellar's obviously putting it all out there, and given the company's link to *Burnout's* original developer Criterion and its own work on 2018's *Burnout Paradise Remastered*, it's not a reach to think that this yet-unnamed "AAA racing title" is going to involve a lot of vehicular mayhem set to a pop punk soundtrack. At least, here's hoping. If it isn't *Burnout*, it'll still probably be worth playing. But if it is, we have a little more to discuss. Would this be a remaster of *Burnout 3: Takedown*, as fans have asked for? That would certainly explain the hint even better—though if this game's using Unreal Engine 5, we're firmly out of remaster territory and talking about a full-on remake. And at that point, wouldn't it just make more sense to build a totally new *Burnout*? It also must be said that Electronic Arts' stamp is nowhere on the aforementioned job description, though most of Stellar's projects have been for the *Burnout* publisher, and the studio recently helped Criterion with *[Need for Speed: Unbound]()*. Not to put my thumb on the scale, but someone pointed out to me today that EA previously drew some [social-media head-scratching]() when it called its game *Wild Hearts* a "Gen 5" exclusive, apparently meaning it was only playable on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series aside from PC. That language could be another clue that Stellar's next effort involves an EA property, albeit an unintentional one. Like a [tuk-tuk]()-driving NPC in *Takedown,* I am totally clueless about what's to come. But I can't wait to find out. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Adam is a Senior Editor at The Drive, concentrating on curating and developing the site's slate of daily journalism, from initial pitch to final copy edit. When he's not at his desk researching leads and working with writers, he's testing vehicles or reviewing racing games, new and old. He joined The Drive in 2023, following seven years of covering consumer technology and cars. A car lover and gamer since his earliest memories, Adam came to know the automotive world through video games. First it was Daytona USA, Sega Rally, and Ridge Racer; then came Need For Speed, which inspired an encyclopedic knowledge of '90s supercars, and, of course, Gran Turismo. If not for them, he'd assuredly be doing something else right now. Adam is based in the suburbs outside Philly, where there are ample roads for his hot hatch to stretch its legs. In his car, he's probably listening to indie rock, drum and bass, or Yankees baseball. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()